Know Thy Enemy: Revs at D.C. United Keeping I95 Weird Edition
New England has played a few games in recent weeks that make perfect sense in the context of MLS...which is to say they make no sense at all and D.C. looks to add to that list.
The New England Revolution look to continue their seven-match unbeaten streak with an I95 Cup (yes it’s totally a real thing) rivalry match with D.C. United (730pm, MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+).
While the Revs have drawn their last three games, it’s been a far rougher stretch for D.C. as they’ve gone winless in four games and been shut out in five of their last six. Now, they do have five points during that six game stretch thanks to a win over the Rapids, but they also have a four game losing streak from mid-March to mid-April that saw them concede 13 goals in four games. Not ideal for a team that gave up 70 goals last year.
On the bright side, D.C. does have Christian Benteke leading the attacking line though he is out for today’s match. The down side is, well everything else for an offense that has now scored fewer goals than New England this year and are under-performing their expected goals number (xG) anywhere between seven and 10, depending on if you ask MLS or American Soccer Analysis. And checking the D.C. United individual player xG numbers for anyone not named Benteke and you understand very quickly why this team might be struggling.
That’s not to say the Revs analytics are anything to praise either, but New England wasn’t trying to be an overwhelming attacking force, a stylistic decision I still strongly disagree with. Both teams being bitten by the injury bug certainly have not helped things either. At least we can make the argument that the Revs are doing something with a revamped backline in the offseason and a formation change in April. D.C. United just seems stuck for the moment.
You would think that logically, just getting a bunch of really solid players to feed Benteke would at least mean a midtable finish, just like running back the Revs roster in 2024 would at worst do the same. But this is MLS where nothing makes sense and results are seemingly awarded at random because it’s more fun that way.
I know New England does not have a deep bench right now, but I think it has to run out most of its best XI over the next two games (at DC, at MTL) because not getting six points in these two games would be bad. No, I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a couple of strong performances on the road against a Benteke-less D.C. and the Vrioni-led Foot Clan, especially defensively.
So amidst all the weird streaks and anemic offensive play, surely we’re in for another barnburner 3-3 game right? No, it’s gotta be a 0-0 tired leg snoozefest…I’m giving up, nonsensical 2-1 win where everyone scores one dumb goal and Carles Gil hits a walk off. That seems close enough to midweek MLS After Dark territory.
Here to try and figure out whatever D.C. United is doing is our good friend Ryan Keefer of The District Press for his take on Benteke’s supporting cast and if and when the Black and Red will start turning things around. As always you can head over to their site for my answers to Ryan’s questions and their side of the game coverage.
TBM: Christian Benteke is still good at soccer though I'm convinced at this point he can score 20 goals a year in MLS until he's like fifty...surely there's been another bright spot on the attacking side of the ball?
RK: Well if ‘spot’ means a flash or two, I guess a couple of guys could fit that bill? Hosea Kijima was acquired through San Diego’s expansion draft technically, but impressed in St. Louis. Joao Peglow is a Brazilian who played in the Polish League, but has been hampered by injuries so far, something which the team has been plagued with to some degree.
TBM: So if I did the math right...DC has been shutout in five of its last six MLS games which I assume is not helping that -14 GD and a team offense that now has scored fewer goals than the Revs in 2025. Did anything get fixed from last year or are these new problems?
RK: Well there’s a couple of different ways to look at it I think; this is the second year for coach Troy Lesesne and GM Ally Mackay, and they were still to some extent clearing some of the contracts off the books so they can try to build in a smarter, better way. This wasn’t without some hiccups; D.C. had already used their 2025 buyout spot last year, and didn’t want their Designated Player (Mateusz Klich) around anymore, so he was traded to Atlanta, but DC had to keep the DP spot most of a $2 million salary to boot, in what could be described as a weird tribute to the David Justice scene in Moneyball. The aforementioned Peglow’s missed half the season so far, along with fellow Brazilian (and U22 signing) Gabriel Pirani, the latter has apparently not impressed enough to keep his spot in the XI. Low risk medium reward acquisitions like Randall Leal from Nashville and Fidel Barajas (whom Lesesne probably saw some time in when Barajas was in Charleston), have been absent or anonymous. D.C. does have some flexibility to make a summer move or two, but it kind of feels like wheel spinning at the moment.
TBM: DC United will play at Nashville in the US Open Cup quarters, and could host Philly in the semis if the Union beat RBNY. Who were the stars in your wins against Charleston and Charlotte and what are the odds we see a 2013 esque cup run from the Black and Red here?
RK: D.C. played 120 minutes in both, Jacob Murrell helped open scoring in the win over Charleston, and Jordan Farr (whom Lesesne was likely familiar with when he was playing lights out for San Antonio in 2022) was a specialist sub in extra time, saving 4 of 5 Charlotte PKs. Lots of soccer left to play for D.C. who’ve been spared Leagues Cup play such as it is, and a good number of the games are against teams they have a chance to nab a result or two from in the next month or so. But Lesesne is well-versed in the Open Cup and making a deep run, making a run to the Quarterfinals in his first year as a coach with New Mexico’s USL team, and if things spin out completely in the next month it wouldn’t surprise me.
Lineup/Injuries/Predictions/Etc.
Injuries: Out: Badji, Benteke, McNaughton. Questionable: Leal
Lineup: Barraza; Rowles, Bartlett, Peltola; Schnegg, Enow, Kijima, Herrera; Peglow, Murrell, Pirani
Prediction: D.C. break the shutout streak, but lose 2-1.