D.C. United facing plenty of adversity ahead of Charlotte trip

Field Level Media|published: Tue 15th July, 19:12 2025

Jun 28, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; D.C. United forward Christian Benteke (20) looks on during the second half against the Nashville SC at Audi Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

A week after struggling D.C. United fired coach Troy Lesesne, the team remains in flux as it heads to Charlotte FC for a midweek match on Wednesday night.

Interim coach Kevin Flanagan remains in charge as D.C. is poised to make Rene Weiler its next coach, according to multiple reports.

With Weiler in attendance on Saturday night in Carson, Calif., D.C. United saw their winless streak grow to five as they fell to the Los Angeles Galaxy, 2-1.

D.C. (4-11-7, 19 points) now faces a tough task at Charlotte (9-11-2, 29 points), which has won seven of its 10 matches at home, including a 2-0 shutout of New York City FC on Saturday.

It was an important win as New York City also sits near the postseason cut line. Charlotte, which is seeking its third straight playoff berth, is on that line as the ninth-place team in the MLS Eastern Conference.

It also was Charlotte's first win since May 31, which was the team's last match with Patrick Agyemang (six goals).

With Agyemang sitting out as his contract situation remains unsettled, Idan Toklomati has taken over at striker, scoring three goals in Charlotte's last four matches.

"He wants to get to the 6-yard box and finish and he makes a lot of unselfish runs," Charlotte coach Dean Smith said of the 20-year-old. "He's not a ‘wannabe,' he's a ‘will be.'"

Toklomati combines with Pep Biel (seven goals, 10 assists) to lead a Charlotte attack that has produced 36 goals -- twice as many as D.C. has tallied.

In D.C., leg and ankle issues have sidelined last year's MLS Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke (six goals) for most of the last two months. He came off the bench in the 57th minute to provide a spark at LA, but on Tuesday Flanagan said the team was "assessing" his condition.

More bad news for D.C. is that it will be without starting outside backs Aaron Herrera and David Schnegg, who hit their yellow-card ceiling on Saturday.

"The message with the guys is we're going to utilize the full squad during this period, so we're looking at different options," Flanagan said. "Maybe it's three at the back, maybe it's like-for-like swaps in both positions."

--Field Level Media

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