D.C. United Climbs Into Playoff Contention with Dramatic Win Over New England

On a cool autumn evening in New England, D.C. United stepped onto the field at Gillette Stadium with the odds stacked against them. Winless at this venue for over a decade and sitting below the MLS playoff line, their postseason hopes were hanging by a thread. Yet by the time the final whistle blew, D.C. United had completely rewritten their narrative.

United’s 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution not only broke a 12-year winless streak in Foxborough, but it also vaulted them into prime playoff contention. With just one match remaining in the regular season, United sits in eighth place, eyeing a return to the postseason for the first time in five years.

The evening began with a bang—literally. Just three minutes in, veteran left-back Pedro Santos unleashed a jaw-dropping half-volley, launching a laser-like shot into the top corner. Despite being at a difficult angle and seemingly too far from goal, Santos found the perfect mix of power and precision to give United the early advantage.

Five minutes later, it was Christian Benteke’s turn to make history. The league’s top scorer headed home his 23rd goal of the season, tying D.C.’s single-season record, which had stood for 28 years. The goal marked a major milestone in Benteke’s remarkable season and propelled United further into control of the match.

New England tried to rally, but United’s defense, although shaken by an own goal in the 74th minute, held strong. As stoppage time ticked on, every second felt like an eternity, but when the final whistle sounded, United had done enough to claim all three points.

For head coach Troy Lesesne, this victory was especially sweet.

“Our form right now has been the best it’s been all year,” he remarked after the match. “And it’s at the right time.”

United’s resurgence comes at a pivotal moment. After a rough midseason patch, the team is 6-2-2 in its last 10 matches, with five away victories in their last six road games—tied for the club’s best away record since 2007.

The team’s final regular-season test will come on October 19, when they face Charlotte FC. A win or a draw would guarantee D.C. a playoff spot, something the club has been chasing for half a decade.

However, it’s not just about clinching a playoff berth. As goalkeeper Alex Bono put it,

“We’ve done all this work to put ourselves in pole position to host a [wild-card] game. That’s a far cry away from where we were a couple months ago.”

For the fans, the players, and the club, this match felt like a turning point—a signal that D.C. United is back in the hunt and ready to fight for postseason glory. The team will now use the upcoming international break to recharge and prepare for one last push to secure their spot in the playoffs.

With the stakes this high, United's climb from the brink of elimination to the cusp of the playoffs is nothing short of a comeback story. A win against Charlotte would complete the narrative and secure their place in postseason history.