D.C. couldn't end a two-game winless streak at Audi Field on Sunday afternoon, as New York City FC won their first game of the season 2-0. In front of 18,004 fans at Buzzard Point in Washington, D.C., goals on either side of the half were the just result, as the visitors were the better side for much of the 90 minutes. Alexandru Mitrita scored on a deflected shot in the 35th minute, while Brazilian striker Heber — in his first start for City — scored his first MLS goal in the 56th minute.

Leonardo Jara returned from his shoulder injury to retake his place at right back as United reverted back to their usual formation for the game. Paul Arriola started at left back, while Chris Durkin kept his spot in midfield, with Russell Canouse absent due to an injury. 

An uneventful opening 10 minutes of the game quickly gave way to City carving out a couple of chances against the hosts. Mitrita had two looks from range in the 11th and 14th minute, but he couldn't find the target on either occasion. Ronald Matarrita was able to get into the box for his shot in the 16th minute, but the left back couldn't keep his strike on target.

A rare first-half chance for United came in the 22nd minute, as a high press forced NYC into a bad turnover. Luciano Acosta chipped the ball into the box for Wayne Rooney, but the striker mistimed his jump and headed the ball over goal from just a couple of yards out. 

Bill Hamid guessed right when Heber tried to chip him in the 32nd minute, standing tall and jumping up to claim the shot after the striker had gotten into the box. However, Hamid was left helpless three minutes later when Heber fed Mitrita in the box and the Romanian's shot deflected off of Frederic Brillant for the 1-0 lead. 

Two free kicks from Rooney late in the half just missed a final touch from someone by United, before the upright kept the hosts within a goal just before the break. Jaraa pushed Anton Tinnerholm down in the box on a counter attack, but Maxi Moralez sent his spot kick off the upright after sending Hamid guessing the wrong way.

United kept the same 11 on the field to start the second half but switched to the 3-4-3 formation they used last week against the Colorado Rapids. The woodwork kept the Black-and-Red within one in the 56th minute, when Moralez once again hit the upright.

The reprieve was short-lived, however, as City kept possession after the resulting corner and Matarrita delivered a second ball into the box. On the half volley, Heber blasted a shot past Hamid, giving NYC a two-goal advantage. 

City went close through Jonathan Lewis and Ebenezer Ofori to adding to their lead, but Lewis couldn't get past Hamid, and Ofori's shot was just over the frame of the goal. 

Desperate to turn around the outcome of the game, United struggled to create many genuine chances of their own. Acosta's acrobatic effort from a Rooney free kick looked spectacular but had little chance of success as it flew over the goal. 

D.C. brought on Zoltan Stieber, Quincy Amarikwa, and Griffin Yow for his debut hoping to shake up the attack, but the hosts could not find the back of the net, the third game in a row in which they have failed to do so. The Black-and-Red play again twice in the next week, with trips to face the Columbus Crew on Wednesday and Minnesota United on Sunday.