Story of the Match
D.C. United plays against the San Jose Earthquakes this Sunday, April 6 in the third road game of the 2025 season with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. ET. After a 2-1 defeat at home to Columbus Crew at Audi Field on March 29, the Black-and-Red will look to bounce back and get their first away win of the season this Sunday.
The match between D.C. United and San Jose this weekend holds special historical significance, marking Major League Soccer’s 30th anniversary since the inaugural match between the two sides in 1996. In the first-ever MLS game, D.C. United lost 1-0 to the San Jose Clash at Spartan Stadium with Eric Wynalda scoring the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. The anniversary will be celebrated with a special halftime recognition of several members from each team’s 1996 roster, including D.C. United legends John Harkes, Jeff Agoos, Shawn Medved, and Marco Etcheverry. There will also be a familiar face on the San Jose sidelines in former Black-and-Red head coach Bruce Arena who is the current head coach and sporting director for the Earthquakes. Arena was D.C. United’s coach from 1996 to 1998 and led the club to an illustrious first three years, winning two MLS Cups (1996 & 1997), an MLS Supporters’ Shield (1997), a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship (1996), CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (1998), and the Interamerican Cup (1998).
In the Black-and-Red’s previous match against the Columbus Crew on March 29, D.C. United started strong with Christian Benteke opening the scoring in the 13th minute. Despite taking the early lead, D.C. United were unable to handle Columbus’ offensive pressure and lost 2-1 to the 2023 MLS Cup Champions after a 65th-minute game-winner from Diego Rossi.
With all eyes now on the next game, the Black-and-Red heads to California for the first Western Conference away matchup of the season. Head Coach Troy Lesesne will look to right the ship after back-to-back losses and and the team will be working tirelessly in training this week to refine their team shape and improve their conversion in the attacking third. Benteke continues to be a force in MLS and the Belgian has already scored four goals and recorded an assist in the first six games of the season. On the opposite side of the field, goalkeeper Kim Joon Hong continues his seamless transition to a new league. The Korean National Team goalkeeper has adapted well to the demands of MLS and continues to build confidence through each match. The D.C. United coaching staff will also have their work cut out for them this Sunday going up against legendary MLS coach, Bruce Arena, who has won five MLS Cups during his impressive career. While there were positives to pull out from the loss against Columbus, the team will be eager to get points back on the board this weekend as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings.
The San Jose Earthquakes have had a stuttering start to the 2025 campaign going 2-3-1 (win-loss-tie) in the opening six matches. This Sunday will be their second consecutive home match following a 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC on March 29 and they have a 1-2-1 record at PayPal Park this season. Leading the charge for San Jose is forward Cristian Arango, who has scored three goals in six MLS starts this season. D.C. United’s backline will need to be on a high alert to contain Arango while also dealing with the creativity of Cristian Espinoza and Javier López in the midfield. Another notable name in the San Jose midfield is former Black-and-Red Homegrown Ian Harkes. 29 years after John Harkes captained D.C. United in the first-ever MLS match, his son will now likely feature in the same fixture 30 seasons later.
By the Numbers
- Forward Christian Benteke scored his fourth goal of the season in the 13th minute, against Columbus Crew on March 29, 2025, assisted by João Peglow. It was Benteke's third goal at Audi Field in four home matches.
- Midfielder João Peglow recorded his second assist of the season against Columbus Crew on March 29, 2025. Peglow created two chances and recorded five recoveries in 90 minutes played.
- Midfielder Matti Peltola started his first match of the season for the Black-and-Red against the Columbus Crew. Peltola won four ground duels and recorded a 93% passing accuracy in 74 minutes played.
- Defender David Schnegg completed four successful dribbles and had a 100% tackle success rate in 90 minutes played against the Columbus Crew.
Last Match Against San Jose Earthquakes | September 9, 2023 @ Audi Field
In the last meeting against the San Jose Earthquakes, the teams drew 0-0 at Audi Field on September 9, 2023. The match saw both teams struggle to carve out any real goalscoring opportunities and the teams shared the points. D.C. United has a 15-18-9 record against San Jose since 1996 and will look to add to the win column this Sunday.
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.
4/12: Ticket + Beer = $30
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