Unwell Wayne Rooney is absent from the touchline as his DC United suffer last-gasp defeat to high-flying New England Revolution… leaving them stuck in a rut with three losses in four
Wayne Rooney’s week went from bad to worse as he watched his DC United suffer late heartbreak from his sofa at home – after missing the game through illness.
Seventeen-year-old Noel Buck scored on a deflected shot in the 88th minute as the visiting New England Revolution rallied to a 2-1 victory over D.C. United.
Buck’s opportunistic winner came 25 minutes after Gustavo Bou’s second goal of the season leveled the match on a damp and slick night in Washington.
And it continued a trend for New England (4-1-0, 12 points) of getting goals from other sources while 2021 MLS MVP Carles Gil manages a leg injury. Meanwhile, strikers Bobby Wood, Jozy Altidore and Giacomo Vrioni have one goal combined.
Christian Benteke scored his team-leading third of the season for D.C. (1-3-1, 4 points), which lost at home for the first time in three matches this season, manager Rooney’s first full campaign in charge.
Christian Benteke celebrates his goal with teammates during the 2-1 defeat to New England
Wayne Rooney was unable to coach in Saturday night’s game due to an undisclosed illness
Benteke scored again, but it wasn’t enough to seal a result for the struggling DC United
Gil entered in the 62nd minute to Bou’s immediate benefit, picking him out with his first touch on a wonderful diagonal ball.
Bou still had a lot to do from the left side of the penalty area, chesting the ball down to evade retreating defender Chris Durkin with his first touch. Then he fired a low finish past Miller and inside the far right post with his second.
D.C. looked the more likely to score the match-winner, but they were eventually punished for their lack of cutting edge following the partial clearance of a corner kick.
The ball fell to Buck just beyond the penalty area, and the teen midfielder showed wisdom amid the slippery conditions to send a low shot back into the box.
It deflected perhaps twice off D.C. defenders on its way past goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who had no chance given the redirections.
Benteke put the hosts in front just before half when he took a pass with his back to goal, found Ruan on the right flank, and then made a run to the back post.
Ruan played an excellent cross back into the path of Benteke, who beat defender Henry Kessler to finish from close range.
Noel Buck (left) scored the winning goal for New England Revolution in the 88th minute
Revolution midfielder Matt Polster battles for the ball with United midfielder Jackson Hopkins
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