MLS wrap: DC United celebrate finals berth

21 October 2012 05:10

DC United will take part in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 after beating Columbus Crew 3-2 at a sold-out RFK Stadium.

Columbus opened the scoring in the seventh minute on Saturday when Eddie Gaven struck his career-best ninth goal of the season.

Nick DeLeon levelled proceedings towards the end of the first half, but the deadlock lasted just two minutes as Jairo Arrieta put Crew back in front with a curling shot just before the break.

DC equalised again midway through the second half when Marcelo Saragosa fired a shot that deflected past Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.

Lewis Neal scored in a frantic stoppage time, slotting home a deft Branko Boskovic long ball to secure three points for the home side.

Elsewhere, New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City played out a 0-0 draw at Red Bull Arena.

The result ended Sporting's chances of overhauling the San Jose Earthquakes for Supporters' Shield as the team with the best regular season record.

An early Diego Fagundez strike gave New England Revolution a 1-0 win at home to Chicago Fire.

Fagundez, with his hair dyed red, scored the decisive goal in the 17th minute before lifting his shirt to reveal a message of birthday congratulations to his mother.

Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, both already out of contention for the playoffs, played out a 0-0 stalemate at BMO Field.

Goals from Macoumba Kandji, Oscar Bonieck Garcia and Brad Davis earned Houston Dynamo a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union and another shot at the playoffs after losing in last year's final.

Chivas USA, meanwhile, have just one match remaining to climb off the bottom of the Western Conference standings after losing 2-0 to the Colorado Rapids.

Martin Rivero and Kamani Hill scored the goals for the Rapids, who stay in seventh in the West, while Chivas stay one point behind second-last Portland, probably needing to gain victory in Dallas in their last match to leapfrog the Timbers off the bottom of the table.