WASHINGTON — D.C. United took down Toronto FC in a 1-0 victory Wednesday after a phenomenal first-half free kick from captain Wayne Rooney.
Rooney’s arrival at United coincided with a backloaded home schedule at Audi Field, as well as the returning health of defensive midfielders Junior Moreno and Russell Canouse.
While his time at United has been headlined by increased level of team play, Rooney’s goal Wednesday was a mark of talent fostered across two Premier League teams and hundreds of England national team goals.
“His habits are so contagious to some of our young guys in how to go about the game and make the right play and dig in when you need to,” D.C. coach Ben Olsen said. “No one else can look at that and not follow his lead.”
From about 40 yards out, Rooney curled a shot inside the right post, evading the outstretched hands of Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono.
“I was aware it was a bit far out. I was 50/50 whether to shoot. I saw [Steve Birnbaum] going up toward the back post,” Rooney said. “Thankfully, I caught it perfect and it went in. In the end, I made the right decision
Rooney has dominated free kicks for United, and his goal against Toronto was another reminder why there is no question who the man is to step up for set pieces.
“It is completely up to Wayne in that moment. I didn’t give him any hand signals,” Olsen said. “He has earned that right.”
Rooney is tied with forward Darren Mattocks for most goals on the team.
Wayne. Freaking. Rooney. 😱
From waayyyyyyyy downtown! #DCvTOR https://t.co/jbJKAr0Ya9
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 17, 2018
Ten minutes after Rooney’s goal, United almost tallied a second when midfielder Chris Durkin served a ball up to Yamil Asad. Asad let the ball cross over his right shoulder before volleying it into the back of the net. The referee whistled him offside immediately after the goal.
“We could have had three or four goals,” Olsen said. “We were unfortunate not to have another.”
United played well the first half with the only glaring worry coming in the 33rd minute when goalkeeper Bill Hamid went down with an apparent non-contact knee injury. He remained in the game, limping from time to time.
Defender Nick DeLeon had two close chances in the first half. Bono collected the first from DeLeon and his second came on a corner when his header bounced off of the crossbar.
DeLeon started for the first time since May, and he recorded his first 90 minutes in five months. He added help in the defensive third and made a crucial play in the 88th minute, when DeLeon headed Toronto captain Michael Bradley’s breakaway cross out of danger.
“He just gets completely lost in this whole thing,” Olsen said. “The fact that a guy that has been out all year, is nowhere near 90 minutes fit, and we chuck him out there and he is one of the better players on the field — that’s Nicky.”
DeLeon’s saved shots on target and Asad’s no-goal didn’t matter in the end. United only needed the one magisterial free kick to move within one point of Columbus Crew SC, which sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. United is now four points ahead of No. 7 Montreal, which plays TFC on Sunday.
United improved its unbeaten streak to eight, winning the last four games. United recorded its third clean sheet in four games in front on an announced crowd of 18,562.
“It is hard to explain; There is just this belief right now,” DeLeon said. “Even when we are not playing our best, we are finding ways to grind out wins.”
United next plays New York City FC at home Sunday at 3 p.m. ET before traveling to Chicago for the final game of the regular season Oct. 28.