Wayne Rooney opened his 2019 goal scoring account for D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday night, pouncing for his first MLS hat trick brace against visiting Real Salt Lake.
Rooney scored his first two goals space of seven minutes. In the 34th minute he converted a penalty earned following a Video Review, which determined Marcelo Silva had stepped on the leg of Paul Arriola inside the penalty area.
Then he chipped charging goalkeeper Nick Rimando with two touches after Leonardo Jara dispossed Aaron Herrera in his own half and then sent the Englishman a perfect diagonal ball to split the defense.
He followed that with a third in the 65th minute on a feed from Junior Moreno following some exceptional D.C. interplay down the left.
Rooney is in his second season with the Black-and-Red, and he entered Saturday with one assist. In 20 appearances after his summer arrival last year, he became D.C.'s leading goal scorer with 12, and added seven assists.