Forward Wayne Rooney scored the tie breaking goal on a penalty kick and also
had two assists to help D.C. United record a 3-1 victory over visiting Atlanta
United on Sunday night at Audi Field in Washington.
Midfielder Luciano Acosta scored the other two goals as D.C. United posted a
crucial victory. D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid made six saves.
The win elevated D.C. United (8-11-6, 30 points) into a tie for seventh place
in the Eastern Conference with the New England Revolution. D.C. stands six
points behind the sixth-place Montreal, which currently holds the final
playoff spot, but D.C. has three games in hand on the Impact.
Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz scored the lone goal for Atlanta United (16-5-6,
54 points), who remain one point behind the first-place New York Red Bulls in
the East.
Atlanta star forward Josef Martinez failed to score, ending his streak of
registering at least one goal in nine consecutive games. He matched the MLS
record in that category -- held by Portland's Diego Valeri -- in Atlanta's
last match when he set the MLS single-season record with his 28th goal of the
season.
Rooney converted a penalty kick in the 52nd minute after midfielder Ezequiel
Barco was called for a foul in the box against D.C. United's Paul Arriola.
Rooney lined up the shot, and Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan guessed to his
right. Rooney went the other direction with a low skidding shot into the net
to give D.C. United a 2-1 edge.
Martinez had a solid opportunity to tie the score in the 67th minute after
being set up by midfielder Miguel Almiron. However, his right-footed shot
sailed wide left, and he came up empty on all three of his shots in the match.
The failure to convert was magnified in the 77th minute when Rooney was in the
midfield and chipped a pass ahead to a streaking Acosta. Acosta raced in with
only Larentowicz back to defend, and once he got inside the box, he sent a
left-footed shot past Guzan to make it 3-1.
D.C. United went up 1-0 in the 29th minute as Hamid booted the ball up field
and Rooney flicked a pass with his head. The ball reached Acosta, who worked
around two defenders and sent a right-footed shot to the right of Guzan.
Barco took a corner kick in the 39th minute and sent it into the middle of the
box. Larentowicz was in the right position and easily headed the ball past
Hamid to even the score.
Atlanta United held a 22-9 edge in shots, including a 7-5 advantage in shots
on target.