Wayne Rooney Nets a Hat Trick in D.C. United’s 5-0 Win Over Real Salt Lake
On Saturday night, Wayne Rooney and D.C. United secured an important three points to keep them ahead of the pack through the first three weeks of the MLS season. The 5-0 win over Real Salt Lake was the third consecutive shutout from Bill Hamid. D.C. United has not allowed a single goal to the opposition in all of 2019.
D.C. United had a few good chances early but finally had a chance to break through in the 34th minute after RSL’s Marcelo Silva stepped on the ankle of Paul Arriola. D.C. Untied was awarded a penalty kick and who else but Rooney to open up the scoring for his first goal of the season.
Rooney added another goal in the 41st minute to double their lead after he caught RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando in not quite the best position to stop him. The goal gave D.C. United a 2-0 lead that they’d take into halftime.
In the 65th minute, Rooney completed the hat trick, finishing off a pass from Junior Moreno on the rush.
D.C. United added a fourth goal in the 76th minute from Lucas Rodriguez.
And then finally another goal for good measure in the 81st minute from Ulises Segura.
RSL was only able to get two shots on goal but Hamid stopped both of them for his third straight shutouts. The last two weeks, Hamid had all MLS Team of the Week honors. He’s likely to get it again for the third week in a row.
D.C. United improves their record to 2-0-1 for seven points, leading the Eastern Conference. What a difference a year makes.
