Washington, D.C. — In a driving rainstorm, D.C. United got their 2019 MLS campaign off on the right foot, beating Atlanta United 2-0 on Sunday evening at Audi Field. Paul Arriola scored just before the end of the first half, and then Luciano Acosta padded the Black-and-Red's lead in the 58th minute. The win for D.C. was the first time they won their opening game of the season since 2015, when they beat the Montreal Impact 1-0.

Atlanta United's new manager Frank de Boer fielded nine of the same 11 starters that beat Herediano on Thursday as the Five Stripes advanced in the Concacaf Champions League. Gonzalo Pity Martinez was a second-half substitute, coming on in the immediate aftermath of Acosta's goal. 

Ben Olsen's starting line up contained no surprises, but newcomer Lucas Rodriguez was given the nod as the left midfielder in his debut. Olsen's side, in their first competitive game of their season, had the game's first chance in the 12th minute, when Leonardo Jara was stymied by Brad Guzan from a tight angle.

D.C. did well for most of the half limiting Atlanta's opportunities, but Bill Hamid did have to race off his line to claim a long ball into the box before Ezequiel Barco could chase it down. 

Arriola smashed a shot from a wonderful feed by Acosta just wide of the goal in the 33rd minute, before Wayne Rooney just missed the opening goal in the 38th minute. Two minutes later, Jara found Junior Moreno with a cross into the box, but the one-timer was grabbed by Guzan.

The first half was just about over when Arriola netted the opener for D.C. A corner from Rooney found Acosta, who couldn't connect on a shot under pressure. The ball fell to Arriola though, who laced a shot past Guzan for the lead.

Arriola, who had been one of the better performers in the first half, forced his way through the midfield in the 55th minute to create an opportunity for Rodriguez. The feed into the box forced Rodriguez into an awkward angle though, and Guzan had no trouble with the tame effort.

Guzan did have trouble though three minutes later, when a speculative shot from Acosta beat the US keeper. A feed from Rodriguez got Acosta the ball outside the bo in space. There weren't many options around for Acosta, who opted for a shot that swerved on its way towards goal. The shot might have taken a slight deflection, but it skimmed just past Guzan for the two-goal advantage.

de Boer immediately brought on Pity and Julian Gressel, but there was no immediate benefit for Atlanta. Instead, Arriola danced around Leandro Gonzalez Pirez to create a golden opportunity in the 62nd minute, but Rooney couldn't convert on the doorstep.

Atlanta stepped up the pressure late, but couldn't find a way past Hamid. Eric Remedi forced United's shot-stopper into save in the 70th minute, but Gressel fired over in the 78th minute, Atlanta's last real chance of getting back into the game.