Wayne Rooney opened his Major League Soccer account on Saturday, scoring in the first half in a 2-1 win against the Colorado Rapids but walked away from the Audi Field with a broken nose.
The D.C. United striker got on the board via a pass from Luciano Acosta, finishing low underneath another former Everton and Manchester United player, Tim Howard.
Wayne Rooney opens his MLS account! #DCvCOL https://t.co/XuKvh1sVea
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2018
The game marked the first for Rooney as D.C. United's captain after he was named the skipper earlier in the week.
Rooney was making his second MLS start and fourth overall appearance since signing for DCU at the end of June.
The 32-year-old bagged an assist on his debut on July 14, as he came off the bench in a victory over Vancouver.
Rooney nearly scored his second early in the second half, but Howard was up to the task the second time around, the shot off the far post before scrambling to collect it.
Howard with a big save on Rooney! #DCvCOL pic.twitter.com/69Yue8GysA
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2018
"Delighted to score my first goal for D.C. United last night and more importantly a big three points at Audi Field," Rooney wrote on Twitter, "and a broken nose and five stitches."
D.C. United entered the match in last place in the Eastern Conference, desperately needing the win against Colorado, who are second-bottom in the West.
Rooney's goal would not be enough, with the Rapids getting a goal from new signing Kellyn Acosta, who had missed a penalty early in the match, to pull level in the second half.
D.C. did find a winner though, with a stroke of good fortune handing the Eastern Conference club the win when Colorado's Niki Jackson, in an attempt to block a cross, turned home past Howard.
