Young D.C. United holds off Loudoun United in 3-2 DMV Derby win: Match report

A makeshift D.C. United side claimed the first-ever DMV Derby, defeating their nearest neighbors Loudoun United 3-2 in a friendly Wednesday at Audi Field

After being stunned by a Thorleifur Úlfarsson opener, United rode first-half goals from Oscar Avilez, Nikola Markovic, and Nathan Ordaz to the win. Loudoun made things interesting as Giovanni D'Agostino pulled one back midway through the second half, but the MLS side — even with eight normal starters left out of the squad entirely — were worthy winners in the end.

While the hosts were on the front foot to start, an error in the 10th minute handed Loudoun the opener. An attempted ball in behind would have found Úlfarsson offside, but Sean Nealis' attempt to play the ball only served to direct it further into the Loudoun striker's path.

From there, the Iceland native was all alone against Alex Bono, easily tucking the gift away.

The hosts were stung, but had the appropriate response. After some successful pressing forced a turnover along the left, and Hosei Kijima — standing in at left back as René Weiler dressed just 16 players for the friendly — drove a cross to the back post. Avilez, the homegrown attacker signed earlier this season, saw the opening, planting himself between Loudoun defenders to take a touch before steering a low, 14th-minute shot past Ethan Bandre.

A scintillating sequence from Caden Clark should have resulted in a second. The winger danced past two defenders and slipped Jacob Murrell in alone, drawing cheers from a sparse crowd, but the Maryland native's shot ramped up off of Bandre and floated into the Chico Stand, much to his chagrin.

That should have been a United goal, but the wait for a lead would last barely a minute. A long Jared Stroud throw-in found Nealis at the near post, and what followed was a succession of flick-ons: Nealis moved the ball along to Ordaz, who tipped the ball off the outside of his foot before heading it on for a waiting Markovic to power an effort past Bandre.

Three minutes later, United went up 3-1. An initially promising move involving Clark, Kijima, and new homegrown signing Kamil Castillo was broken up by Noah Adnan. However, United kept the play alive, with Ordaz showing his accuracy with a pinpoint shot from 18 yards into the top corner.

Alex Bono thought he had a 37th-minute loose ball contained, but slipped on the edge of the United box. Luca Piras kept the play alive, feeding Christian Torres for a shot at a seemingly empty net. It looked like a clumsy concession, but Bono somehow recovered, getting back into position to make a leaping, fingertip save.

Loudoun's halftime shift into a 4-4-2 that occasionally flexed into a back five seemed to slow United down a bit, and the second half's first real chance became a goal. The USL Championship side's free kick, bent in by ex-United man Pedro Santos, fell invitingly for D'Agostino to finish from inside the six-yard box.

United had to worry again on a 78th minute Loudoun corner, with Lucas Bartlett making a critical block on one shot, while Hivan Kouonang's eventual follow-up zipped over the crossbar. At the other end, D.C. showed real class as Kijima, João Peglow, and Gavin Turner put together a one-touch sequence to unlock the defense, but Turner's eventual 19-yard shot was scooped high.

Turner saw another shot deflected to substitute goalkeeper Lorenzo Herrera shortly thereafter as the hosts pressed for a fourth.

However, Loudoun gave D.C. one last scare, as Stroud couldn't make an interception as he and Piras converged on the ball in the 90th minute.

With essentially the final kick of the match, Piras had his opening, but bent his attempted equalizer wide of Bono's far post.

United will pick up with the MLS schedule again in 10 days, heading north of the border to face CF Montréal. Kickoff from Quebec is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Box score — Friendly
8/5/2026

D.C. United 3 (Avilez 14, Markovic 23, Ordaz 26)
Loudoun United 2 (Úlfarsson 10, D'Agostino 65)

Lineups:
DCU (442): Alex Bono; Jared Stroud, Sean Nealis, Matti Peltola (C), Hosei Kijima; Oscar Avilez (João Peglow 58), Nikola Markovic, Kamil Castillo (Lucas Bartlett 58), Caden Clark (Brandon Servania 58); Nathan Ordaz, Jacob Murrell (Gavin Turner 46)

Loudoun (433): Ethan Bandre (Lorenzo Herrera 58); Luca Piras, Noah Adnan, Salvatore Mazzaferro (Boluwatife Akinyode 46), Kwame Awuah (Pedro Santos 46); Sean Young (Marcos Dias 70), James Murphy (C) (Pacifique Niyongabire 46), Abdellatif Aboukoura (Andres Souper 46); Christian Torres (Giovanni D'Agostino 46), Thorleifur Úlfarsson (Elvis Amoh 33), Richie Aman (Hivan Kouonang 46)

Bookings:
DCU - None
Loudoun - None

Referee: Will add if I get it
Weather: Partly cloudy, humid, breezy, 87°
Attendance: Will add if I get it