Lucas Rodriguez scored a goal in the first half and Frederic Brillant added another in the second, sending D.C. United to a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders at Audi Field on Sunday.
Rodriguez put D.C. on top with his sixth goal of the season in the 14th minute, with Brillant adding the insurance in the 54th off an assist from Wayne Rooney to pace the hosts.
The Sounders had a golden look at the opener in the seventh minute off a breakaway effort from left back Brad Smith, who uncorked a shot from a tight angle that bounced off the woodwork. D.C. then narrowly missed a chance of their own on the other end in the 13th minute off a curling effort from Rooney that also went off the crossbar.
D.C. would cash home the game's first goal just a minute later, however, after a deflected clearance landed at the feet of Rodriguez, who slotted home the finish past diving Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
They would double that in the 54th off a free kick from the left flank that Rooney zipped into the box, allowing Brillant an easy tap-in on the doorstep to make it 2-0, which would hold as the final scoreline.
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Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It was a business-like effort from D.C. United, vaulting them from sixth to fourth in the East at 13-10-9 and 48 points. The Sounders were missing a key cog in midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro, who didn't make the trip due to a lower back injury, but Brian Schmetzer's men will certainly rue a collection of missed chances that could have salvaged a point. Seattle remain in second in the West at 50 points for the moment, but their hold on that spot is precarious with only one point separating them from third-place Minnesota United.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: If Smith is able to convert his early breakaway look, we might be talking about an entirely different story.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Rooney's legendary set-piece prowess was instrumental in spearheading his team's second goal, and he could have found the scoresheet at least two times himself, but was denied by the woodwork. The Englishman gets the honors after another standout performance.
Next Up
- DC: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. New York Red Bulls (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; DAZN in Canada)
- SEA: Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; DAZN in Canada)
