Red Card Costs a Win

DC United 2-2 Nashville, May 9, 2026

DC led Nashville most of the game, but after a red card late in the second half, Nashville stormed back to gain a draw.

DC's lineup was the same as last game's against NYCFC:

Johnson in goal

Kurokawa, Nealis, Bartlett, Hefti in defense

Peglow, Servania, Peltola, Stroud in midfield

Munteanu, Hopkins at forward

Subs: Herrera for Stroud (67th), Markovic for Hopkins (77th), Baribo for Munteanu (84th),

It was a good time to face Nashville, as they were missing several starters and had played in Mexico earlier in the week, losing to Tigres in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal.

DC got off to a great start, getting two goals 5 minutes apart in the first half. In the 25th minute, Hefti put in a great cross and Munteanu headed in for a beautiful goal. In the 29th minute, Bartlett headed in off a corner kick. The goal was originally disallowed for offside, but was overturned by VAR. It was 2-0 DC at the half. DC had 9 shots (6 on goal) in the first half.

DC held the lead for the first 30 minutes of the second half, and looked solid doing it. They conceded most of the possession, but the defense held firm, and Johnson made several good saves, including an amazing one on Muyl. An improbable victory seemed quite possible.

The game changed completely in the 74th minute. Hefti had picked up a horrible yellow card in the first half (it wasn't even a foul). He stepped in front of a Nashville attacker, got a second yellow and was sent off. Two minutes later, Nashville's Warren Madrigal scored on a rebound, right where Hefti usually plays. DC held off the attackes until the 89th minute when Madrigal scored the equalizer, again from where Hefti usually plays. DC managed to avoid further damage and hold on for the draw.

While it was disappointing not to keep the lead and get a third straight win (territory not seen by DC for quite a while) a road draw against the Eastern Conference leaders was a good result. DC is now unbeaten in 4 straight games, at .500 (4-4-4), and 5th in the Eastern Conference (although 10th place Toronto is only 2 points behind).

DC now returns home for 3 games in 11 days: May 13 against Chicago, May 16 against St. Louis, and May 23 against Montreal. There is then a two-month break for the World Cup before a game in Houston on July 22.