D.C. United can't solve SC Paderborn 07 in 1-0 friendly loss: Match report

D.C. United couldn't quite solve Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07 on Wednesday night, falling 1-0 in a friendly that saw few chances at either end.

A Gabriel Vidović penalty seconds before halftime gave the newly-promoted side the lead, and a shorthanded United saw a bright enough start fizzle after halftime.

As is often the case with in-season friendlies, United fielded a deeply unfamiliar starting 11, with defender/midfielder Nikola Markovic playing up top alongside Jared Stroud. René Weiler gave starts to Homegrown players Oscar Avilez and Kamil Castillo, while João Peglow was deployed at left back.

The opening half-hour offered little in the way of chances, though United had the better of it. Avilez broke through along the right in the 30th minute to provide a cutback, but Stroud couldn't react in time to guide the ball on frame.

A United counterpress probably should have resulted in a 43rd-minute goal. Paderborn nearly escaped after Schubert's pass forward courted danger, but Stroud lunged in for a tackle to keep the Black-and-Red's hopes alive. Castillo immediately fed the veteran in behind, but shooting from dead center, Stroud couldn't find the corner, with Schubert getting down quickly.

Paderborn had barely sniffed goal, but went ahead in the final seconds of the first half thanks to Vidović's penalty. A short corner caught D.C. out, and Markovic had to leave a leg out trying to prevent Deniz Zeitler from slashing in on goal. A spot kick was awarded, despite United's protests, and Vidović sent Alex Bono the wrong way.

Once play resumed, Castillo smacked a 19-yard shot off the crossbar, with the ball bouncing down and out without crossing the line. At the other end, a deflected free kick from Oliver Batista Meier worried Homegrown goalkeeper Grant Leveille, who entered at halftime, but ultimately went a foot wide.

Batista Meier repeated the same sequence from closer range in the 68th minute, while Leveille made a splendid save to deny Stefano Marino after the winger's run from midfield nearly paid off.

United had found it easier to create cutbacks in the first half, but in the second the hosts — who made seven changes at halftime — showed more composure. D.C.'s counter-attacking opportunities dried up. The Black-and-Red shuffled things up in the final minutes seeking an equalizer, but ended up finishing the match with 10 players when Castillo suffered a knock after all five substitutes had been sent on.

Just before full time, Peglow sprung Gavin Turner in to space on the right, with the young midfielder squaring the ball to Avilez, only for Paderborn to crowd the 16-year-old out to preserve the scoreline.

United will return to normal MLS programming in 10 days, as they head south to face Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on October 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Box score — Friendly
9/30/2026

D.C. United 0
SC Paderborn 07 1 (Vidović 47+pen)

Lineups:
DCU (442): Alex Bono (Grant Leveille 46); Silvan Hefti (Conner Antley 65), Sean Nealis, Lucas Bartlett (C), João Peglow; Oscar Avilez, Brandon Servania (Andre Dozzell 46), Kamil Castillo, Hosei Kijima (Keisuke Kurokawa 46); Jared Stroud (Gavin Turner 65), Nikola Markovic

Paderborn (343): Markus Schubert; Jano ter Horst (Tjark Scheller 46), Felix Götze (C), Jonah Sticker (Mattes Hansen 58); Clemens Lippmann (Ruben Müller 46), Gabriel Vidović (Oliver Batista Meier 46), Santiago Castañeda (Tom Baack 58), Deniz Zeitler (Niklas Mohr 46); Sven Michel (Rayan Philippe 46), Marvin Pieringer (Stefen Tigges 46), Albert Millgramm (Stefano Marino 46)

Bookings:
DCU - Peglow 70
Paderborn - Götze 25, Hansen 59, Müller 76

Referee: Will add if I get it
Weather: Partly cloudy, humid, 74°
Attendance: Will add if I get it