The Englishman has now scored three goals in four Major League Soccer games so far this year.
He notched a hat-trick against Real Salt Lake in DC’s 5-0 win, whilst also contributing with an assist.
And against Orlando, he added to his tally in a spectacular, yet controversial way.
A through ball was played to Rooney on the left flank, and the forward touched it past defender Dom Dwyer.
As he did, the Orlando star swung out a foot to try and bring the Englishman down, but didn’t appear to make any contact.
Regardless, Rooney fell to the floor and was awarded a free-kick just a few steps away from the corner circle.
Despite the distance and angle being against him, Rooney stepped up and rifled home the set-piece into the top corner, as the ball clipped off the post and went in.
Brian Rowe, Orlando goalkeeper, was powerless to stop the ball and appeared to have been fouled by Frederic Brillant as he attempted to punch the ball clear.
Fans took to Twitter immediately after the goal to criticise the refereeing in the game, with many claiming the free-kick shouldn’t have been awarded.
“I love watching Orlando lose but Rooney just made the league look crap by fooling your ref that hard. I really liked him but now I just see him as the bad guy lol,” one posted.
“Great goal but can’t help but feel the goalkeeper was a bit interfered with..” another posted.
One more wrote: “What foul? How much you pay that ref?”
“This league will always be a joke unless you get refs that aren’t useless,” one fan wrote.
“Officials as bad as the Premier League,” another wrote.
Rooney’s was the second goal in the game, after he set up Steve Birnbaum for the opener after six minutes.
