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Story & Photos by Shawn Payne
September 30, 2026 | Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
International Club Friendly
WASHINGTON, D.C. — D.C. United stepped away from its Major League Soccer schedule Wednesday night to welcome German Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07 to Audi Field for an international club friendly that brought together teams from two different soccer cultures in the nation’s capital.
The midweek matchup came during the FIFA international window and provided D.C. United with a rare opportunity to face European opposition. For Paderborn, the match was the conclusion of a weeklong visit to Washington, D.C., as the German club continued its first season back in the Bundesliga following promotion to Germany’s top division earlier this year.
Paderborn’s rise has been a significant one. The club, based in North Rhine-Westphalia, has competed across multiple levels of German soccer during its history and returned to the Bundesliga this season after earning promotion through the Bundesliga promotion/relegation playoff in May.
D.C. United entered Wednesday’s friendly just four days removed from a dramatic 3–3 draw against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. The Black-and-Red twice battled back from deficits in Vancouver, with defender Kimito Nono scoring twice and captain Lucas Bartlett adding another goal to earn a point on the road.
With another MLS match not scheduled until an October 10 visit to Inter Miami CF, Wednesday’s friendly offered head coach René Weiler an opportunity to give minutes to a different group of players while maintaining match rhythm during the international break.
D.C. United started Alex Bono in goal, with Silvan Hefti, Lucas Bartlett and Sean Nealis among the experienced players in the lineup. Kamil Castillo, Brandon Servania, Jared Stroud, Oscar Avilez, Nikola Marković and Hosei Kijima were also among those given starting opportunities.
The opening stages were tightly contested, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage. Paderborn gradually began finding more opportunities as the first half progressed, but D.C. United remained organized and kept the Bundesliga visitors off the scoreboard for nearly the entire opening 45 minutes.
That changed just before halftime.
In the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Gabriel Vidović broke through for Paderborn, giving the visitors a 1–0 advantage heading into the break.
Paderborn made extensive changes for the second half, while D.C. United continued to search for an equalizer. The Black-and-Red were unable to find the goal they needed, and Vidović’s late first-half strike ultimately proved to be the difference.
The 1–0 victory completed Paderborn’s visit to the United States on a winning note, while D.C. United now turns its attention back to the MLS regular season and its October 10 road matchup against Inter Miami CF.
Final: D.C. United 0–1 SC Paderborn 07
Goal: Gabriel Vidović (SC Paderborn 07), 45+2’
