Story of the Match
D.C. United returns home to Audi Field this Saturday, March 8, to face off against Sporting Kansas City. After a pair of hard fought 2-2 draws in their opening two games of the 2025 season, the Black-and-Red are eager to pick up their first home win and build some positive momentum this season. Tickets for the match can be purchased at dcunited.com/tickets. Sporting Kansas City, who have had a difficult start to the season, will be looking to get back on track as they visit the nation’s capital.
D.C. United has shown early promise in their first two matches of the season, scoring early in both games, but struggling to hold onto the lead. In their home opener, a thrilling 2-2 draw with Toronto FC saw Christian Benteke score his first goal of 2025, continuing his red-hot form from last season where he won the 2024 MLS Golden Boot. D.C. United will hope that Benteke can carry that goal-scoring form into this match and help them secure their first home win of 2025.
D.C. United is coming off a 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, March 1. Despite a goal from Christian Benteke in the 4th minute, the Black-and-Red found itself down 2-1 after conceding a 70th-minute goal to Chicago forward Hugo Cuypers. In the final kick of the game, Forest Hills, Md., native Jacob Murrell pulled off an incredible overhead kick from an Aaron Herrera cross to secure a point on the road against Gregg Berhalter’s Chicago side.
One of the most exciting storylines of the match against Sporting Kansas City will be the brotherly rivalry between D.C. United center back Lucas Bartlett and 19-year-old Sporting KC midfielder Jacob Bartlett. Both players have started in their respective teams' first two matches of the season, but this match will take things to a new level with family bragging rights on the line.
For Sporting Kansas City, this match represents a chance to bounce back after a tough 2-1 defeat against 10-man San Jose on March 1. The team has shown some defensive vulnerabilities, and D.C. United’s potent attacking options, including Benteke and midfielders Gabriel Pirani and Jared Stroud, will look to capitalize on any lapses in Kansas City's backline. The match promises to be an exciting showdown, as both teams are eager to earn three points that will be critical in the early stages of the season.
This match holds extra significance as D.C. United celebrates its 30th anniversary in Major League Soccer. The team’s rich history began in 1996 as one of the inaugural clubs in MLS, and the first matchup between the two teams came when D.C. United faced off against the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) on June 20, 1996. The Black-and-Red lost 5-1 in its first matchup against KC despite Tony Sanneh scoring the lone goal for DCU in the matchup. D.C. united went on to win the inaugural MLS Cup in 1996 to earn the first of its four MLS Cup titles. As D.C. celebrates three decades of success, the team will look to add another chapter to their storied history by taking down Sporting KC this Saturday at Audi Field.
By the Numbers:
- D.C. United is looking for their 23rd regular season win against Sporting Kansas City.
- Forward Christian Benteke scored his second goal of the MLS campaign last week. Benteke has 5 shots on target and has had 17 aerial duels so far this season.
- The Black-and-Red are ranked 5th in MLS in accurate crosses per match with 5.5; Sporting Kansas City is is ranked 15th averaging 3.5 accurate crosses per match.
- Defender David Schnegg ranks first on the team with 3.0 successful tackles per 90 minutes and has a 75% tackle success rate.
- D.C. United is ranked 7th in MLS with 3.9 expected goals (xG) per match; Sporting KC ranked 17th with 2.3 (xG).
Last Match Against Sporting Kansas City | Sept. 13, 2022 @ Children’s Mercy Park
In the last encounter between these two teams, Sporting Kansas City secured a 3-0 victory at Children’s Mercy Park. Despite some bright moments, D.C. United struggled to contain Kansas City's high-flying attack, led by Daniel Salloi and Khiry Shelton. D.C United will be hoping for a better outcome at Audi Field this Saturday. The last time the two sides met at Audi Field goes back to May 12, 2019, when the Black-and-Red won 1-0 on the back of a 78th-minute goal from Paul Arriola assisted by Wayne Rooney.
Since 1996, D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City share a 22-22-13 record. With both teams even on 22 wins, the game on Saturday will determine who holds the winning record in this historic fixture.
How to Watch
- D.C. United fans can catch all the action of their favorite team by subscribing to MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. With this subscription, you can watch every D.C. United game live, whether it’s home or away, along with exclusive pre- and post-match coverage. Simply open the Apple TV app, navigate to MLS Season Pass, and subscribe to enjoy the entire 2025 season. Whether you're at home or on the go, you'll have access to every match, ensuring you never miss a moment of D.C. United's season. Enjoy seamless streaming on your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and more!
- Radio broadcasts will be available live on 1190 iHeart Sports DC, 101.1 HD2, and the iHeartRadio App. Legendary broadcaster Dave Johnson, who has called games for D.C. United since the club’s inception in 1996 will return to the booth alongside Bruce Murray, former United States National Team player (1985-1993, 85 caps and 21 goals) and Class of 2011 National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee. The pair have partnered on radio calls since 2023 to deliver high-quality and passionate radio calls for fans. Supporters watching D.C. United MLS Regular Season games on MLS Season Pass can opt to listen to Dave Johnson and Bruce Murray calling the game on the MLS Local Radio Broadcast channel.
