Wet, Wild Disappointing Draw

DC United 4-4 CF Montreal, May 23, 2026

It was a wet and surprisingly cold night in Washington, with the rain blowing sideways and even the seats under cover getting some moisture. The weather fitted the result, as DC United gave away a two-goal lead in 10 minutes of second-half stoppage time (12 in reality) and had to settle for a 4-4 draw with CF Montreal. Stoppage time keeps increasing (largely due to VAR reviews, but as someone who has watched lots of soccer for decades it seems to be more than that). Perhaps it should get its own period; it's like a second game unto itself.

DC's lineup:

Johnson in goal

Kurokawa, Rowles, Bartlett, Hefti in defense

Peglow, Servania, Peltola, Stroud in midfield

Munteanu, Baribo at forward

Subs: Hopkins for Stroud (67nd), Markovic for Baribo (67th), Antley for Hefti (78th), Kijima for Munteanu (90+10)

DC played a great first half. In the 9th minute, Servania hit a long, swerving shot that Montreal goalie Thomas Gillier could only parry away. Munteanu was first to the rebound and scored easily to put DC up 1-0. In the 28th minute, Stroud shot from the right side, and the ball took a deflection and went in the far corner; 2-0 DC.

Unfortunately, in the first minute of stoppage time, Bartlett took too long on a pass and Montreal's Prince Owusu intercepted, sprinted in and slotted past Johnson. It was 2-1 at halftime.

Bartlett was pulled down by Owusu in the penalty area in the 47th minute, and it was ruled a penalty by VAR. Baribo converted to make it 3-1. Montreal came back again in the 61st minute, when Owusu (again) split the defense on a long pass and volleyed to the far corner to cut the lead to 3-2. Montreal had several chances, but Johnson came up big on one shot and the defense and a little luck held on the others.

Bartlett scored off a corner kick in the 87th minute, and it looked like DC was heading into the World Cup break on a winning note, with a 2 goal lead heading into 10 minutes of stoppage time. But it was not to be. Ten minutes (or 12) can be a long time.

Kurokawa's sliding block on Owusu in the box in the first minute of stoppage time was judged to be a handball by VAR. I don't know how you can slide across and keep your arms down at the same time, and if the arm wasn't there it would have hit his upper body, but VAR giveth and VAR taketh away. Owusu completed a hat trick, converting the penalty.

Two minutes later, Owusu got free again, and when closed down on the left side of the goal, slid the ball over to a wide-open Hennadii Synchuk, who scored into an open net to tie the game. DC pressed for a winner but was unscuccessful, and it ended in a draw. Disappointing for the home fans.

MLS now closes shop for two months for the World Cup, which begins June 11 and ends July 19. Unfortunately, with high ticket prices, most SEs will be watching the games on television, although a few are going (including my seat neighbor Geta and his friend Vlad, shown below). While MLS is shuttered, there is no need to suffer soccer withdrawal, as there will be 2-4 games a day for the first 4 weeks of the Cup, and only a few rest days after that.

DC's next game will be in Houston on July 22, and their next home game will be against Toronto on July 25.

Geta on left, Vlad on right; they will attend at least two of the US games.