D.C. United earn draw with Union behind Sean Johnson's heroics

Rookie defender Nikola Markovic also shines in D.C.'s first point in four matches

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:53am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in a cubist style, with the players' forms abstracted into angular shapes and the ball and field lines creating a dynamic, kinetic composition.A cubist interpretation of the hard-fought draw between D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union, with the players' movements and the ball's path deconstructed into a geometric, kinetic composition.Philadelphia Today

D.C. United earned a 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night, with goalkeeper Sean Johnson making four saves to record his third clean sheet of the season. Rookie defender Nikola Markovic also played a key role, blocking three shots and disrupting Union attacks throughout the match. The result snaps D.C.'s two-game losing streak in MLS, though they remain winless in their last four league matches and last five overall.

Why it matters

The draw keeps D.C. United above the struggling Union in the Eastern Conference standings, as Philadelphia continues to search for its first win since claiming the 2025 Supporters' Shield. The performance of young players like Johnson and Markovic also provides optimism for D.C.'s rebuilding efforts after finishing last in MLS last season.

The details

D.C. United's defense was led by goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who made four saves to preserve the clean sheet, and rookie defender Nikola Markovic, who blocked three shots and was a consistent disruptor of Union attacks. The Union outshot D.C. 17-6 and led 13-1 in corner kicks, but failed to find the back of the net for the second consecutive match against their Eastern Conference rivals.

  • The match was played on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • D.C. United snapped a two-game losing streak in MLS, though they remain winless in their last four league matches and last five overall.

The players

Sean Johnson

The D.C. United goalkeeper made four saves to record his third clean sheet of the season.

Nikola Markovic

The rookie D.C. United defender blocked three shots and was a consistent disruptor of Union attacks in his first start for the club.

Andre Blake

The Philadelphia Union goalkeeper kept a clean sheet without having to make a single save.

Tai Baribo

The former Philadelphia Union striker started for D.C. United in his first return to his former club after being questionable with a thigh injury.

Jesus Bueno

The Philadelphia Union midfielder had a long-range effort strike the post in the 12th minute and connected well on a tricky volley inside the box in the 40th minute, but was denied by Markovic.

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What they’re saying

“We'll take the point, but we know we need to be better going forward. The defense did a great job, and Sean [Johnson] was huge for us tonight.”

— Wayne Rooney, D.C. United Head Coach

What’s next

D.C. United will look to build on this result when they host the New York Red Bulls on April 26, while the Philadelphia Union will aim to bounce back at home against the Columbus Crew on the same date.

The takeaway

Despite the draw, this was an encouraging performance for D.C. United, who got strong showings from young players like Sean Johnson and Nikola Markovic. The result keeps them above the struggling Union in the Eastern Conference standings, providing a glimmer of hope as the club continues its rebuilding efforts after a last-place finish in 2025.