D.C. United has lofty ambitions for 2019, and they made a statement to the rest of MLS by demolishing Real Salt Lake tonight, hitting the nine-man visitors up for a 5-0 scoreline. Wayne Rooney notched his first MLS hat trick before Lucas Rodriguez and Ulises Segura added goals in the final minutes. RSL saw Jefferson Savarino and Marcelo Silva both sent off by referee Dave Gantar.
After an opening spell that saw both teams try to wear the other down with patient possession, the game came to life in the 23rd minute.