D.C. United edge Fire on Tai Baribo PK in stoppage time

Field Level Media|published: Sun 15th March, 03:02 2026

Mar 14, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; D.C. United midfielder Brandon Servania (23) kicks the ball against Chicago Fire defender Jack Elliott (3) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

Tai Baribo scored on a penalty kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give visiting D.C. United a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.

Matti Peltola also scored a goal for D.C. (2-2-0, 6 points), which rallied from a late 1-0 deficit to snap a two-game losing streak and inch ahead in the all-time series between the legacy franchises 26-25-21.

Hugo Cuypers scored on a penalty kick for Chicago (1-2-1, 4 points) in the 81st minute. It was the first goal in what had been to that point a lackluster match with few scoring opportunities for either team.

Sean Johnson made one save for D.C. United, who are vastly improved on defense, giving up just four goals after yielding an Eastern Conference-high of 66 goals last season.

Baribo's goal, which was his third this season, came after Chicago's Jonathan Dean was called for a handball in the penalty area.

Baribo fired his shot into the top left corner, beating keeper Chris Brady (one save), who had recorded two straight clean sheets entering the game.

Chicago lost despite owning possession for 63.2% of the match and out-shooting D.C., 16-11. However, the Fire put only two shots on frame.

Cuypers, who returned to the lineup after missing last week's scoreless draw at the Columbus Crew, scored his team-high third goal this season. The penalty kick was awarded after D.C. defender Jackson Hopkins was called for a handball off a Fire corner kick.

With Johnson guessing with a dive to his right, Cuypers delivered his shot to the middle of the net. Cuypers is now 5-for-6 from the spot in his MLS career.

Just three minutes later, Peltola got the equalizer, scoring from the top of the box, firing a right-footed shot that froze Brady. It was the first goal in Peltola's three seasons with D.C.

D.C. United had a goal taken off the board in the 43rd minute, when Hopkins was called for offsides. In his position in the box, Hopkins screened the vision of Brady on a header by Baribo off a corner kick by Joao Peglow.

--Field Level Media

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