Washington, D.C. — In a marquee matchup on national television, D.C. United produced their worst game in some time, getting blown away by Los Angeles FC 4-0 at Audi Field with Diego Rossi scoring a hat trick for LAFC. Wayne Rooney was given a red card in the second half, but by that point the damage was already done, as Carlos Vela and Rossi tore the Black-and-Red apart in the first half. 

By the end of the first 45 minutes, the visitors were already up 3-0 after taking 12 shots. Bill Hamid saved a penalty on Vela before the goals, but that seemed to be the high point of the afternoon for United, who lost for the first time in 2019, ending a 15-game unbeaten streak.

Ben Olsen made only one change to the squad that had won three of their first games of the season. With Joseph Mora out with a broken jaw and concussion, Chris McCann took over the left back duties, tasked with trying to shut down Vela, the league's best player to date in 2019.

It was Hamid who denied Vela first, though, as Leo Jara conceded an early penalty for a handball while blocking a  cross in the box. Hamid guessed correctly to deny Vela, who then hit the post on the follow-up before winning a corner with his third attempt.

That was the highlight of the day for United, though, as the visitors dissected United with precision on the counter-attack. Four minutes after the penalty was saved, LAFC capitalized on a turnover in midfield from United, with Adama Diomande finding Vela, who curled a shot around Hamid.

Vela then became the provider for Rossi's first in the 26th minute. Rossi found Vela out wide on the right, who played an outside-the-foot pass into the box, allowing Rossi to one-time a shot past Hamid for the 2-0 lead. 

Another United turnover in the 32nd minute quickly turned into another goal for Rossi. Paul Arriola's pass in his own half was intercepted by Mark-Anthony Kaye, who quickly picked out Rossi, allowing the Uruguayan to curl a shot around Hamid, stunning the home sellout crowd of 20,600.

Any faint hope of a comeback from United was quickly extinguished early in the second half. Rooney took down Rossi near midfield and was initially given a yellow card from referee Robert Sibiga. However, after a video review — Rooney seemed to understand what was coming — the card was changed to red, ending the captain's day early. 

Down to 10 men, United actually twice had goal-bound shots saved. Steven Beitashour was perfectly placed twice to deny Frederic Brillant and Steven Birnbaum, with the stop on Brillant coming on the line.

The miserable day for the Black-and-Red was concluded in the 76th minute when Christian Ramirez, who had replaced an injured Diomande in the first half, picked out a wide-open Rossi in the box. Hamid got a touch on Rossi's shot but couldn't keep the ball out, as the visitors ran out 4-0 winner.

United are back in action on Tuesday when they host the Montreal Impact at Audi Field.