Time and time again over his career with D.C. United, Bill Hamid has made saves that have stolen points away for the Black-and-Red. Since his return from Denmark, it has been no different from the club's first ever homegrown signing. And Hamid's game-saving ability was on full display on Sunday, as United walked away from Yankee Stadium with a point after a 0-0 draw against New York City FC.

City dialed up the pressure late, but Hamid was on hand to make three excellent saves, helping United keep their second consecutive clean sheet to start the season, as they picked up four points from two games. 

"Both teams had a couple of chances, but Bill Hamid was fantastic today for us," club captain Wayne Rooney told reporters after the game. "He’s one of the best keepers in the league, and he proved that again."

Hamid's most heroic save came in the final moments of regular time, as he somehow got a hand to a diving header by Alex Ring to preserve the shutout. But Hamid was needed again late in stoppage time, as he pushed the ball away from danger, with two City attackers having broken through an offside trap in the box. 

Those saves helped United earn their second clean sheet already in 2019. Last year, the team didn't pick up their second shutout until August, when they beat the New England Revolution at Audi Field. 

"The back line, the holding midfielders, we have a good chemistry about us right now," Hamid said after the game, heaping some of the praise for the clean sheet on his teammates. "Two shutouts in a row is good in this league. We want to keep building on that."

At the other end, NYC keeper Sean Johnson made several crucial saves to split the points. In the first half, Johnson denied Luciano Acosta and Paul Arriola. Late in the second half, it was another save on Acosta that kept United from walking away with their first ever win in the Bronx.

That performance from Johnson was recognized after the game by Hamid.

"Sean had an amazing game in goal for City," said Hamid. "I have a lot of respect for him."

Acosta had been in such fine goalscoring form over the second half of last year, and continuing into this year with his goal against Atlanta United, that it was almost a surprise that never of his efforts led to a goal. However, for head coach Ben Olsen, there were no worries about the chances his side created.

On another day, or against another keeper, the Black-and-Red could left with several goals to their name.

"Even on a day where the conditions aren’t great, and we weren’t the best in possession, we were able to create chances," Olsen said after the game. "I’m not worried about us converting those. We came up against a very good goalkeeper. Those [chances] will fall more times than not for us."

With four points, United currently sit second in the Eastern Conference, behind just the Columbus Crew on goals scored. But having already faced two teams that made the playoffs last year, United are feeling good about their start to the 2019 season.

Up next is a visit from Real Salt Lake, before a break for the FIFA window. A win next week, at the fortress that Audi Field has quickly become, will give United just the start they would have wanted to build upon last year's strong end to the regular season.

"It’s a good start for us," said Rooney. "We’ve started well, we’ve got a home game against [Real] Salt Lake next week. If we can win that, it’ll be a really good start going into the two-week break we have."