DC United, Atlanta United Play to Scoreless Draw

Neither team could find the back of the net in the Eastern Conference matchup.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:04am

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In a defensive battle, host Atlanta United and D.C. United played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night. Neither team was able to generate many scoring chances, with Atlanta holding a 64.8% to 35.1% advantage in possession and outshoting D.C. 9-4. Atlanta's Lucas Hoyos and D.C.'s Sean Johnson each recorded clean sheets, with Hoyos making one save and Johnson stopping both shots he faced.

Why it matters

The draw leaves both teams searching for consistency in the early part of the MLS season. Atlanta picked up its first win a week ago but has now been held scoreless three times, while D.C. snapped a two-match losing streak with the point.

The details

Atlanta came into the match having scored five goals over its previous two games, but the team struggled to create chances against a stout D.C. defense. The best opportunity of the first half came in the 13th minute when Cooper Sanchez's attempt was saved by Johnson. D.C. nearly broke the deadlock in the 61st minute after poor defending by Atlanta, but Hoyos made a save on Jackson Hopkins' shot. Late in the second half, Caden Clark hit the post for D.C. and Brandon Servania's long-range effort struck the crossbar, but neither team could find a winner.

  • The match was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Lucas Hoyos

The Atlanta United goalkeeper recorded his first clean sheet of the MLS season, making one save.

Sean Johnson

The D.C. United goalkeeper also kept a clean sheet, stopping both shots he faced.

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What they’re saying

“We'll take the point, but we know we need to be better in front of goal. Our defense was solid, but we have to find a way to create more chances.”

— Frank Klopas, D.C. United Head Coach

What’s next

Both teams will look to build on the point earned in this match as they continue their MLS campaigns. Atlanta United's next match is at home against the New England Revolution on March 29, while D.C. United will host the Chicago Fire on April 5.

The takeaway

This scoreless draw highlights the defensive strengths of both teams, but also their struggles to generate consistent offense in the early part of the season. As the year progresses, finding the right balance between defense and attack will be crucial for Atlanta United and D.C. United to climb the Eastern Conference standings.