D.C. United battled back from a first-half deficit to earn a point in its 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo FC on Wednesday, July 22, at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas. Wednesday night’s match was D.C. United’s first match back from the 2026 FIFA World Cup break. Forward Tai Baribo scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season to equalize at the 78th minute for the Black-and-Red.
Midfielder Andre Dozzell and Forward Nathan Ordaz each made their D.C. United debut on Wednesday night. Dozzell appeared in the starting lineup and logged a 96.5% passing accuracy through 88 minutes. Ordaz came on as a 67th-minute substitute and provided an instant spark, setting up Baribo’s equalizer in the second half for his first assist with the club.
Houston Dynamo FC Midfielder Héctor Herrera opened the scoring in the 40th minute, finishing a shot from the center of the box to the right corner after connecting on the free kick frommidfielder Jack McGlynn. Houston continued to push for a go-ahead goal and recorded a total 20 shots against the Black-and-Red.
D.C. United’s second half substitutes made an immediate impact off the bench for the Black-and-Red, fueling the club’s second half push to level the score. Head Coach René Weiler made his first change in the 53rd minute and brought on Midfielder Matti Petola for midfielder Jackson Hopkins. Weiler brought on midfielders Jared Stroud, Hosei Kijima and Ordaz in the 67th minute for Brandon Servania, João Peglow and Louis Munteanu.
Baribo responded with the equalizer at the 78th minute on a header to the left corner, set up by Ordaz for his first assist for the Black-and-Red.
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson appeared in his 16th-straight start for D.C. United and made four saves through 90 minutes.
The Black-and-Red finished the match with nine shots and nine total crosses, continuing to build on its offensive momentum throughout the second half to level scoring and claim a point on the road.
D.C. United remains in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, with 19 points and a 4-5-7 record before returning to Audi Field on Saturday, July 25 to face Toronto FC. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Houston Dynamo FC Lineup: Jonathan Bond, Lucas Halter (Erik Sviatchenko 61'), Artur, Lawrence Ennali (Franco Negri 77'), Agustin Resch, Felipe Andrade (Duane Holmes 88'), Jack McGlynn, Hector Herrera (Diadie Samassekou 78'), Mateusz Bogusz (Ondrej Lingr 88'), Guilherme, Duncan McGuire (Ezequiel Ponce 59').
Unused Substitutes: Blake Gillingham, Ibrahim Aliyu, Agustin Bouzat.
Head Coach: Ben Olsen.
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Lucas Bartlett, Silvan Hefti, Keisuke Kurokawa, Sean Nealis, Andre Dozzell (Nikola Markovic 88'), Brandon Servania (Jared Stroud 67'), Joao Peglow (Hosei Kijima 67'), Jackson Hopkins (Matti Peltola 53'), Tai Baribo, Louis Munteanu (Nathan Ordaz 67').
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Grant Leveille, Jacob Murrell, Oscar Avilez.
Head Coach: René Weiler.
