Munteanu brace keys D.C. United in win at NYCFC: Match report

D.C. United faced a tricky question on Sunday, squaring off with a technically gifted New York City FC side at City Field. It turns out sometimes the tough questions have simple answers.

United, pragmatic and determined throughout, walked off with a 2-0 victory over NYCFC, with Louis Munteanu's brace vaulting them over the Pigeons and into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Even without Tai Baribo, who missed out for the fourth time in six games due to a nagging thigh injury, D.C. capitalized on the momentum that came from last week's dramatic comebacks against the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City.

NYCFC sounded an early alarm for United in the 3rd minute, breaking out after a corner to nearly score. Matt Freese's punch started a jailbreak counter, and Sean Johnson had to breathe a sigh of relief as Agustín Ojeda dragged his angled shot wide.

Unshaken, United offered early threats of their own, with Brandon Servania drawing a good save out of Freese before some unlucky bounces defied Jackson Hopkins and João Peglow, whose eventual effort looped high. Louis Munteanu went even closer from nearly 30 yards, hitting a bouncing ball on the half-volley, only for his powerful 17th-minute bid to miss the far post by a yard.

United had been encouraged to see Munteanu get his first goal after a tough start to life in MLS, and the Romanian pounced for a second in the 29th minute. Jared Stroud, starting ahead of Aaron Herrera, offered a long throw on the tight confines at Citi Field, and NYCFC couldn't win their battles at the near post.

Stroud's delivery was allowed to bounce inside the six-yard box, and Munteanu did what strikers are supposed to do, calmly arriving to poke the ball past Freese from close range.

That's back-to-back games with a goal for Louis Munteanu and D.C. steals the lead in Queens!

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— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Johnson was able to make sure the lead stood up in the 38th minute, leaping right to slap away a dangerous Nicolás Fernández Mercau free kick that bent up and over United's wall.

A long throw from the opposite side very nearly gave D.C. a two-goal edge, with Keisuke Kurokawa's delivery making its way into the six-yard box. This time, Kye Rowles flicked the ball on, but Hopkins couldn't get clean purchase on his shot, with Freese barely saving ahead of the lurking Munteanu.

NYCFC came out and offered more of a menace on two early set pieces, but United probably should have padded their lead after pressing the Pigeons into a huge giveaway. What followed was just too hectic for the Black-and-Red, with Matti Peltola eventually unable to get Munteanu's first-time pass out from under his feet.

Johnson repelled Fernández Mercau's 58th-minute rip from an angle, and with their control waning, United responded with defense-first changes, sending Herrera and Nikola Markovic on for Hopkins and Stroud.

Shortly thereafter, Kurokawa avoided a possible red card (or second yellow) after bundling Ojeda over off the ball as NYCFC countered, underlining United's emphasis on being physical to frustrate the hosts.

The game was tilted towards United's goal, but after Freese nearly gifted Munteanu an open net on an innocent long ball, the Black-and-Red picked up an even bigger opportunity.

It seemed very modest, with Lucas Bartlett ending up on the ground after yet another long throw-in sailed his way. Referee Ismail Elfath spotted that Keaton Parks had wrapped Bartlett up to prevent him from leaping, making a call that NYCFC protested at length.

Once play resumed, Munteanu slotted home the 75th-minute penalty with ease, giving D.C. a valuable two-goal cushion.

It's a brace for Louis Munteanu and D.C. is cruising!

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— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 3, 2026 at 4:52 PM

United, despite toggling more and more towards a low-block approach, ended up out-shooting NYCFC 19-9. Johnson had to offer probably his best save of the night deep in stoppage time, tipping a floating header from Kai Trewin away from the upper corner, but in truth DCU's pragmatic approach kept the Pigeons at bay, denying the home fans any hopes of a grandstand finish.

United (4-4-3) will savor the win, but their next assignment is a tougher one as they head to Tennessee to take on Eastern Conference leaders Nashville SC. Saturday's kickoff from Geodis Park is set for 9:15 p.m. ET.

Box score — MLS regular season (game 11)
5/3/2026 — match played at Citi Field (Queens, NY)

New York City FC 0
D.C. United 2 (Munteanu 29, 75pen)

Lineups:
NYCFC (4231): Matt Freese; Strahinja Tanasijević (Keaton Parks 63), Thiago Martins (C), Raul Gustavo (Jonathan Shore 81), Nico Cavallo; Kai Trewin, Aiden O'Neill (Andrés Perea 36); Agustín Ojeda (Seymour Reid 81), Maxi Moralez, Malachi Jones (Hannes Wolf 63); Nicolás Fernández Mercau

DCU (442): Sean Johnson; Silvan Hefti, Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles, Keisuke Kurokawa; Jared Stroud (Aaron Herrera 60), Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania, João Peglow (Conner Antley 89); Jackson Hopkins (Nikola Markovic 60), Louis Munteanu (Jacob Murrell 78)

Bookings:
NYCFC - Fernández Mercau 80
DCU - Kurokawa 26, Hefti 48+, Peglow 70, Murrell 93+

Referee: Ismail Elfath
Weather: Sunny, clear, 59°
Attendance: Will add once I have it