D.C. United (9-5-8, 35 points) beat FC Cincinnati (5-14-2, 24 points) 4-1 at Nippert Stadium on Thursday night in front of 28,774 fans during Cincy’s White Out night. United now sit just one point behind the Philadelphia Union (36 points) and first place in the Eastern Conference.
The game opened up with FC Cincinnati’s Kendall Watson smashing the post for the games first scoring opportunity fortunately for United the ball ricochetted safely away from Chris Seitz’s net. D.C. United’s Joseph Mora continued to create opportunities for the Black-and-Red from the left-wing. His pinpoint service found Paul Arriola and Wayne Rooney on two separate occasions, unmarked inside the box but both Arriola and Rooney could not convert just yet.
The offense was building for United, in the 41st minute Lucas Rodriguez received the ball from Rooney inside the box. Rodriguez lined up his shot and curled one into the far corner for the games opening goal.
United took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at the half. Shortly after the team’s resumed play, Arriola was surprisingly called for a handball inside the box, leading to the tying goal for FC Cincinnati. Ledesma scored a penalty kick in the 54th minute.
Just five minutes later D.C. United retook the lead as Lucas Rodriguez captured his first brace for D.C. United in the 59th minute of the match. In the 64th minute, Captain Rooney put United in full control scored a low driven shot into the far corner of the net for the Englishman’s 11th goal of the season.
Arriola finished the game’s final goal of the contest in the 73rd minute of the contest. He received a pass from Rodriguez on the left-wing, he blew past his defender and lifted the ball over Cincinnati goalkeeper, Spencer Richey. The game finished 4-1 in favor of the Black-and-Red.
Seitz earned his first MLS win for D.C. United with a two performance in the Queen City. Rooney tied his assist total from last season with seven on Rodriguez’s first goal of the game. Rodriguez turned in a three-point performance, his first for United with two goals and one assist on the night. United will next play on Sunday, July 21 against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 4 PM.
