Without Wayne Rooney in the lineup, D.C. United almost held on to an important point on the road against Atlanta United. But "almost" wasn't enough for the Black-and-Red, who conceded two late goals, falling 2-0 to the Five Stripes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Pity Martinez and Josef Martinez scored the goals for the hosts, exacting revenge for the season-opening loss at Audi Field. 

Pity, who was once again a substitute for Frank de Boer, came on in the second half and scored the winner in the 89th minute with a header for his third goal of the season. Josef, who missed a penalty earlier in the second half, wrapped up the points with his 16th goal of the season in the second minute of stoppage time.

The big news from United's side was the absence of Rooney, who was given the game off by head coach Ben Olsen. Rooney had only missed one game since his arrival last summer when he was suspended earlier in the season for a game against the Montreal Impact. That led Olsen to keep the same three-center back formation, inserting Luciano Acosta — back from suspension — into Rooney's place in the starting lineup. 

Bill Hamid, also back in the starting lineup after being on the bench in Thursday's win over FC Cincinnati, had to make two big stops on Josef early in the game. Martinez, who set the league's goal-scoring record last year, was denied in the eighth and 13th minutes by diving saves from Hamid.

The Black-and-Red were able to settle the game down, even while conceding most of the possession. That gave Atlanta chances to get more numbers forward, allowing D.C. to break out on a couple of counter attacks. Twice in the space of a couple of minutes, balls over the top from Acosta to Paul Arriola got United's winger running in towards goal.

The first chance dissipated when Arriola tried to center the ball for Lucas Rodriguez, but the pass was off the mark. Then in the 33rd minute, Arriola was in on goal from Acosta's pass but couldn't find a way past Brad Guzan, who made a good save to keep the game scoreless. 

Those were United's best chances on the break for most of the rest of the game, as the action fell into a pattern of D.C. dispelling attack after attack from the Five Stripes. But in the 73rd minute, a penalty was awarded to the hosts as Russell Canouse was called for a foul on Josef Martinez in the box. 

The striker skipped and hopped up to the ball but seemed put off by Hamid, seeming to change his mind at the last moment, eventually firing the spot kick over the goal. 

At the other end, two minutes later, Acosta had a chance to test Guzan from range but couldn't find a way past the former USMNT keeper. 

Just when a draw seemed to be in the cards, the beleaguered Pity Martinez popped up for the winner in the 89th minute. Darlington Nagbe got to the end line in the box, and with Josef drawing a crowd, Nagbe's chipped ball into the middle found Pity, who was unmarked in heading home the winning goal. 

D.C. tried to get numbers forward for an equalizer in stoppage time but were caught out by Pity's ball into the attacking half for Josef. In on goal with just Hamid to beat, Martinez made up for his penalty miss by coolly chipping the ball home to ensure all three points for Atlanta, moving them up into second place in the Eastern Conference.

The Black-and-Red play a friendly at home on Wednesday against French side Marseille before resuming MLS action next Saturday at the Chicago Fire.