Apr 19, 2025; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; D.C. United ahead Joao Peglow (7) celebrates his second purpose of the match in opposition to the New York Purple Bulls through the first half at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures
With reigning MLS Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke sidelined, Joao Peglow emerged as an unlikely hero for D.C. United, scoring a brace in a 2-1 victory over the New York Purple Bulls on Saturday evening in Harrison, N.J.
It was a long-awaited win as D.C. (2-4-3, 9 factors) snapped a four-match shedding streak and ended an eight-game run with no win in opposition to New York, a skid which started in 2022.
Within the Atlantic Cup rivalry matchup, D.C. additionally handed New York (3-3-3, 12 factors) its first house loss this season in 5 matches.
The objectives for Peglow, a 23-year-old Brazilian winger who was signed in December from Polish first division workforce Radomiak Radom, have been his first two in MLS.
They got here 9 minutes aside, late within the first half, after Benteke departed within the twenty ninth minute with an obvious thigh harm. Benteke led MLS with 23 objectives final 12 months and has 5 this season.
Peglow’s first purpose got here on a purpose kick help from D.C. keeper Luis Barraza. Peglow headed a bouncing ball backward previous a defender, ran it down and fired a right-footed shot from the suitable facet of the field to the underside proper nook.
Then within the forty fourth minute, Peglow fired a sensational sidewinding bicycle kick from the suitable facet of the 6-yard field, tucking it within the prime left nook. Aaron Herrera assisted with a header for a 2-0 lead.
New York retaliated within the 57th minute. Off a nook kick, Emil Forberg despatched a header throughout the field to Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who settled the move together with his chest and drove a left-footed shot into the highest proper nook, chopping the deficit in half.
After that, the Purple Bulls’ greatest probability got here within the 84th minute off a nook kick. In a scramble within the 6-yard field, Barraza lunged to the turf to make one in all his two saves.
It was a satisfying victory for D.C. and coach Troy Lesesne who performed a job in constructing the Purple Bulls’ streak in opposition to its longtime MLS rival, serving as a New York assistant in 2022 and as its head coach for a lot of the next season.
It was the 91st regular-season MLS match within the collection between two of the league’s founding members. No different pair of MLS groups have confronted one another as many instances.
–Area Stage Media
