Rooney brace lifts D.C. United over Schweinsteiger's Fire

Washington - Former England captain Wayne Rooney scored two goals as D.C. United rallied in the second half to beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 and keep their MLS Cup playoff push going.

A Fire side featuring Rooney's former Manchester United teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger saw their post-season hopes extinguished long ago, but had visions of a spoiler's role when Raheem Edwards put them up 1-0 in the 51st minute with a fine solo run and finish from inside the penalty area.

With a potentially damaging home defeat looming United responded. Rooney tapped in his own rebound after a Stefan Cleveland save in the 62nd minute.

Rooney converted from the penalty spot in the 81st after Junior Moreno, racing into the Fire area chasing a pass from Rooney, was brought down by Johan Kappelhof.

Rooney now has nine goals in 16 matches since arriving in MLS in July.

The 32-year-old striker has keyed a late-season surge that has United two points behind Montreal for the sixth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth with two games in hand.