Washington, D.C. – Tai Baribo made a statement in his first appearance with D.C. United, scoring against his former team, the Philadelphia Union, in a 1-0 victory on Saturday night. The goal, scored in the 23rd minute, marked a successful debut for the Israeli international and a bittersweet moment against the club he recently departed.
The match, serving as the season opener for both Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, was also marred by a red card issued to Philadelphia’s Ezekiel Alladoh in the 59th minute, leaving the Union to play a man down for the remainder of the game. Baribo’s arrival at D.C. United represents a significant investment in the club’s attacking prowess, as he looks to replicate the form that made him a key player for Philadelphia.
Baribo was acquired by D.C. United in a cash-for-player trade with the Philadelphia Union on December 17, 2025, for $4 million, with the potential for an additional $600,000 in performance-based incentives. The transfer signaled a clear ambition from D.C. United to bolster their offensive capabilities, particularly after the departure of Christian Benteke. He signed a five-year Designated Player deal through the 2029-30 season.
The goal against his former team wasn’t without a moment of initial uncertainty, as a previous attempt in the opening minutes was ruled offside. However, Baribo quickly capitalized on a counter-attack, expertly finishing a through ball played by João Peglow to give D.C. United the lead. The striker led the Union with 16 goals last season, and his ability to find the back of the net proved crucial in Saturday’s victory.
D.C. United also saw a debut from Romanian international Louis Munteanu, who came on as a substitute for Gabriel Pirani in the 70th minute. Munteanu was acquired in January for a club-record transfer fee of $7 million-plus. Sean Johnson, in his debut for D.C. United, recorded three saves, demonstrating his experience with 431 career MLS starts across 16 seasons with Chicago, Latest York City FC, and Toronto.
The victory marks a positive start to the 2026 MLS season for D.C. United, and a successful reunion for Baribo against his former club. Philadelphia, despite playing with a man down for over half the match, will appear to regroup and build momentum as the season progresses. The Union had previously dominated the series against D.C. United, with a record of 28-10-7, including sweeping both regular season matches in 2025 with scores of 3-0 and 6-0.
The acquisition of Baribo reflects D.C. United’s commitment to building a competitive squad under Managing Director of Soccer Operations Dr. Erkut Sogut. Sogut emphasized Baribo’s clinical finishing and ability to create space as key attributes that align with the club’s identity.
Looking ahead, D.C. United will aim to build on this positive start and establish themselves as a contender in the Eastern Conference. The team’s performance will be closely watched as they integrate new players and strive to consistently deliver results. The next match for D.C. United will be a key test of their early-season form, and fans will be eager to see how Baribo continues to impact the team’s attacking play.
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