NEW YORK
(Tuesday, October 23, 2018)
– D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney was voted the Alcatel Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for the 34
th
week of the 2018 MLS season.
Following a 1-0 victory over Toronto FC on Wednesday, Rooney led D.C. United to a 3-1 win over New York City FC at Audi Field on Sunday with two goals scored to clinch a spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. D.C. United extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches, including five straight victories, and now sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points (14-11-8 overall record). On the season, Rooney has tallied 12 goals and seven assists, including seven goals scored over the club’s five-game winning streak.
D.C. took an early lead when Luciano Acosta set up Rooney with a dazzling dribble into the box, taking on multiple defenders in the process. Acosta then sent a pass to a waiting Rooney directly in front of goal, with the Englishman finishing with a quick strike to give D.C. a 1-0 advantage in the eighth minute (
Watch Goal
).
Although he was not credited with an assist on the play, Rooney played a large role in freeing up Luciano Acosta for his long-range goal from outside the box to give D.C. United a 2-0 lead in the 24
th
minute (
Watch Play
). Rooney then gave D.C. a 3-0 lead in the 74
th
minute with a well-struck penalty kick shot to the right side of goal (
Watch Goal
).
D.C. United conclude their regular season on Sunday when facing the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in MLS Decision Day 2018 presented by AT&T action (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
The Alcatel MLS Player of the Week is chosen each week of the regular season by members of the North American Soccer Reporters. The organization includes print, television, radio and online journalists who cover domestic men's soccer in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the NASR and apply to join at
https://www.facebook.com/soccerreporters/
.
