Survive and advance is the mantra in March for college basketball teams, as they navigate the NCAA Basketball Tournament. There won't be any advancing for D.C. United, but they did just enough to survive on Sunday night, beating Orlando City 2-1 in front of 22,481 fans in Orlando despite a second-half onslaught from the hosts. Wayne Rooney scored an outrageous goal in the first half, after assisting on Steven Birnbaum's opener. 

But a second-half goal from Dom Dwyer ended the Black-and-Reds shutout streak, and United escaped with three points on several occasions late on, most notably when Chris Mueller hit the woodwork with a header. Instead, United ended their 11-game winless streak on the road, and won on the road against an Eastern Conference foe for the first time since April 2017.

Ben Olsen had the luxury of naming the same starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game, and his side took an early lead in the sixth-minute thank to Rooney and Brillant. From a free kick on the right flank, Birnbaum worked away from his marker, Ruan, and bounced a header past Brian Rowe from Rooney's service for the early lead. 

Nani nearly leveled up the game just moments later, as the Portuguese midfielder headed a cross just over goal. 

United were then forced into an early substitution, as Joseph Mora took a knee to the face from Ruan, as both players charged in for a 50/50 ball. Mora, bloodied, had to be attended to for several minutes, before walking off the field, replaced by Chris McCann.

The second goal from Rooney was a world-class goal but came after some controversy. Dwyer slid in and raised his leg trying to tackle the ball away from Rooney near the corner flag. Rooney stepped away to avoid contact and lost possession in the process. However, a foul was given anyway, much to the chagrin of Orlando.

Rooney then whipped a wonderful ball towards goal, and there was no need for assistance from his teammates, as the ball curled past Rowe for the 2-0 lead in the 30th minute.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME WAYNE ROONEY?! ?

He scores his 4th goal of the year and puts D.C. United up by 2 against Orlando. pic.twitter.com/rV8ESb55Ga

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 31, 2019

In the opening game of the season, the Lions clawed back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against New York City FC. United almost put even more distance between the two early in the second half, but Luciano Acosta had a shot tipped over by  Rowe, and Junior Moreno hit the upright.

Orlando brought on Chris Mueller, and the attacker had an immediate impact, providing the assist to Dwyer in the 63rd minute. Getting into the box, Mueller chipped the ball in front of goal from the end line, where Dwyer was unmarked to get the Lions within one goal. 

Dwyer nearly had another goal immediately after his first. With the smoke from the supporters lingering over the field, Dwyer's shot from the top of the box skipped just wide, with it nearly impossible to see how the play panned out in the purple smoke. 

Mueller couldn't find the target with a shot from a sharp angle in the 75th minute, but then Dwyer tested Bill Hamid in the 83rd, forcing a sprawling save out of the keeper. 

United couldn't capitalize on a chance or two late, and struggled to keep a hold of the ball to stymie Orlando. That left the door open for the hosts, who nearly equalized when Robin Jansson stabbed a shot wide of the post after a scramble in the box from a corner.

Mueller then nearly had the equalizer in stoppage time, but his header from a Ruan cross crashed off the upright,  preserving United's third win in four games to start the season.