MLS Review: Rooney scores in thriller as hat-trick hero Wright-Phillips salvages draw

Wayne Rooney was on target as DC United were held to a 3-3 draw by New York Red Bulls in MLS after Bradley Wright-Phillips equalised at the death.

Hat-trick hero Wright-Phillips equalised three times, including his 90th-minute leveller, to deny play-off hopefuls DC in Washington on Sunday.

Paul Arriola put DC ahead in the 25th minute with his fifth goal of the season, only for Wright-Phillips to restore parity four minutes before half-time at Audi Field.

Manchester United and England’s all-time leading scorer Rooney restored DC’s lead with a sublime volley past the hour-mark, however, fellow Englishman Wright-Phillips responded again – this time equalising with 14 minutes remaining.

Absolute class from @WayneRooney. #DCU pic.twitter.com/W1kscFIEUM

— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 16, 2018

DC thought they had the game won when Luciano Acosta teamed up with Yamil Asad three minutes from the end but the hosts were thwarted by Wright-Phillips’ last-gasp equaliser.

.. … …

 for @BWPNINENINE#RBNY pic.twitter.com/48jVccnEoh

— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 16, 2018

Unbeaten in four matches, DC are four points adrift of the play-off places in the Eastern Conference, while the Red Bulls missed the chance to leapfrog Supporters’ Shield leaders Atlanta United – New York a point off the pace.

In Sunday’s only other match, Chicago Fire crushed Orlando City 4-0 in the battle of the MLS strugglers.

Nemanja Nikolic scored twice to snap Chicago’s nine-game winless streak, while Orlando’s search for victory extended to 10 matches in all competitions.