It had been an impressive start to the new MLS for Wayne Rooney and DC United.
Going into last night's clash with Los Angeles at Audi Field, United were yet unbeaten in the 2019 season, taking three wins from their opening four matches, their talisman chipping in with four goals including a hat trick against Real Salt Lake on Matchday Three.
But it came to a very abrupt end after a Diego Rossi hat-trick helped LAFC to a 4-0 victory in Washington.
The former Everton and Manchester United man at least only had to endure 52 minutes of the drubbing - and if it was a rest he was after, he'll certainly get an enforced one now.
England's record-breaking goalscorer looks set for a prolonged watching brief after a very nasty challenge on the opposition's hat-trick hero saw him sent off, but not before the referee consulted VAR,
ROONEY SEES RED! 📕 #DCvLAFC https://t.co/g2jvLPoF51
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 6, 2019
Like us, if you're reading this and thinking - what's new? Wayne Rooney is an angry man - you might be surprised to know that last night's dismissal is only the third time in a seventeen year professional club career that the Liverpool born striker has seen a straight red.
His first came as a teenager in 2002 whilst in Everton blue, lasting only 15 minutes having been introduced from the bench in a draw against Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
His second came a full twelve years later, after the hot head threw the boot into an in-flight Stewart Downing in a 2-1 United win over West Ham at Old Trafford.
Admittedly, he has also seen red on two occasions for England - in a 2011 Euro qualifier in Montengero and famously at the 2006 World Cup. Ronaldo. Winker.
Rooney will presumably miss Wednesday night's clash with Montreal Impact, with his participation in next Sunday's trip to Colorado also looking precarious at the moment.
