D.C. United jumped ahead by three goals in the first half Toronto FC, the defending MLS Cup Champions, were able to battle back and force a 4-4 draw Wednesday night at BMO Field.
Yamil Asad scored two goals for United, while Paul Arriola and Darren Mattocks also chipped in goals, but Toronto notched a late-game equalizer to secure a point.
The Black-and-Red roared out of the gate when a pass into the box hit a charging Luciano Acosta. With Mattocks heading toward goal to open up space, Acosta slid the ball to an open Asad who knocked it in to give United the 1-0 lead at the 12th minute.
United doubled their lead at the 17th minute when Zoltán Stieber fired a cross into the box for a rushing Arriola, who dove through the air to knock a header past Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono to make it 2-0.
Not to be outdone, Mattocks made it 3-0 when a failed clearance fell toward the Jamaican striker who fired it past Bono at the 45th minute. The goal was Mattocks’ team-leading seventh of the season and matched his career-high set during his rookie season in 2012.
The defending champions would crawl back, though, scoring three goals to tie the game at three.
Asad scored a brace at the 90th minute to make it 4-3, but Toronto was able to answer again at the second minute of stoppage time to tie the match at four and secure one point in the standings.
United and Major League Soccer will next break for the beginning of the FIFA World Cup, before the Black-and-Red take on Orlando City SC in the Round of 16 in the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 20th at the Maryland SoccerPlex. They will return to league play on Saturday, June 30th against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
