DC United Win - Move On

From: ESPN.com




Gomez's late goal eases United past Red Bulls

WASHINGTON -- The scoreboard should have read Christian Gomez 2, New York Red Bulls 1.

As for the rest of D.C. United? The team played so poorly that it could very well not be the favorite at home in next week's Eastern Conference final.

Gomez bailed out his team with a goal in the 86th minute Sunday to give United a 1-1 tie with the Red Bulls. Combined with last week's 1-0 victory at Giants Stadium, the score was enough to clinch the home-and-home, total-goals series and secure a date at RFK Stadium with the New England Revolution in the one-game conference final next Sunday.







''We did not play well. I think that was one of the worst games we've played since I've been a part of D.C. United,'' forward Freddy Adu said. ''We've played better losing than we did today. We got in the locker room and we were talking about, 'It was horrendous.' We might have gotten away with it this time, but we just can't keep doing this.''

The Red Bulls played like a team with nothing to lose, pressing forward from the opening whistle and winning most of the 50-50 balls in midfield. New York outshot United 5-1 in the opening half and 13-6 for the game.

''Maybe it's the good thing to go into the conference final as an underdog,'' coach Peter Nowak said. ''We didn't play like we wanted to play.''

Does he really think the club with the league's best regular-season record will be the underdog?

''After tonight's game? Yes,'' Nowak replied.

After Jozy Altidore's goal in the 70th minute put New York up 1-0 and tied the series goal total, it was left to Gomez to score United's only goal for the second straight week to avoid overtime and possible penalty kicks.

Gomez, a leading candidate to earn league MVP honors, gathered a long cross from Josh Gros and put a left-footed 10-yard shot inside the near post. Gros' pass nearly hit United defender Bobby Boswell, who appeared to slip but instead provided a great decoy to give Gomez space to make the shot.

''He didn't play your typical Christian Gomez game, but he finds ways to be in the right spots at the right time to score goals,'' Adu said. ''Once again, Christian to the rescue.''







Altidore, who turns 17 next month, became the youngest player to score in an MLS playoff game, placing an 11-yard header just inside the left post off of Amado Guevara's free kick. Altidore also hit the left post in the 61st minute.

The Red Bulls played without forward Youri Djorkaeff, who strained his Achilles tendon during practice Thursday. Midfielder Markus Schopp left the game in the 43rd minute with a strained muscle in his lower abdomen.

The game ends the season for Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena, who took over late in the season after leading the U.S. national team at the World Cup. New York played relatively well for Arena, considering how little time he had to put his stamp on the team.

''We made progress. I tell you, the last six weeks have been a blast,'' Arena said. ''I've enjoyed working with the guys. They've shown a lot of improvement.''