PBP: 2026 Match Day #1: DC United vs. Union, February 21, 2026 p/d/p

As I look out my back window, I still have inches of snow on the ground. I'm not yet ready for a season opener. Maybe by the time next Saturday comes around ... (maybe...)

 

Imagine being from a Caribbean island and having to come and play in this. They don't even have the athletic equipment to deal with this.

 

I believe it is going to be what we colloquially refer to as a "home field advantage" lol.

 

First starting 11 of the 2026 MLS season:

 

Frankie is NOT in the team tonight, held out with a knock. Finn Sundstrom will start in his place.

 

I wish the union had a striker like Baribo……………………

 

Ezekiel Alladoh got a straight red for dissent. I don't recall ever seeing a player get a straight red like that before. He must have said something awful.

Before the sending off, we looked disjointed and posed little attacking threat. It has been a performance typical of teams that have lost several key players from a season prior. Hopefully BC can get the team to gel quickly.

Meanwhile, Baribo has the only goal so far and could easily have had a hat trick.

1-0 in the 70th minute

 

I watched the Union game in the Sixers game simultaneously. I must be a glutton for punishment, cause this was one ugly night of sport ball.

 

He could have seen a Red early in the game for his elbow to Sery.......

Outside of that counterattack DC really hasn't threatened much. All of their first half chances came from the young Sundstrom's inexperience.

Alladoh likely said something in French that was offensive, or the ref thought it was. So Red card.

DC still isn't very good. The Union jad a very off night, and got punished on the only real chance they conceded.

 

Feel like a lot of this L is on the coach.
Planning to start Westfield and not really having a backup plan beyond a young MLS rookie playing out of position when he was a scratch (how difficult and frightening it must have been for Westfield to say he couldn't go at the last minute knowing the coach was relying on him).

Yes, ownership should be held accountable for not getting a LB long before this but we all knew it was going to be late.

Also, players seemed over confident after their CCC blowout and when DC didn't just roll over but came out and punched the Union in the face they never responded.

The game next weekend will be a better barometer for the season which, I fear, will be a regression to the mean after last year's unexpected successes.

 

Frankie wasn't scratched until after warmups. I don't fault Carnell for going with the Sundstrom. He'd been with the team all through preseason, where as Martinez had just arrived. Bedoya played on Wednesday down in the Caribbean. I'm not sure what else fans wanted him to do?

How is it ownership's fault that the sporting department couldn't get the new LB signing over the line prior to the season starting? European teams are always reluctant to sell players in the January window, which is why MLS is switching their season calendar. Their first choice for LB replacement decided to sign with a different team, so they had to go to the next player on their list too.

What's the mean exactly? The Union have missed the playoffs ONCE since 2018.......... So they're going to regress to 55 points this season? Can our fanbase stop living in the rudderless years of 2010-2015 already?

 

I think it's the fault of those that control the money that we don't have any left backs on this team at the moment. Not Westfield's usual position. Not like they didn't know Wagner wanted a move for a long time and they certainly seem to be fine with taking the money from the sale. It seems like they have to have the money in the bank before they go out shopping. I know players are scouted and agents/teams contacted way in advance but this was a foreseeable circumstance.

And no, I can't move on from the early years. Sat thru too many horrendous games with only a loaf of day old bread or nearly expired applesauce to show for it.

I will go to games and support this team even when they are bad but I think I'll still point out when I think they make mistakes.

I come to this site because I feel like everyone who posts here feels the same. Maybe you are just more optimistic than I, jaykoz3 and I appreciate your views (I usually agree with them)