DC United 0, New York City FC 2 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

New York City FC, at long last, have their first victory of the 2019 season, as they left Audi Field with a 2-0 win over D.C. United in Week 8.

The star of the show was Heber, starting in his first-ever game since arriving in late March from Croatian club HNK Rijeka. He laced hem in the 56th minute, putting a game to bed that was already belonging to NYCFC after Alexandru Mitrita riffled home a 35th-minute strike that deflected off D.C. center back Frederic Brillant.

The scoreline could have been more lopsided if not for some misfortune for NYCFC's Maxi Moralez, who smashed a penalty kick off the post in first-half stoppage time. Moralez then hit the post yet again in the 56th minute, evading a full-stretch dive from Bill Hamid.

D.C., now winless in three games at home, was bereft of ideas in the attacking third. Their best chances came off set pieces through Wayne Rooney, but otherwise Luciano Acosta was held quiet.

A big part of D.C.’s quiet afternoon came down to a formation change from head coach Dome Torrent. He deployed NYCFC with three center backs, with 18-year-old James Sands anchoring the group with play beyond his years.