WASHINGTON — Prince Owusu completed his first Major League Soccer hat trick with a penalty kick four minutes into stoppage time, and 19-year-old Hennadii Synchuk scored the equalizer two minutes later as CF Montreal rallied for a 4-4 draw against D.C. United on Saturday night.
The result came after Montreal trailed 4-2 heading into the closing moments at Audi Field. Owusu converted the late penalty after being fouled by Keisuke Kurokawa, bringing his season total to nine goals. Synchuk, who entered the match in the 67th minute, netted his first goal of the campaign and second in 22 appearances overall.
D.C. United had built a strong position earlier. Rookie Louis Munteanu scored his fifth goal of the year in the ninth minute with an unassisted header off a deflection. Jared Stroud added his first goal of the season in the 28th minute, also unassisted, to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Owusu pulled one back for Montreal in the first minute of stoppage time in the opening half after a long run, making the score 2-1 at the break. In the second half, Tai Baribo extended the lead to 3-1 with his seventh goal on a penalty kick in the 51st minute following a foul by Brayan Vera on Lucas Bartlett.
Owusu struck again in the 61st minute, assisted by former Red Bulls midfielder Wiki Carmona, to cut the deficit to 3-2. Bartlett then scored his second goal of the season in the 87th minute to restore a two-goal advantage at 4-2.
Thomas Gillier, 21, made six saves in his 21st career start for Montreal, which improved to 4-8-2 overall and 1-6-1 on the road. Sean Johnson stopped four shots for D.C. United, now 4-5-6 and unbeaten in six straight matches. The visitors are 3-2-2 since Philippe Eullaffroy became interim coach on April 12.
D.C. United stands 2-3-2 at home. The all-time series between the clubs is tied at 10-10-12. Montreal has gone 3-2-2 in its recent stretch under the interim leadership.
The match featured several key individual performances. Owusu’s three goals marked a career highlight, while Synchuk’s late strike provided the decisive moment in the comeback. Munteanu’s early header set the tone for the hosts before the visitors mounted their response.
Both teams will now pause for the FIFA World Cup break. Action resumes leaguewide on July 16. Montreal will look to build on its improved form away from home, while D.C. United aims to extend its unbeaten run upon return.
Officials noted the physical nature of the contest, particularly in the closing stages where multiple fouls led to the penalty decisions. The late drama unfolded rapidly, with three goals scored in the span of roughly six minutes of stoppage time.
Attendance and additional match statistics were not immediately released by the league office. Video review confirmed the penalty awarded to Owusu after the foul in the box.
Coaches from both sides emphasized the importance of the result in the context of their respective seasons. Montreal’s interim coach highlighted the resilience shown by the squad in overcoming the deficit.
The draw leaves both clubs in mid-table positions heading into the international break. Further roster moves or injury updates are expected in the coming weeks as teams prepare for the second half of the campaign.