D.C. United’s attack was already facing a tall task Saturday against Nashville SC, MLS’s best defensive team. But then leading scorer Christian Benteke was ruled out beforehand with an injury, and Taxi Fountas, United’s top producer in 2022, left midway through the first half with an apparent hamstring ailment.
It took a pair of late substitutions — both homegrown players early in their pro careers — to pierce the visitors and earn United a 1-1 draw.
Two minutes after entering, Kristian Fletcher, a 17-year-old weeks from his Landon School graduation, crossed to 21-year-old Ted Ku-DiPietro for the 83rd-minute equalizer before an announced 19,215 at Audi Field.