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WASHINGTON — D.C. United are in last place no more thanks to a brace from captain Wayne Rooney.
United jumped over three teams in the Eastern Conference standings after defeating the Portland Timbers, 4-1, Wednesday night at Audi Field.
“We’re out of the basement,” coach Ben Olsen asked with a joking astonishment. “We will be relieved when we start to move higher and get above that playoff line. We have a long way to go.”
Although the game did not start in the club’s favor, United (6-9-6) dominated the second half in a full-team performance led by Rooney and Luciano Acosta. The club extended its unbeaten streak to four games.
“Over the last month you have seen us become a more mature team in the moments that brought us down in the first half of the season,” Olsen said. “Overall, out mentality is much better.”
In the 35th minute, Portland midfielder Andy Polo found Samuel Armenteros for the opening goal. Prior to Wednesday’s match, United failed to collect all three points after conceding the first goal.
But for the first half of the season United did not have Rooney. Once against the Designated Player showed up big for the club.
“It is just exciting to be on the field with him,” midfielder Russel Canouse said. “If we can get an opportunity around the 18, we know we have a chance with him just based on his quality.”
In the dying moments of the first half, Rooney saw space. With a quick gesture to teammate Yamil Asad, Rooney directed the midfielder to exactly where he wanted the ball for the equalizer.
Rooney’s presence adds not one, but three attacking threats. The pressure Rooney removes from his teammates in the final third has allowed Acosta, Yamil Asad and Paul Arriola to play more free on the attack.
That freedom showed minutes into the second half when Acosta dominated the final third to find the open feet of defender Oniel Fisher who sprinted up the flank. It was Fisher’s first career MLS goal, while Acosta notched his 10th assist of the season, doubling his total from a year ago.
Rooney added the first insurance goal, putting a 26-yard free kick over the wall for United’s third goal.
“I got the ball on target, and not as far in the corner as I would have wanted, if I am honest, but thankfully it went in,” Rooney said.
On the defensive side, United welcomed back goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who spent the first part of the season at FC Midtjylland in Denmark. In his first start since the return, Hamid made a crucial save in the 36th minute to tip a close call out of danger just minutes after the Timbers first goal.
“Those are the moments that Bill helps you throughout the season. If they score there it is a different ball game,” Olsen. “It was as if he never left really … He has been here so long, it didn’t seem weird having him in the lineup.”
In the 86th minute, Darren Mattocks subbed on for Rooney and immediately made an impact. The forward scored the final goal with a chip-in goal against his former club.
“I am very happy for Darren. It has been a long six weeks as you can imagine,” Olsen said. “For him to keep his head in the right direction and come in that game and get the goal is big for him, but also for the guys in the locker room.”
D.C. United are six games out of sixth place and a spot in the playoffs. There are just over two months left in the regular season and United have four games in hand on sixth-place Montreal.
That said, United’s last two wins have come against teams that were not necessarily at their best. United beat a struggling 10-man Orlando City SC in the last seconds of the game and dominated Portland (10-5-7) in a midweek game. The Timbers were playing on an opposite coast in heat that is not typical of the Pacific Northwest. In order to continue to move up the table, United must realize the challenges that still lie ahead.
“I was concerned about [the players managing emotions]. [Sunday] was such an emotional night,” Olsen said. “For a group to reset and bring that type of energy that we need tonight. I thought it was going to be difficult, but I thought they did great job. Wayne does help with that.”
United face another quick turnaround hosting the New England Revolution Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
“The more games we play together the more we understand each other,” Rooney said. “We are getting a better understanding every day.”