D.C. United leaves it late, downing Toronto FC 2-1 on stoppage-time penalty: Match report

It is never, ever easy for this D.C. United team, who seemed on the verge of a frustrating draw before stoppage-time drama turned into a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC.

United capped off a solid first-half effort with what turned out to be an own goal credited to Toronto's Kobe Franklin. However, TFC did more than enough to earn a second-half equalizer, with Theo Corbeanu's strike capping off a long spell of pressure in front of the D.C. goal.

With a seventh draw in 10 games looming for the hosts, substitute Hosei Kijima found recent addition Andre Dozzell, who drew a VAR-aided penalty deep in stoppage time. United's last home game ended with a late gut punch, but this time Tai Baribo delivered the win, converting the spot kick in the 100th minute.

United's first home game in over two months started brightly. Jackson Hopkins, overcoming a knock that took him out of Wednesday's draw with the Houston Dynamo, tested Luka Gavran twice in the game's opening 13 minutes. The second was struck well enough that Gavran could only bat the ball away, but with an empty net there for the taking, João Peglow had a miss to regret, skewing his shot into the stands.

The Black-and-Red were on the front foot, but needed a slice of fortune to convert their play into a lead. Keisuke Kurokawa's corner swerved towards the penalty spot, with Kye Rowles — returning after missing the Houston draw with a minor thigh issue — in the mix. Somehow, some way, the ball glanced down and into the bottom corner.

The scorer was briefly a mystery: Munteanu was credited initially by the stadium announcer, but the Romanian went to Rowles to celebrate, and didn't appear to get a touch. The center back, meanwhile, shrugged as if he wasn't sure who got the last touch. In the end, the official scoring went down as a Franklin own goal, with the ball appearing to glance off the back of the TFC defender's head.

The second half started much like the first, with D.C. having the better of play. Baribo blazed a long-distance effort wide in the opening seconds of the second half, but then had to track all the way back in the 48th minute, doing some open-play box defending to combine with Rowles and end a promising TFC attack.

The tides shifted as Toronto came out of their shell, with United slowly but surely losing control of play. Sean Johnson made two blinding saves in the 56th minute, somehow denying Jackson Gilman's free header following a Toronto corner. The rebound fell kindly for Jonathan Osorio, but Johnson sprung back to his feet to deny the Canada midfielder's effort, and then — with the help of Dozzell — fought off a diving header from Walker Zimmerman on the doorstep.

United was struggling to slow TFC's attacks in transition. On the hour mark, Silvan Hefti made a crucial intervention to prevent what would have otherwise been a tap-in for substitute Djordje Mihailović. The TFC playmaker was left frustrated again six minutes later as Johnson leaped left to deny a powerful half-volley as the waves of attacks from the visitors continued.

Finally, United's resistance broke in the 76th minute. A TFC free kick was half-cleared, before Dozzell had to produce a block on the line to keep Osorio's header out. United still couldn't clear though, and Corbeanu had seen enough, thundering home a half-volley amid the chaos in the area.

Munteanu nearly has a perfect answer, with a knuckling 20-yard shot drawing sprawling save from Gavran just seconds after play resumed.

A loud crowd at Audi Field grew frustrated with referee Sergii Boiko twice in the late stages, after penalty shouts from Kijima and Tai Baribo both went unanswered.

The stage was set, with the third penalty claim finally going United's way. Dozzell was brought down trying to get to Kijima's low cross. Fans threw empty beer cups on the field as Boiko didn't give the spot kick initially, but VAR intervened.

After a multi-minute delay, the penalty was given, and Baribo kept his cool, finding the bottom corner even with Gavran guessing correctly.

TAI BARIBO WINS IT AT THE VERY DEATH!

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— Soccerwise (@soccerwisehq.bsky.social) July 25, 2026 at 10:32 PM

D.C. survived the final seconds without further incident, maintaining their hold on the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. United (5-7-5) have now lost just once in 10 matches, but that run will get a stern test next Saturday as Supporters Shield leaders Nashville SC come to Audi Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Box score — MLS regular season (game 17)
7/25/2026

D.C. United 2 (Franklin 41og, Baribo 100+pen)
Toronto FC 1 (Corbeanu 76)

Lineups:
DCU (442): Sean Johnson; Silvan Hefti, Lucas Bartlett (C), Kye Rowles (Sean Nealis 80), Keisuke Kurokawa; Jackson Hopkins (Matti Peltola 65), Andre Dozzell, Brandon Servania (Hosei Kijima 80), João Peglow (Jared Stroud 65); Tai Baribo, Louis Munteanu (Nathan Ordaz 85)

TFC (4231): Luka Gavran; Kobe Franklin, Zane Monlouis (Alonso Coello 46), Walker Zimmerman, Jackson Gilman; Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea; Theo Corbeanu (Malik Henry 92+), Derrick Etienne Jr. (Djordje Mihailović 54), Dániel Sallói; Emilio Aristizábal (Deandre Kerr 54)

Bookings:
DCU - Munteanu 53
TFC - Osorio 88

Referee: Sergii Boiko
Weather: Partly cloudy, calm, 75°
Attendance: 19,215