Gabriel Pirani scores twice in second-half stoppage time as DC United beat Nashville 4-3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gabriel Pirani used both feet to score two unassisted goals in second-half stoppage time after Christian Benteke scored his 22nd goal and DC United came from two down to beat Nashville SC 4-4. 3 to defeat on Wednesday evening.

The come-from-behind victory leaves DC United (9-13-10) in a three-way battle with Toronto FC and the Philadelphia Union for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with two games remaining in the regular season.

DC United were trailing 3-1 when Benteke capitalized on assists from rookie Jacob Murrell and Mateusz Klich to score in the 76th minute. It was the third assist for 20-year-old Murrell – who had come on as a substitute in the game a minute earlier – and the 12th for Klich.

Pirani, who came on as a substitute in the 67th minute, followed with his fifth and sixth goals of the season – he scored with his left foot in the fourth minute of added time and with his right foot in the seventh minute to secure the win. Pirani scored one goal in 10 starts last season, his first in the league.

Alex Muyl gave Nashville (8-15-9) an early lead when he capitalized on Aníbal Godoy's second assist of the season to score in the 6th minute.

Defender Lucas Bartlett even brought DC United level in the 24th minute with his second goal of the season and of his two-year career. Klich and Benteke had assists. It was Benteke's seventh helper in the election campaign.

Hany Mukhtar gave Nashville a 2-1 halftime lead when he scored his seventh unassisted goal of the season in the 45th minute.

Nashville took a 3-1 lead in the 62nd minute when Muhl capitalized on Mukhtar's 10th assist to score for the fourth time this season.

Joe Willis finished the game with six saves in goal for Nashville.

Alex Bono stopped two shots for DC United.

DC United remains on the road to play the New England Revolution on Saturday. Nashville travels to play New York City FC on Sunday.

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