D.C. United were denied a dramatic late winner by a VAR review in the final seconds but still rescued a hard-fought point against St. Louis City SC at Audi Field on Saturday night, with midfielder João Peglow's 90th-minute equalizer canceling out a second half goal from midfielder Chris Durkin. The result extends D.C. United's unbeaten run to three matches.
Head Coach René Weiler made changes to the starting XI with forward Tai Baribo returning to the lineup alongside forward Louis Munteanu in attack. D.C. United lined up with goalkeeper Sean Johnson behind a back four of Silvan Hefti, Captain Lucas Bartlett, Kye Rowles, and Keisuke Kurokawa. Matti Peltola and Brandon Servania anchored the midfield, with Joao Peglow providing width on the left and Jackson Hopkins on the right. Louis Munteanu and Tai Baribo led the attack.
The first half was an open and physical contest with both sides creating chances. D.C. United generated a series of early opportunities, with Rowles testing goalkeeper Roman Bürki in the 17th minute and Munteanu going close on two occasions. Johnson was called into action in the 25th and 38th minutes, making sharp stops on St. Louis forward Simon Becher to keep the match scoreless at the break. Despite the chances created, neither side could find a breakthrough and the teams went into halftime level at 0-0.
St. Louis broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half when Durkin fired from outside the box into the bottom left corner, assisted by winger Jeong Sang-Bin, to put the visitors ahead 1-0. Weiler responded with a double change in the 62nd minute, introducing midfielder Jared Stroud for Peltola, before making two further substitutions in the 78th minute with defender Nikola Markovic replacing Hopkins and defender Conner Antley coming on for Kurokawa. Hopkins was cautioned in the 60th minute and Hefti picked up a yellow card in the 70th minute. D.C. United pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Baribo and Stroud both testing Bürki before Peglow struck in the 90th minute, firing from outside the box into the bottom left corner following a corner to level the score. St. Louis midfielder Conrad Wallem was sent off with a second yellow card in the 90+2nd minute. The drama did not end there. Munteanu appeared to have won it for D.C. United in the 90+6th minute, but VAR ruled the effort out for offside against Stroud in the build-up.
Peglow's late equalizer was a reward for persistence from the Black-and-Red after a difficult evening. Johnson was dependable throughout, making key stops in both halves. Baribo showed his class in his return to the starting lineup, troubling the St. Louis backline across the full 90 minutes.
D.C. United return to action on Saturday, May 23 at Audi Field to host CF Montréal. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
D.C. United Lineup: Sean Johnson, Lucas Bartlett, Keisuke Kurokawa (Conner Antley 78'), Kye Rowles, Silvan Hefti, Matti Peltola (Jared Stroud 62'), Brandon Servania, Joao Peglow, Tai Baribo, Louis Munteanu, Jackson Hopkins (Nikola Markovic 78')
Unused Substitutes: Alex Bono, Caden Clark, Gavin Turner, Hosei Kijima, Jordan Farr, Jacob Murrell
Head Coach: René Weiler
St. Louis CITY SC Lineup: Roman Burki, Dante Polvara, Fallou Fall, Timo Baumgartl, Conrad Wallem, Chris Durkin, Rafael Santos (Tomas Totland 78'), Miguel Perez (Daniel Edelman 63'), Cedric Teuchert (Eduard Lowen 63'), Sang Bin Jeong (Sergio Cordova 63'), Simon Becher (Mbacke Fall 90'+1')
Unused Substitutes: Kyle Hiebert, Ben Lundt, Mykhi Joyner, Brendan McSorley
Head Coach: Yoann Damet
