Wayne Rooney plays and scores on park pitch in Florida during DC United’s pre-season training camp 

The setting was a far cry from Old Trafford or Wembley but Wayne Rooney returned to scoring form in DC United’s final pre-season friendly before the start of the new MLS season.

Wednesday night’s match unfolded on what was little more than a park pitch at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida, where DC are holding their training camp.

The pitch is usually used by the junior teams of the Chargers Soccer Club but, for one night only, was graced by a former England captain as they took on Philadelphia Union in a friendly.

The park pitch at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater, Florida where Wayne Rooney and his DC United team played Philadelphia Union in a pre-season friendly

DC United have been holding a pre-season training camp in Florida ahead of the new season

Rooney sits on the bench at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex ahead of the friendly match

The tiny venue was a far cry from Wembley and Old Trafford for the 33-year-old striker

The complex in the Florida resort has several sports pitches and two baseball pitches

Adjacent soccer and baseball pitches at the complex are home to the Clearwater Junior Tornadoes American Football team, City of Clearwater Adult Baseball and the Clearwater Little League.

Rooney is preparing for his first full Major League Soccer season with DC United, having scored 12 goals in 21 matches following his move from Everton in June last year.

And though England’s record goalscorer opened his account for the new campaign in the 23rd minute, Philadelphia came back to win the friendly match 2-1 with goals from Marco Fabian and Cory Burke.

Rooney scored during the friendly but DC United were beaten 2-1 by Philadelphia Union

The former England captain is preparing for his first full season in Major League Soccer

Rooney was grateful for some minutes on the pitch as he captained DC United in Florida

Rooney received a through pass by Luciano Acosta to break behind the Union centre-halves before dinking a shot over goalkeeper Andre Blake.

The 33-year-old said afterwards: ‘Obviously more players were getting more time out on the pitch and that was good for us.

‘There were some good moves in the game, we could have scored more goals but overall it was a fair result.

‘It’s always nice to score but the most important thing tonight was to get more minutes on the pitch.’

Rooney scored in the 23rd minute of the friendly match, slotting past keeper Andre Blake

Rooney is congratulated by team-mates after opening the scoring but DC couldn’t hold on

DC United open their MLS campaign against reigning champions Atlanta United at Audi Field on March 3.

Clearwater is a popular resort on Florida’s west coast close to Tampa and is popular with tourists for its beaches and sunny weather. 

It’s been an eventful stay in the Florida resort for Rooney, who was pictured on a 10-hour drinking session with barmaid Vicki Rosiek last weekend, reportedly leaving his marriage hanging by a thread.

The incident comes just weeks after he was arrested for being drunk at an airport in Washington DC.

Rooney had begun his 10-hour binge with DC United team-mates at 4.20pm but was later seen separately with Ms Rosiek, 32, whom he had met a few days later, according to The Sun on Sunday.

There is no suggestion anything happened between Rooney and Ms Rosiek.