D.C. United came from behind to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC at a raucous Audi Field on Saturday night, with defender Kye Rowles heading home in the 90th minute to send the Black-and-Red to 3-4-3 with 12 points in the Eastern Conference. The result continued a recent run of resilient performances from D.C. United, who have now scored a combined seven goals across their last two matches and shown the ability to find answers in the game's biggest moments.
Head Coach René Weiler made one change to the starting XI from Wednesday's 4-4 draw at the New York Red Bulls, with forward Louis Munteanu coming into the lineup in place of Tai Baribo. D.C. United lined up with goalkeeper Sean Johnson behind a back four of Silvan Hefti, captian Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles, and Keisuke Kurokawa. Matti Peltola and Brandon Servania anchored the midfield, with Aaron Herrera and João Peglow providing width on the flanks and Jackson Hopkins supporting Louis Munteanu in the attack.
The Black-and-Red made a fast and purposeful start, taking the lead in the 10th minute when midfielder Jackson Hopkins fired a left-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom right corner, assisted by defender Keisuke Kurokawa. It was Hopkins' first goal of the 2026 MLS season and a reward for an energetic opening from D.C. United. Orlando responded with pressure of their own, generating a series of corner kicks through midfielder Martín Ojeda and testing the D.C. United backline with aerial deliveries. Johnson came up large in the 35th minute, saving a header from Iago Teodoro inside the box, and the Black-and-Red defense held firm through a physical first half. Munteanu was a constant threat in attack, drawing saves from goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the 27th and 28th minutes as D.C. United looked to double their advantage before the break. The Black-and-Red carried their 1-0 lead into halftime. Bartlett was cautioned in the 21st minute.
Weiler introduced midfielder Jared Stroud for Herrera at the break as Orlando made a change of their own, and both sides came out with urgency in the second half. Orlando pressed high and were rewarded in the 56th minute when forward Justin Ellis fired home from close range to level the score at 1-1. The Lions turned the match on its head ten minutes later when substitute forward Tyrese Spicer converted from the left side of the box, assisted by Adrián Marín, to give Orlando a 2-1 lead in the 67th minute. The Black-and-Red needed a response, and Weiler moved quickly, sending on defender Nikola Markovic for Hefti and forward Jacob Murrell for Hopkins in the 77th minute to inject fresh energy. Johnson kept D.C. United in the match with two crucial saves on Ellis in the 74th and 78th minutes, denying the Lions a third. Then came the moment that turned the night. Munteanu leveled in the 84th minute, finishing a right-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner assisted by Markovic, marking the Romanian forward's first career MLS goal. With nine minutes of stoppage time signaled, the Black-and-Red pushed for a winner. It came in the 90th minute when Rowles met a Murrell delivery following a corner with a header from close range to complete the comeback and send Audi Field into bedlam. Conner Antley came on for Peglow in the 90+5th minute as D.C. United saw out the remaining time. Servania, Stroud, and Kurokawa were each cautioned late in the match.
Hopkins provided a composed and influential performance before being replaced, registering the opening goal and pressing relentlessly throughout. Munteanu was the story of the night, combining his first career MLS goal with constant running and the creativity to create space for those around him across 90 minutes. Johnson was decisive in the second half, his two saves on Ellis in the 74th and 78th minutes proving critical to the result. Markovic made an immediate impact after coming on, providing the assist for Munteanu's equalizer just minutes into his time on the pitch. Rowles capped the night with his first goal of the 2026 season, heading home the winner in dramatic fashion to send the home crowd into celebration.
With the result, D.C. United lead the all-time regular season series against Orlando City SC 10-9-3. The Black-and-Red return to action on Sunday, May 3, traveling to take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET.
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti (Nikola Markovic 77'), Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania, João Peglow (Conner Antley 90' +5'), Louis Munteanu, Aaron Herrera (Jared Stroud 46'), Jackson Hopkins (Jacob Murrell 77')
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Jordan Farr, Hosei Kijima, Gavin Turner, Caden Clark
Head Coach: René Weiler
Orlando City SC Lineup: Maxime Crepeau, Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Zakaria Taifi (Griffin Dorsey 46'), Iago Teodoro, Luis Otavio (Wilder Cartagena, 88'), Braian Ojeda, Martin Ojeda, Tiago Souza (Tyrese Spicer 61'), Justin Ellis (Tahir Reid-Brown 82'), Ivan Angulo
Unused Substitutes: Javier Otero Nolan Miller, Harvey Sarajian, Colin Guske, Bernardo Rhein
Head Coach: Martin Perelman
