Josh Sargent Strikes Late as History-Making Jonathan Osorio Lifts Toronto FC Past D.C. United

Theo Corbeanu's left-footed shot clanged off the post in the 86th minute, and for a split second BMO Field held its breath. Josh Sargent did not. The striker read the rebound before anyone else, met it first time from the center of the box and steered it into the bottom left corner.

That finish gave Toronto FC a 2-1 comeback win over D.C. United on Wednesday night in the Reds' final regular-season home match of 2026, and it kept their playoff hopes alive. It also, according to The Associated Press, eliminated D.C. United from playoff contention. One side is still chasing October magic. The other is now counting down to the offseason.

D.C. Had the Better First Half

For 45 minutes, the Black-and-Red were the sharper team. Keisuke Kurokawa tested Luka Gavran inside two minutes, Nathan Ordaz dragged a shot wide in the 22nd minute, and Matti Peltola and Silvan Hefti both had looks before the visitors finally broke through.

In the 29th minute, Hefti and Peltola worked a give-and-go that sent Hefti into the box, and he picked out Andre Dozzell, who finished low with his left foot into the bottom left corner. It was Dozzell's first goal for D.C. United, and it was a well-worked one, the kind of goal that makes a coach's whiteboard look smart.

Toronto had the ball but no bite. Sargent had two efforts blocked in the 44th minute, one with his foot and one with his head, and the Reds went into the break trailing 1-0.

Toronto Turns Up the Heat

The second half was a different movie. Toronto pinned D.C. back, Dániel Sallói had an early effort blocked, and the referee's notebook got a workout: Sallói and Kye Rowles were booked in the 50th minute, Kimito Nono in the 58th and Jared Stroud in the 60th. D.C. still carried a threat from set pieces, and Rowles headed a corner high and wide in the 59th minute.

Then came the equalizer. In the 64th minute, Djordje Mihailovic swung in a corner, Sargent headed it on, and the ball went in off Jonathan Osorio from very close range. It initially looked like it might not count, but a VAR review confirmed the goal and the stadium exhaled.

The final stretch swung back and forth. In the 85th minute, Brandon Servania, on as an 80th-minute substitute, headed a D.C. corner just wide from the left side of the six-yard box. One minute later, Corbeanu hit the post and Sargent finished the job. D.C. pushed for an equalizer through five minutes of stoppage time, with Lucas Bartlett's header blocked four minutes into added time, but Toronto held on.

Captain Osorio Makes History

Jonathan Osorio's goal will not win any beauty contests. What it meant is another story. It was his first goal of the season, and according to MLS, it made him the first player in league history to score in 14 consecutive seasons with a single club. Toronto FC added that it was his 70th goal for the club, making him only the third player in franchise history to hit that mark after Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore.

The 34-year-old was not in the mood to throw himself a party. "You look at it, and it's something that for sure is to be proud of, but honestly my focus right now is trying to make the playoffs for this team," Osorio told reporters, according to MLS.

Josh Sargent was the engine of the comeback. He took four shots, scored the winner and set up the equalizer. Toronto and the AP both counted it as his ninth goal of the season. He was also named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 33, which, frankly, was a formality.

For D.C., Andre Dozzell was excellent beyond the goal. D.C. United's own numbers had him completing 96.4 percent of his passes, with seven passes into the final third. Silvan Hefti added his fifth assist of the season, per the club.

The Turning Point

The VAR check on Osorio's goal was the hinge. Before it, Toronto had dominated possession without much to show for it, and D.C. were still holding a lead. After it, the hosts had the crowd, the momentum and the belief. According to the AP, Toronto's goal was originally flagged offside before the video review overturned that call. Had the flag stood, D.C. might have seen out the night.

Stats That Matter

• Possession: Toronto had 60.8 percent of the ball.
• Shots: D.C. United actually outshot Toronto 10-9, and each side put two on target.
• Clinical edge: Toronto scored with both of their shots on target, and D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson did not make a save.
• Passing: The Reds completed 392 of 457 passes, compared with 218 of 290 for D.C.
• Physicality: D.C. committed 15 fouls to Toronto's seven and collected three yellow cards in a 10-minute span.

What It Means

Toronto moves to 9-12-11 (wins, draws, losses) with 39 points. According to MLS, that leaves the Reds two points behind Columbus for the ninth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference heading into the penultimate matchday, as they chase their first playoff berth since 2020. They have won three of their last five, and Toronto FC says they are unbeaten in eight home matches since the FIFA World Cup break, with four wins and four draws at BMO Field dating to Aug. 15. The AP noted it was the ninth time this season Toronto scored a tying or go-ahead goal in the final 10 minutes.

D.C. United drop to 7-12-13 with 33 points, 13th in the East per the club, and their season now ends without a playoff spot. This was their fourth straight defeat. The two teams split the season series after D.C. won the first meeting 2-1 at home on July 25.

Osorio was clear about who the push is for. "We're doing everything we can to get this team into the playoffs and to give the fans what they deserve," he said.

The Closing Take

Fourteen seasons with one club and a goal in every one of them: Osorio is MLS's version of a long-running TV show that keeps getting renewed while the rest of the lineup gets canceled. Toronto still need help to reach the playoffs, but with their captain still scoring and Sargent still finishing, the Reds have earned at least one more episode.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Postgame quotes as reported by MLSsoccer.com. Additional details from The Associated Press via ESPN, Toronto FC and D.C. United.