Five minutes apart Sunday night, near the end of a vital match against a championship contender at a new stadium packed to capacity, Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta left the field to standing ovations that endured after they had slipped from sight.
D.C. United’s 3-1 surprise victory against Atlanta United in front of 20,557 at Audi Field was not quite complete, but for an unusual pair of new teammates, the serious work was done.
Rooney, the 32-year-old Englishman, had scored once and assisted on two goals by Acosta, a 24-year-old Argentine. Their sterling performances, combined with Bill Hamid’s breathtaking saves and the team’s disciplined effort against MLS’s most lethal attack, propelled United up another spot in the Eastern Conference and back within striking distance for a playoff spot.