Wayne Rooney’s DC United even out record at 1-1-1 after being bailed out by a late goal

Wayne Rooney’s third game in his first full season as DC United manager ended after Chris Durkin scored a sensational goal from the edge of the penalty area in the 80th minute to lift DC United to a 1-1 draw against the visitors. Orlando City on Saturday night.

Rooney took charge of United last year towards the end of the season in hopes of rebuilding the team he once called home in a club that no longer inhabited the bottom of Major League Soccer.

After legendary spells in English football with Manchester United and Everton that made him one of the most heralded players in the game, Rooney made 48 appearances for DC scoring 23 goals. He then went on to finish his playing career at Derby County.

Durkin’s first MLS goal since late July canceled out Duncan McGuire’s first career goal early in the second half and was the first Orlando conceded all season.

It’s also the third goal DC (1-1-1, four points) has scored in the 80th minute or later in their first two home games of the new season.

Pedro Gallese made four saves for Orlando (1-0-2, five points) and was not to blame for Durkin’s thunderous goal.

It was the third straight draw in all competitions for Orlando, the second of those that would come against Tigres UANL of Mexico on Tuesday night in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Durkin first turned professional with DC as a teenager and played a defensive midfielder role, but has been a standout on the wing since his return from the Belgian top flight.

He’s not yet known as a goalscorer, with just three to his name during his MLS career, but he seized his opportunity against Orlando as a player with a much higher attacking pedigree.

The moment came after Pedro Santos did well to prevent a ball from going out of play, then found Durkin on the edge of the 18-yard box.

Durkin made a right-footed touch to his left to evade a charging defender, then smashed a left-footed shot that lodged just inside the right post and past Gallese’s dive.

Twenty-seven minutes earlier, McGuire withstood a challenge from Steve Birnbaum to redirect Dagur Thorhallsson’s header across the line from close range at the far post.

Moments after McGuire’s goal, referee Jon Freemon signaled the penalty spot for a hand ball to defender Robin Jansson.

But the call was overturned after a video review showed the ball had hit another defender before deflecting off Jansson’s arm.