D.C. United recover to stun Nashville SC in 2-2 draw: Match report

D.C. United and Nashville SC can't seem to help but play dramatic matches, the hosts storming from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at a boisterous Audi Field.

In the last meeting between these sides, United held a two-goal lead in Tennessee before being hauled back for a 2-2 draw. This time, first-half goals from Sam Surridge and Shak Mohammed seemed to leave United dead and buried. However, Silvan Hefti — whose red card in the first clash sparked the Nashville comeback — started D.C.'s recovery, while Tai Baribo popped up with his 11th goal of the season to equalize.

A match of few bona fide early chances still saw United on the back foot, which eventually proved costly. Hany Mukhtar slashed across the top of the box before attempting to chip the ball back against the grain, only to be denied by Brandon Servania's left forearm.

Referee Ricardo Montero had little choice but to point to the spot, and Surridge made no mistake in burying the 32nd-minute penalty.

United didn't find much headway in response, and within eight minutes the Supporters Shield leaders extended their lead. Mukhtar was the architect again, pushing through the middle before finding Mohammed in a pocket of space. The Ghanaian winger escaped Keisuke Kurokawa before having his first shot blocked, but the rebound fell perfectly for Mohammed to tuck the ball past Sean Johnson.

The hosts, meanwhile, never went much closer than a 20th-minute cross from Lucas Bartlett, whose left-footed service nearly floated in before Brian Schwake played it safe by guiding the ball over the bar.

Schwake reacted quickly to intercept a low Louis Munteanu cross from the endline as the second half started, while D.C.'s best sequence of the night up to that point ended with Brandon Servania's 53rd-minute strike clipping Eddi Tagseth and going over the bar.

United's pressure seemed like it had paid off in the 56th minute, with Hefti volleying home after a weak punch from Schwake. Montero initially called a foul amid the meat wall around the Nashville goalkeeper, leading to an excruciating five-minute wait for VAR to analyze the play.

At long last, Montero was called to the monitor, where he eventually overturned his own call to hand United a lifeline.

Suddenly, the hosts had life. Tai Baribo had one effort go straight to Schwake, while another improvised shot on the turn forced a reflex stop out of the MLS All-Star goalkeeper.

Baribo wasn't to be denied in the 78th minute. It took a one-in-a-million bounce first, as Nashville blocked an initial foray from Munteanu. The ball somehow came off of Munteanu's right foot as he rolled over to try and get back to his feet, floating perfectly into the Israel striker's path for a powerful low finish.

Munteanu was denied from distance after a diving save from Schwake as the game opened up, while Surridge blazed over the bar as the visitors offered a threat on the break.

The Romania forward stayed active, squaring to João Peglow in the 89th minute only for the Brazilian winger's shot to clip the post. Within a minute, Nashville had their own close call, as Surridge missed a big chance after good work from Warren Madrigal on the counter.

The near-misses kept coming, with Baribo and Madrigal both reacting in agony after being inches from contact in the goalmouth.

While the comeback was impressive, it marked a seventh tie in 11 outings for United (5-8-5), who remain in the ninth and final playoff spot in the East. The Black-and-Red's next fixture is the "DMV Derby" against the USL Championship's Loudoun United. Wednesday's friendly kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET, while the next MLS match is August 15 at CF Montréal.

Box score — MLS regular season (game 18)
8/1/2026

D.C. United 2 (Hefti 56, Baribo 78)
Nashville SC 2 (Surridge 32pen, Mohammed 40)

Lineups:
DCU (442): Sean Johnson; Silvan Hefti, Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles, Keisuke Kurokawa; Jackson Hopkins (Nathan Ordaz 64), Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania (Matti Peltola 64), João Peglow; Tai Baribo, Louis Munteanu (Jared Stroud 91+)

Nashville (4231): Brian Schwake; Andy Nájar (Josh Bauer 84), Jeisson Palacios, Maxwell Woledzi, Daniel Lovitz; Eddi Tagseth (Reed Baker-Whiting 84), Matthew Corcoran; Shak Mohammed (Elias Saad 61), Hany Mukhtar (C) (Bryan Acosta 73), Ahmed Qasem (Warren Madrigal 61); Sam Surridge

Bookings:
DCU - Baribo 48+, Bartlett 73
Nashville - Mohammed 48+, Saad 83, Corcoran 100+

Referee: Ricardo Montero
Weather: Humid, breezy, 83°
Attendance: 19,215