ATLANTA — D.C. United played without Wayne Rooney and, for most of Sunday afternoon, without possession of the ball. And until it all fell apart in the dying moments, resulting in a 2-0 defeat to Atlanta United, Coach Ben Olsen’s gang executed a defensive and counterattacking ploy to precision.
D.C. thwarted the defending champions until the 89th minute, when substitute Gonzalo “Pity” Martínez scored from close range, unleashing the pent-up frustration of Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s announced crowd of 44,405.
Josef Martinez, the 2018 MLS MVP, added a breakaway goal two minutes into stoppage time as Atlanta (11-8-3, 36 points) passed D.