Wayne Rooney named MLS Player of the Month

A month after Luciano Acosta was bestowed with the MLS Player of the Month award, Wayne Rooney matched the feat, being named the top player in the league for the month of October. In five games in October, Rooney scored five goals, as the Black-and-Red finished the month with four wins and one draw from five games.

Rooney ended the season with 12 goals and 7 assists in 20 games, and was also named as a finalist for the MLS MVP and Newcomer of the Year awards. The former Manchester United and Everton striker has been pivotal in United’s ascent from last place in the league, to hosting tonight’s knockout round game against the Columbus Crew at Audi Field.

Rooney started off the month by scoring twice at home against the Chicago Fire, as United came back down from a goal to win 2-1, winning the game late from the penalty spot. After being held without a goal in a 1-0 win over FC Dallas, Rooney was once again a match winner for the Black-and-Red against Toronto FC, when the former England international smashed home a free kick in the first half. United won 1-0, and then made it five wins in a row four days later against New York City FC.

Rooney finished off an early chance after a wonderful run from Acosta, and then played a part in creating Acosta’s goal midway through the first half. Rooney then converted his third penalty in three tries for D.C. in the second half, as the club clinched a playoff spot with the win over City.

The club’s captain played in every single minute during the month of October, as England’s all-time leading scorer turned 33 on October 24th. The last time he came out of a game was back on September 2nd, when he was replaced late on in United’s 3-1 win over Atlanta United.

Before Acosta claimed the award last month, a D.C. player had not been named Player of the Month since Dwayne De Rosario back in May 2012. The award has been dominated by two clubs over the past four months, as prior to Acosta, Atlanta’s Josef Martinez took home the honor.