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MLS Week 1: First impressions of all 24 teams

By Christopher Dodson

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: Los Angeles FC's head coach Bob Bradley prior to Los Angeles FC's MLS match against Sporting Kansas City at the Banc of California Stadium on March 3, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 2-1 (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 03: D.C. United forward Paul Arriola (7) scores the first goal in a 2-0 victory during a MLS match between D.C. United and Atlanta United FC, on March 3, 2019, at Audi Field, in Washington, DC.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 03: D.C. United forward Paul Arriola (7) scores the first goal in a 2-0 victory during a MLS match between D.C. United and Atlanta United FC, on March 3, 2019, at Audi Field, in Washington, DC.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

D.C. United

Wayne Rooney will be the biggest name on the marque all season, but it was the collective defensive effort that kept Atlanta United from bothering the score. D.C. United was the only team to hold a shut out. To do so against the defending champions is arguably the most impressive result of MLS Week 1.

That argument may hold, other teams are dealing with CCL knockout rounds. The biggest distraction for D.C. United is the Luciano Acosta contract extension talks. This is the best team Ben Olsen ever coached. Last season was spent waiting on Rooney and then marveling at his talent. That magic was enough to carry D.C. United into the playoffs, but Rooney now has to take the carpet rides on coach across the country.

Paul Arriola showed a smooth end product as well, and Bill Hamid is fired up to prove some doubters wrong. With such talent in the attacking third, the Steven Birnbaum led backline can hang back conservatively.

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