Jairo Arrieta scored on his DC United debut as the capital club kicked off the MLS season with a 1-0 home win over Montreal Impact.

The Costa Rican opened his account just 59 minutes into his United career to give Ben Olsen's side a dream start to the new campaign.

Arrieta looked menacing early on as he dispossessed Laurent Ciman to set up Chris Pontius, who drilled just wide on 18 minutes.

Impact would have gone ahead themselves shortly after the half-hour mark if not for goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who expertly tipped Donny Toia's strike over the bar.

Hamid reproduced his heroics on 58 minutes to keep out Justin Mapp in what proved a double blow for the visitors, who conceded from the resulting counter-attack.

United broke forward in numbers and Arrieta was on hand to convert Chris Rolfe's inch-perfect delivery.

It nearly got better for the hosts when Pontius rattled the crossbar minutes later, but it did not prove decisive as Olsen's men started the new season in style.