D.C. United keeps it dramatic with late comeback win over Orlando City: Match report

So much for boring D.C. United.

The Black-and-Red seemed to have squandered a solid first half, trailing late against Orlando City. However, Louis Munteanu's first goal for the club leveled the scores late, and Kye Rowles — also bagging his first in a United shirt — popped up with a 90th-minute winner as D.C. claimed a 3-2 win.

Orlando's start to 2026 has been the stuff of nightmares: head coach Oscar Pareja didn't make it to April for a team that had conceded 26 goals entering Saturday's clash at Audi Field.

United were dead set on compounding that misery, taking a 10th-minute lead through Hopkins. The United academy product, following up a one goal/one assist showing in Wednesday's draw against the New York Red Bulls, capped off a flowing move that saw Aaron Herrera, Matti Peltola, and Brandon Servania all help play move from right to left.

Keisuke Kurokawa has spent most of his time with United overlapping, but in this instance popped up in the half-space before showing his vision to feed Hopkins, who took a touch before picking out the bottom corner with a left-footed effort from the edge of the box.

United, to their credit, were showing more in the way of good movement in the final third, with Munteanu — who returned to the starting 11 over Tai Baribo, who missed out via injury — testing Maxime Crépeau twice from distance.

Kurokawa went even closer with a 37th-minute free kick, bending his effort over the wall only for Crépeau to make his best save of the night.

If only the good play had continued. Orlando had barely threatened, but United's listless start to the second half helped them snag a 56th-minute equalizer.

Iván Angulo left halftime substitute Jared Stroud for dead, then feinted past Silvan Hefti before crossing to the back post. Griffin Dorsey's diving header was saved on the line by Sean Johnson, but Justin Ellis was on hand to poke the ball into the roof of the net.

The goal didn't serve to jar United into action, and they'd pay the price in the 67th minute on a superb strike from Tyrese Spicer.

D.C. failed to get pressure to the ball as Adrián Marin held possession inside Orlando's own half. Spicer signaled for a ball in behind, and Marin delivered a service that briefly lured Sean Johnson off his line.

With Hefti unable to keep pace with Spicer, the threat still seemed more likely to come from a cutback or dribbling attempt. However, the Trinidad and Tobago attacker had other ideas, smashing an angled volley past Johnson, off the post, and in.

Martín Ojeda buried a seeming third for Orlando just two minutes later after a wild scramble inside United's box, but the Black-and-Red were bailed out by an offside call before the playmaker's thunderous strike hit the back of the net.

Spicer picked out Ojeda for another chance shortly thereafter, with United showing their fatigue after playing five times in 14 days. Johnson then had to make an excellent save to his left after Ellis evaded Rowles at midfield to break into the box.

Munteanu went closer than ever to his first MLS goal in the 81st minute, sliding in to strike Stroud's deep cross on the volley only to zip his shot inches over the bar.

The Romania forward's transition to MLS has been a rocky one, but United's club-record transfer finally caught a break, notching an 84th-minute equalizer. Munteanu found himself in some space 25 yards out, and cut to his right for a shot.

It's a familiar story of a striker in a goal drought possibly forcing it, but this time Munteanu got some help as his shot clipped Luis Otávio on its way, settling into the bottom corner.

Munteanu's relief was palpable, and it sparked some life into the crowd on a rainy night in the District. They wouldn't need long before an even bigger celebration, with Rowles emerging for a 90th minute winner.

Kurokawa's set piece delivery has been on the mark all season, and this one picked out substitute Jacob Murrell at the back post. Murrell couldn't head the chance home himself, but his aerial challenge did enough to guide the ball back into the goalmouth where Rowles could finish the job with his first goal for the club.

With the win, United (3-4-3) will now enjoy the luxury of a full week of training before heading to the Big Apple to take on NYCFC for a Sunday afternoon clash at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

Box score — MLS regular season (game 10)
4/25/2026

D.C. United 3 (Hopkins 10, Munteanu 84, Rowles 90)
Orlando City 2 (Ellis 56, Spicer 67)

Lineups:
DCU (4231): Sean Johnson; Silvan Hefti (Nikola Markovic 77), Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles, Keisuke Kurokawa; Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania; Aaron Herrera (Jared Stroud 46), Jackson Hopkins (Jacob Murrell 77), João Peglow (Conner Antley 95+); Louis Munteanu

Orlando (3421): Maxime Crépeau; Iago, Robin Jansson (C), Adrián Marin; Zakaria Taifi (Griffin Dorsey 46), Braian Ojeda, Luis Otávio (Wilder Cartagena 87), Iván Angulo; Martín Ojeda, Tiago (Tyrese Spicer 60); Justin Ellis (Tahir Reid-Brown 83)

Bookings:
DCU - Bartlett 21, Munteanu 75, Servania 84, Stroud 92+
Orlando - Iago 4, L. Otávio 74, Cartagena 98+

Referee: Chris Penso
Weather: Drizzle, overcast, 51°
Attendance: 14,040