D.C. United battled back from two goals down twice to earn a dramatic 4-4 draw against Red Bull New York at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Wednesday night, with forward Tai Baribo delivering a hat trick to rescue a point for the Black-and-Red in one of the most entertaining matches of the 2026 MLS season. The result moves D.C. United to 2-4-3 with nine points in the Eastern Conference.
Head Coach René Weiler made one change to the starting XI from Saturday's 0-0 draw at Philadelphia, with midfielder Brandon Servania returning to the lineup. D.C. United lined up with goalkeeper Sean Johnson behind a back four of Silvan Hefti, 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 Tai Baribo in the attack.
Red Bulls came out aggressively and took the lead in the 15th minute when forward Julian Hall fired home from the center of the box, assisted by midfielder Ronald Donkor. Donkor then added a second himself in the 21st minute, finishing from close range to put the hosts 2-0 ahead. The Black-and-Red weathered the early storm and pulled one back in the 37th minute when Baribo finished from the center of the box, assisted by Hopkins following a fast break, to give D.C. United a foothold heading into the break at 2-1.
Red Bulls extended their advantage in the 52nd minute when forward Jorge Ruvalcaba fired home from a difficult angle on the left, assisted by midfielder Emil Forsberg, to make it 3-1. The Black-and-Red refused to yield. Hopkins pulled one back two minutes later, finishing from the center of the box assisted by Peglow with a through ball, before Baribo completed his brace in the 59th minute to level the match at 3-3, finishing from the left side of the box off another Peglow through ball on the counter.
Red Bulls restored their lead in the 71st minute when Ruvalcaba notched his second of the night, finishing from outside the box assisted by Donkor to make it 4-3. But Baribo had one more answer. The forward headed home from close range in the 80th minute, assisted by defender Silvan Hefti, to complete a stunning hat trick and pull D.C. United level once more at 4-4.
Weiler made his first changes in the 77th minute, introducing midfielder Caden Clark for Herrera, before bringing on defender Nikola Markovic for Servania and forward Jacob Murrell for Hopkins in the 81st minute. The Black-and-Red held on through six minutes of stoppage time, with midfielder Jared Stroud coming on for Peglow in the 90+3rd minute, to secure a hard-fought point on the road.
Baribo's hat trick was the standout individual performance of the evening, with all three goals coming in different ways and at crucial moments across both halves. Peglow contributed two assists from the left midfield position, and Hopkins added a goal and an assist in a strong all-around performance before being replaced late.
D.C. United return home to Audi Field on Saturday, April 25 to host Orlando City SC in MLS regular season action. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Red Bull New York Lineup: Ethan Horvath, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Robert Voloder, Dylan Nealis, Matthew Dos Santos (Joyeux Masanka Bungi 45'), Emil Forsberg, Adri Mehmeti (Nehuen Benedetti 65'), Ronald Donkor, Jorge Ruvalcaba (Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting 81'), Julian Zakrzewski, Rafael Mosquera (Mohammed Sofo 65')
Unused Substitutes: Gustav Berggren, Cade Cowell, Juan Mina, Tim Parker, John McCarthy
Head Coach: Michael Bradley
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, Kye Rowles, Matti Peltola, Brandon Servania (Nikola Markovic 81'), João Peglow (Jared Stroud 90' + 3"), Tai Baribo, Aaron Herrera (Caden Clark 77'), Jackson Hopkins (Jacob Murrell 81')
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Jordan Farr, Conner Antley, Hosei Kijima, Gavin Turner
Head Coach: René Weiler
