Fire rally, tie MetroStars to clinch spot in playoffs
Chris Armas and Jack Stewart scored late goals to help the Eastern Conference Fire clinch a playoff spot with a 2-2 tie over the MetroStars last night in Chicago.
Armas scored in the 90th minute and Stewart tied it in extra time for the Fire (15-11-4). Eddie Gaven had two first-half goals for the MetroStars (10-9-11).
Stewart scored on a header with both teams playing a man short.
United 3, Salt Lake 1 -- Freddy Adu scored his fourth goal of the season to help D.C. United beat Real Salt Lake in Salt Lake City.
In the 50th minute, Adu took the ball at midfield, raced down the sideline, and fired a shot past goalkeeper D.J. Countess. Two minutes later, Christian Gomez scored his 11th goal of the season on assists from Jamil Walker and Adu.
Bobby Boswell opened the scoring for United (16-9-5) in the 29th minute. Andy Williams scored for Real (5-21-4), converting a penalty kick in the 79th minute.
Chivas USA 1, Rapids 1 -- Colorado's Nat Borchers accidentally deflected the ball into his own goal to give Chivas USA a tie with Rapids in Denver.
Colorado's Dedi Ben Dayan opened the scoring in the 33d minute, and Chivas tied it in the 35th when Matt Taylor's hard cross from the left side of the Colorado area caromed off Borchers's thigh and into the net.
FC Dallas 2, Crew 1 -- Ramon Nunez scored in extra time to give FC Dallas a victory over Columbus in Frisco, Texas.
FC Dallas (13-10-7) moved ahead of the Los Angeles Galaxy for second place in the Western Conference with 46 points, while the Crew (10-16-4) were eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Nunez fired a looping volley from 25 yards away that fell into the back of the Crew net for his fourth goal of the season.
FC Dallas's Bobby Rhine tied the game in the 58th when he fired a one-timer from just inside the top of the penalty line into the Crew net. Crew defender Robin Fraser, attempting to clear Chris Gbandi's cross, headed the ball directly to Rhine.
Columbus's David Testo opened the scoring in the 17th minute.
