D.C. United stunned by late CF Montréal double in outlandish 4-4 draw: Match report
United had done more than enough to win, but threw two points away as Montréal scored twice in stoppage time to force a 4-4 draw
D.C. United will enter MLS's World Cup break disappointed, as two stoppage-time goals from CF Montréal turned what seemed like a sure win into a wild 4-4 draw.
First-half goals from Louis Munteanu and Jared Stroud set the hosts on their way, while Tai Baribo tacked on a second-half penalty. Montréal responded with a hat trick from Prince Owusu, but Lucas Bartlett's 87th-minute header seemed to be enough to ensure a win. However, Owusu — whose third goal came on a stoppage-time penalty kick — turned provider to set up Hennadii Synchuk for the shocking equalizer.
Amid dreary conditions, United got off to an ideal start. A free kick near the top of the box didn't pan out initially, but the rebound fell favorably for Brandon Servania. The midfielder opted for power, and while the ball's initial trajectory seemed destined for the south stands, a vicious dip caught goalkeeper Thomas Gillier by surprise.
Gillier recovered to bat the ball away, but Munteanu had little more to do than arrive on time and nod home his fifth of the campaign.
Louis Munteanu stays in form and puts D.C. ahead early!
— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 7:58 PM
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Sean Johnson was forced into a tricky 25th-minute save as Wiki Carmona and Olger Escobar worked a clever combination before finding Noah Streit's run on the far side. Streit struck with power, but Johnson was up to the job despite the slippery conditions.
Stroud, who started over Jackson Hopkins, rewarded René Weiler for giving him the chance by making it 2-0 after 28 minutes. Stroud had been denied on a cross that became a dangerous shot a minute before, but after a corner kick bounced around the Montréal box, Stroud's shot through traffic seemed to have eyes, sneaking past everyone to settle into the bottom corner.
Jared Stroud with a lovely goal to double the D.C. lead!
— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 8:33 PM
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Servania repeated his shot from earlier in the 42nd minute, this time sending another dipping effort on frame from 30 yards. Gillier was wise to it this time, doing well to palm the ball over the bar.
It had been a strong half from United, but stoppage time brought disappointment. Prince Owusu blocked Lucas Bartlett's attempted diagonal near midfield, then raced in behind the D.C. captain before holding his nerve to fire past Johnson.
Prince Owusu's seventh of the year cuts the deficit in half for Montréal!
— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) May 23, 2026 at 8:36 PM
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There were still chances at both ends before the half came to a close, as the game remained open. Gillier denied Munteanu at one end with a sprawling save, while Johnson had to work just as hard to get to a floating header from Matty Longstaff
The first half ended with bad news, but good news arrived in the early minutes of the second. Owusu barged into Bartlett as both prepared for a United corner, sparking a multi-player protest for a penalty kick. While referee Filip Dujic initially dismissed the claims, VAR intervened, with Dujic changing the call and sending the hosts to the spot. From there, Baribo made no mistake, powering home his eighth goal of the season.
Montréal answered back within 10 minutes, with Carmona's diagonal from deep picking out Owusu in plenty of space. The Ghana striker met the moment with a pinpoint shot across Johnson and just barely into the far corner, making it 3-2.
It was a wake-up call United didn't immediately heed, with substitutes Daniel Ríos and Hennadii Synchuk both missing good looks from close range. Montréal went even closer with a long VAR stoppage examining a possible handball on Bartlett, but Dujic ultimately stuck with the call on the field.
Another substitute, Dagur Thórhallsson, missed the top corner by inches in the 80th minute as the visitors continued to put United under siege.
The Black-and-Red finally created a threat going the other way, as a sublime combination between Keisuke Kurokawa and João Peglow ending with the tireless fullback going for goal from close range, only for Gillier to fly out and make a brave stop.
Kurokawa wouldn't have to wait long to offer a goal contribution, with his corner setting up Bartlett for United's fourth. A driven service into the goalmouth proved dangerous, and D.C.'s captain was free to steer a header past Gillier.
It should have been enough. It wasn't.
Owusu's attempt to bag a hat trick as stoppage time began ended with Kurokawa's sliding intervention blocking the shot. However, the. ball caromed up and off of his stray hand, and after yet another VAR intervention, Dujic pointed to the spot.
Owusu would convert the spot kick in the 94th minute, but the tale still had one more twist. With United seemingly unable to stop any Montréal balls in behind, one more picked out Owusu, who got to the endline before cutting it back.
The pass squirmed past several United players before finding Synchuk, who gleefully finished to shock Audi Field.
Despite the disappointing finish, United (4-6-5) will enter the World Cup break in a playoff position in the Eastern Conference no matter what Saturday or Sunday's other MLS results bring. D.C. will next be in action in a July 11 friendly against the Ethiopia national team, while their next regular season clash will come Wednesday, July 22 on the road against a Houston Dynamo side managed by longtime United fixture Ben Olsen.
Box score — MLS regular season (game 15)
5/23/2026
D.C. United 4 (Munteanu 9, Stroud 28, Baribo 51pen, Bartlett 87)
CF Montréal 4 (Owusu 46+, 61, 94+pen; Synchuk 96+)
Lineups:
DCU (442): Sean Johnson; Silvan Hefti (Conner Antley 78), Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles, Keisuke Kurokawa; Jared Stroud (Nikola Markovic 67), Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania, João Peglow; Tai Baribo (Jackson Hopkins 67), Louis Munteanu (Hosei Kijima 99+)
Montréal (433): Thomas Gillier; Dawid Bugaj (Dagur Thórhallsson 46), Efraín Morales, Brayan Vera, Luca Petrasso; Olger Escobar (Daniel Ríos 46), Victor Loturi, Matty Longstaff; Wikelman Carmona, Prince Owusu (C), Noah Streit (Hennadii Synchuk 67)
Bookings:
DCU - Servania 61, Bartlett 100+
Montréal - Escobar 31, Ríos 61, Loturi 97+, Owusu 100+, Longstaff 101+
Referee: Filip Dujic
Weather: Alternating mist and drizzle, 54°
Attendance: 19,215
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