Tai Baribo stepped up and converted a stoppage-time penalty to hand DC United a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC at Audi Field on Saturday night. Kye Rowles had given the hosts a first-half lead, Theo Corbeanu pulled Toronto level in the 76th minute, but Baribo had the last word from the spot to deny Matt Wells’ side a point. DC United edged it despite finishing the game with 45 percent possession against a Toronto side that moved the ball better across 90 minutes.
Key Moments
- 41′, Kye Rowles broke the deadlock for DC United just before halftime, giving Rene Weiler’s side a lead they would carry into the break.
- 76′, Theo Corbeanu pulled Toronto level, finishing to make it 1-1 and set up a tense final quarter-hour at Audi Field.
- 90′, Tai Baribo stepped up to convert a penalty in stoppage time, restoring DC United’s lead and sealing the three points at the death.
Tactical Breakdown
DC United set up in a 4-4-2 and were the more direct of the two sides, racking up 17 total shots to Toronto’s 13. Eight of those efforts found the target, and the hosts posted an expected goals figure of 2.43, well above what the final score might suggest. Their 8 corners to Toronto’s 4 gave them a consistent threat from set pieces, and Rowles’ first-half goal came as part of that pattern of sustained pressure.
Toronto’s equalizer changed the complexion of the game and forced DC United to respond. Rene Weiler had already made a double substitution at the 65th minute, bringing on Peglow and sending off Hopkins, then made further changes at 80 and 85 minutes. Those rotations kept legs fresh through the closing stages, and when a penalty was awarded in stoppage time, Baribo was composed enough to convert. The late substitution of Rowles at the 80th minute, after he had scored the opener, gave way to a more defensive structure that held until the decisive moment.
Toronto finished with 55 percent possession and the sharper passing accuracy, completing 334 of 399 passes at 84 percent compared to DC United’s 79 percent. But possession alone produced only 1.42 xG, and their failure to convert Corbeanu’s equalizer into a platform for a winning goal left them exposed to a sucker punch. Jonathan Osorio’s yellow card in the 88th minute added to the frustration for Wells’ side.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
The three points keep DC United in contention in the MLS regular season, while Toronto FC’s inability to hold a point after equalizing will sting. With Vancouver Whitecaps and San Jose Earthquakes both sitting on 32 points at the top of the table, every result matters for teams trying to close the gap, and this late penalty win gives Rene Weiler’s side a morale boost heading into the second half of the season.