Match Preview – D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls on Apr. 19 @ Sports Illustrated Stadium

Story of the Match

D.C. United plays on the road for the fourth time in 2025 against New York Red Bulls on Saturday, April 19 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.  After a 1-0 defeat at home to FC Cincinnati at Audi Field on April 12, the Black-and-Red will look to bounce back and get their first away win of the season this Saturday.

Despite falling to FC Cincinnati 1-0 at home last weekend, D.C. United saw positive glimpses throughout the match. Following the heavy defeat against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 6, Head Coach Troy Lesesne shifted his tactics and added a third center back to the backline in Lukas MacNaughton. This proved to be a smart tactical move for the Black-and-Red to limit FC Cincinnati’s attacking opportunities last Saturday. The additional center back allowed defenders Aaron Herrera and David Schnegg the ability to continue getting forward while having adequate reinforcements in behind. The defense also looked different with goalkeeper Luis Barazza receiving his first start of the season against Cincinnati. The 28-year-old had an impressive performance, recording five saves to keep the score at 1-0. The Black-and-Red were shutout for only the second time this season and forward Christian Benteke will be looking to get back on the scoresheet against the Red Bulls this Saturday.

For New York Red Bulls, this match presents an opportunity to build on their recent goalless draw against Orlando City SC on April 12. Entering the match with a 3-2-3 (win-loss-tie) record, the Red Bulls will be eager to get another win in front of their home fans at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Midfielder Emil Forsberg continues to show that he is one of the most talented midfielders in MLS after scoring three goals and recording an assist in his first eight starts of the season. Meanwhile former Bayern Munich and PSG striker, Maxim Choupo-Moting, has enjoyed a great start to his MLS career after notching three goals and an assist in his first eight games. The Black-and-Red backline will have to perform at their best to minimize goal-scoring opportunities for the Red Bulls attacking unit this weekend.

By the Numbers:

• Goalkeeper Luis Barraza made his Black-and-Red debut on Saturday, April 12 against FC Cincinnati; Barraza recorded five saves.

• Defender Aaron Herrera created the most chances in the match on Saturday, April 12 against FC Cincinnati with four and won 10 total duels; Herrera completed 90 minutes.

• Midfielder Brandon Servania made his second start of the season on April 12. He recorded seven recoveries and had 10 passes into the final third.

• Defender Lucas Bartlett recorded six clearances and had a 100% tackle success rate in 90 minutes played against FC Cincinnati.

Last Match Against New York Red Bulls | June 29, 2024 @ Red Bull Arena

The last encounter between D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls ended in a 2-2 draw at Red Bull Arena on June 29, 2024. In the 90th all-time regular season meeting between the two rivals, it was former Red Bulls homegrown midfielder Jared Stroud who opened the scoring early for D.C. United in the 6th minute after an assist from Jacob Murrell. However, New York Red Bulls responded in the 24th minute through an Elias Manoel penalty, before D.C. United captain Pedro Santos put the visitors back in front just before halftime with a well-struck free kick in stoppage time. Despite a resilient defensive effort, the Red Bulls found an equalizer in the 78th minute through Cameron Harper to end the match 2-2.

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.