Back in action but still lost at home, D.C. United falls to Nashville SC

Washington Post

a day ago

Back from a week off and commencing the second half of the MLS campaign, D.C. United had little reason to expect a victory against Nashville SC on Saturday night at Audi Field.
For starters, United won just one of its last eight games going into its modest hiatus. And D.C. has been notably woeful at home, winning just twice in league play since July. Nashville, meanwhile, entered in scorching form — a 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions, including six matches without a loss on the road.
Sure enough, both sides stuck to the script. Easing to a 1-0 win on Sam Surridge's first-half penalty kick, Nashville (11-4-5) remained without a loss since mid-April and completed a perfect three-game run on the road. Suffering a third straight loss, D.C. was shut out for sixth time in its past nine MLS matches — a 1-5-3 tumble that has left United (4-10-6) 10 points out of the Eastern Conference's final playoff slot.
D.C. returns to Audi Field — where it is 2-5-4 this season and 6-13-9 since the start of 2024 — to host Atlanta United next Saturday. In a week and a half, it will travel to face Nashville again in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal July 9 at Geodis Park.
D.C. Coach Troy Lesesne largely stuck with his regulars against Nashville, swapping in Jared Stroud and Hosei Kijima for wingers Gabriel Pirani and Randall Leal as his only changes from the lineup that fell, 2-0, at Real Salt Lake on June 14.
Nashville needed 18 minutes to strike. D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett got tangled up with Hany Mukhtar as the 2022 MLS MVP chased Andy Najar's clipped ball into the box, prompting referee Ricardo Fierro to award a penalty kick and show Bartlett a yellow card. Surridge didn't blink from the spot, casually firing the ball past United goalkeeper Luis Barraza to score for the sixth straight match and net his league-leading 16th goal.
D.C. struggled to find a foothold as Nashville controlled 57 percent of the possession. When the home side did carve out opportunities, they repeatedly fizzled out in calamitous fashion. Moments before the penalty, an enticing attack fell apart when Kijima muffed a pass off his plant foot. Later, Kijima's defense-splitting through ball caromed away off Dominique Badji's heel — and the striker was called offside to boot. After halftime, substitute Matti Peltola hooked a promising shot well side.
Lesesne overhauled his front line with three subs in the 62nd minute, bringing on star striker Christian Benteke for his first appearance since a mid-May ankle injury, plus Brazilian catalysts João Peglow and Pirani to flank him. But after offering an initial dash of verve, the trio struggled to break through as Nashville comfortably closed out the victory.
Here's what else to know about United's loss:
Benteke gave United an imposing presence up top and won one dangerous free kick but couldn't steer a shot on frame. The Belgian's best chance came moments after he entered, when he rose to meet David Schnegg's far-post cross but could only glance a header wide. With six goals, Benteke still has four more than any other D.C. player.
Midfielder Jackson Hopkins (hip), who entered in the 77th minute, and Peglow (thigh) also returned from injury for their first action since May. Their progress was a welcome boost for a club that recently lost forward Kristian Fletcher to a torn ACL.
The Concacaf Gold Cup deprived both teams of key players. United was missing Guatemalan right back Aaron Herrera, and Nashville played without U.S. center back Walker Zimmerman and Canadian winger Jacob Shaffelburg.
Najar, a fan-favorite D.C. academy product who spent two stints with the first team, logged 76 minutes for Nashville at right back. Returning to MLS after a year playing in his native Honduras, the 32-year-old is in the midst of a career-best campaign, recording a goal and seven assists in 19 appearances. On Wednesday, Najar earned his first MLS all-star nod.
The 2010 rookie of the year, Najar spent three dazzling seasons with United before moving to Belgian power Anderlecht at 19. After injuries derailed his once-promising European career, Najar returned to United in 2021 and made 70 appearances over three seasons.
Beyond setting up the early penalty kick, Najar played with his usual free-roaming flair while cutting inside, facilitating clever combinations and making runs behind the D.C. back line.