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WASHINGTON — D.C. United stumbled, but did not fall as it continued its march toward the playoffs. United (11-11-8, 41 points) completed a 2-1 comeback win Sunday against the Chicago Fire (8-17-7, 31 points) thanks to brace from captain Wayne Rooney.
“He let it all out there. He usually does,” coach Ben Olsen said of Rooney. “It is in his DNA.”
Before July 14 — the day United ushered in a new era with a new stadium — United, then 2-7-5, won just two games despite scoring 23 goals in 14 games away for Audi Field.
Rooney’s two goals and the win Sunday in front of an announced 20,064 fans brought United to a record of 9-2-1 at Audi Field with 30 goals scored.
“Playing away and playing at home, for some reason in this league, is completely different,” midfielder Paul Arriola said. “The first half of the season, we didn’t have Wayne and the type of leadership that he brings to the table.”
United controlled the first half Sunday against the Fire, and 20 minutes into the match almost scored the opening goal. Midfielder Luciano Acosta started a counterattack and finished the run with an assist to Rooney. Referee Ismail Elfath initially awarded the goal, but after video review he overturned the call. Elfath deemed Acosta committed a foul on Chicago midfielder Brandt Bronico during his run up to the play.
United had another close call in the dying minutes of the first half, when midfielder Ulises Segura took a shot on goal that ricocheted off the crossbar. The two shots were United’s most dangerous attempts of the half.
“I don’t think we had the greatest performance today, but there is a belief in the group on days like this that we can still get three points,” Olsen said. “That is something we lacked earlier in the year.”
In the second half, Chicago midfielder Aleksandar Katai pulled the defense centrally. The right side of the field, covered by Arriola, who is a natural winger, was a soft spot for D.C. the entire match. Midfielder Raheem Edwards took advantage of the weak side, finding space inside United’s box. Receiving a dish out from Katai, Edwards notched Chicago’s lone goal.
“We knew the importance of tonight’s game. Maybe their goal woke us up a little bit,” Rooney said. “After the first goal you could see the determination just to try to get the win.”
Ten minutes later, United won possession in their attacking half after Segura was fouled. Arriola took a shot on goal, which deflected off Rooney and was saved by the leg of Chicago goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland. But Rooney quickly capitalized and cleaned up the blocked shot for the equalizer.
“As a forward you have to try to anticipate when the wide man is going to cross or shoot and try to get across the defender,” Rooney said. “I got a touch on it, he made a good save and thankfully it bounced back.”
United continued to pressure the Fire’s backline, and in the 81st minute midfielder Junior Moreno earned a penalty kick for United.
After a quick adjustment, Rooney converted the penalty kick to give United the lead.
“The PK isn’t about us it is about the man stepping up to finish the game off,” Arriola said.
With the lead in hand, Olsen brought on defensive support, adding defender Nick DeLeon for Yamil Asad and defensive midfielder Chris Durkin for Acosta. DeLeon made his return to the pitch after more than four months of absence due to injury.
“It was a long, difficult road for me mentally,”DeLeon said.“I am aware, especially with the injury to Fisher and we have international duty for some of the guys coming up, it is definitely a crucial time for the club.”
Chicago made a last-second attempt at an equalizer with a corner kick in the final minute of the allotted three minutes of stoppage time. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid used his height and hands to secure the ball and keep all three points for United.
“There is a different mentality,” Olsen said. “It is simply a group mentality. It is, ‘ok, I will do a little bit more for the next guy and make sure I am not the guy that costs this group down the stretch.’”
While the Fire is already eliminated from playoff contention and looking to next season, United maintains a laser focus on the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. D.C. is now just below the playoff cut line at seventh in the East, two points behind No. 6 Montreal and seven points behind No. 5 Columbus with two games in hand.
“We just have to keep pushing. We have another ‘most important game of the season,’ next weekend,” Olsen said. “That is how it is going to roll for the rest of the year.”
Next up, United hosts FC Dallas at 5 p.m. ET Saturday at Audi Field.