D.C. United went toe-to-toe with Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday night, to earn a 3-3 draw at BC Place. The Black-and-Red created chances throughout the night, finishing with a 21-16 edge in total shots and 10 corner kicks. Midfielder Kimito Nono led the way with his first two goals for the club, while captain and defender Lucas Bartlett added his fourth goal of the season.
D.C. United lined up in a 4-4-2 formation in front of goalkeeper Sean Johnson, with a back four of defenders Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Lucas Bartlett and Silvan Hefti. Midfielders Hosei Kijima, Andre Dozzell, Jackson Hopkins and Kimito Nono lined up behind forwards João Peglow and Nathan Ordaz.
D.C. United opened the scoring in the 16th minute off a set piece. Kurokawa delivered a corner kick into the box, and Nono pounced on the loose ball to finish his first goal with the Black-and-Red. Vancouver answered in the 25th minute when forward Bruno Caicedo sent a low cross to forward Brian White. Johnson denied White's first attempt, but White buried the rebound to level the match at 1-1. The Whitecaps kept up the pressure and took the lead in first-half stoppage time, as Caicedo combined with forward Thomas Müller down the left before finishing into the far corner to make it 2-1.
The Black-and-Red came out of halftime on the front foot and found their equalizer in the 65th minute. Kurokawa again served a corner into the box, and Bartlett rose above the Vancouver defense to head home his fourth goal of the season, making it 2-2. D.C. United continued to threaten with several close-range looks, but Vancouver regained the lead in the 72nd minute when Müller fired a shot from outside the box that went in off the post, making it 3-2.
D.C. United refused to back down and kept pushing, earning a string of set pieces before breaking through in the 80th minute. Kijima delivered a cross that Nono met with a right-footed volley for his second goal of the night, leveling the match at 3-3. Both sides pushed for a winner late, with Vancouver's final chance in stoppage time sailing wide of the target.
Nono led D.C. United's attack with seven shots and won four ground duels in 90 minutes. Bartlett contributed at both ends, recording five recoveries and winning six ground duels to go along with his goal. Kurokawa's set-piece delivery set up two of D.C. United's three goals. Kijima, making his first MLS start since March 1, finished with eight defensive contributions and an assist. Ordaz created four chances and completed 90 percent of his passes.
D.C. United move to 6-8-12 with 30 points and sit 11th in the Eastern Conference. The Black-and-Red hold a 5-3-4 all-time record against Vancouver in regular season play, including a 2-2-4 mark on the road. D.C. United return to action on Saturday, October 10, when they visit Inter Miami at Nu Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Lineup: Yohei Takaoka, Mathias Laborda, Tristan Blackmon, Oliver Larraz (John Selemani 85'), Thomas Müller, Aleksa Cvetkovic, Emmanuel Sabbi (Ryan Gauld 67'), Bruno Caicedo, Brian White, Tate Johnson, Rui Modesto (Sam Adekugbe 85')
Unused Substitutes:Â Isaac Boehmer, Ranko Veselinovic, Sebastian Ramirez, Kwasi Poku, Nikola Djordjevic, Valter Sedin
Head Coach:Â Jesper Sorensen
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti (Brandon Servania 70'), Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Andre Dozzell, Jackson Hopkins (Nikola Markovic 46'), Kimito Nono, João Peglow (Jared Stroud 70'), Nathan Ordaz (Sean Nealis 86'), Hosei Kijima (Conner Antley 86')
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Grant Leveille, Kamil Castillo, Gavin Turner
Head Coach: René Weiler
