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A closer look at Wayne Rooney’s Stateside success

The former England captain has been a hit in the US.

Wayne Rooney scored a stunning free-kick to secure DC United a 1-0 win over Toronto as his excellent Major League Soccer form continued.

The 32-year-old former England captain has made a considerable impact in the United States following his move to the Washington outfit from Everton over the summer.

Rooney has scored six goals in his last five games (John McDonnell/AP).
Rooney has scored six goals in his last five games (John McDonnell/AP).

Here, Press Association Sport takes a close look at how things have gone for Rooney in the MLS so far.

The statistics – Rooney

Rooney’s goal against Toronto made it six in his last five games, and he has a total of 10 in 18 MLS appearances (16 starts), having made his debut in mid-July and got off the mark in his fourth match. He has registered a brace on three occasions, and also produced seven assists so far.

The highlights

Prior to his moment of magic against Toronto, Rooney scored a fine free-kick in a 4-1 defeat of the Portland Timbers in August, the second of his two goals in that game, and he also completed a brace in delightful fashion in a 5-0 win over the Montreal Impact last month as he lobbed goalkeeper Evan Bush from distance.

A memorable contribution that did not involve him scoring came in stoppage time at the end of August’s 3-2 triumph against Orlando City at Audi Field. The visitors looked set to snatch victory as they launched a counter-attack. Will Johnson broke free, but Rooney sprinted back and won the ball with a last-ditch tackle. He then advanced forward and sent a wonderful delivery into the box, where Luciano Acosta headed home the winner.

The statistics – DC

When Rooney made his DC bow, the club were bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference – they had taken 11 points from their first 14 games of the season, winning just twice. In the 18 matches that have followed they have won 11 times and accrued 36 points, and they are currently in the play-off places, lying sixth. The Toronto result was their fourth successive victory.

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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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