Nono, Vancouver!
Vancouver Whitecaps 3-3 DC United, 26 September 2026
DC United used two goals from Nono to claw out an entertaining draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps, 3-3. DC overcame the absence of several players, a road game against the top team in the Western Conference, and two deficits to do so.
With both starting forwards (Baribo and Munteanu) and Peltola on international duty, the lineup was changed a little:
Johnson in goal
Kurokawa, Rowles, Bartlett, Hefti in defense
Kijima, Dozzell, Hopkins, Nono in midfield
Peglow, Ordaz at forward,
Subs: Markovic for Hopkins (concussion, 45th), Stroud for Peglow (70th), Servania for Hefti (70th), Antley for Kijimia (86th), Nealis for Ordaz (86th)
Vancouver's stadium, BC Place (photo above from 2024) still had natural grass left over from the World Cup, rather than their usual artificial turf.
DC scored first, as Nono ended an extended corner kick sequence by firing home from close range in the 16th minute. A Vancouver defender nudged the ball back over the line from inside the goal, but it looked like it had already crossed the line. VAR was unncessary, though, as Nono sprinted in and slammed the ball firmly into the net, erasing all doubt.
Vancouver equalized in the 25th minute. Bruno Caicedo got loose on left side of the goal and centered the ball. Emmanuel Sabbi awkwardly but accurately deflected the ball to Brian White on the right side. Johnson made a great save on the shot, but White got to the rebound before anyone else. and roofed the shot to equalize at 1-1.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Caicedo played a give-and-go with Thomas Muller and slotted the ball to the far post, giving Vancouver a 2-1 halftime lead. Backbreaking. DC had played a good half (11 shots, 4 on goal, 4 corners).
DC did not give up, and in the 65th minute, Bartlett tied the game at 2-2 on a clincial header off a Kurokawa corner. However, Muller was given too much free space and scored off the right post from 25 yards out in the 72nd minute, putting Vancouver back in the lead, 3-2.
Again, DC did not give up, and Nono scored his second goal of the game in the 80th off a beautiful Kijima cross. It was a lovely shot, beating Vancouver's goalie Yohei Takaoka near post. Both sides had chances, but it ended in a 3-3 draw.
DC ended up with 21 shots (8 on goal) and 10 corners. Very well-played game. DC seems to play up or down to their competition, getting some truly respectable results against top teams (Vancouver tonight, 2 draws against Supporters Shield leaders Nashville) but then drawing bottom-of-the-table teams like Atlanta and Montreal. DC is outside the playoff picture at the moment, but 2 wins (very scarce this year, unfortunately) would put them right back in contention. There are 8 games left. The team is certainly more enjoyable to watch this year than last (although that is a low bar).
Next up, another tough one: at Inter Miami on October 10 at 730pm. There is also a friendly this Wednesday (September 30) at Audi Field at 730pm against Bundesliga side SC Paderborn 07. There will be free beer tasting under the stands.
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