D.C. United rescued by Gomez

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

Gomez bailed out D.C. United with a goal in the 86th minute yesterday, giving his team a 1-1 tie with the Red Bulls. Combined with last week's 1-0 victory at Giants Stadium, the score was enough to win the total-goals series and secure a date at RFK Stadium with the Revolution in the one-game Eastern Conference final Sunday at 4 p.m. Had the Red Bulls won the series, the conference final would have been played at Gillette Stadium Saturday.

The Red Bulls pressed forward from the opening whistle . New York outshot United, 5-1, in the opening half and 13-6 for the game.

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 right-footed 10-yard shot inside the near post. Gros's pass nearly hit United defender Bobby Boswell, who provided a great decoy to give Gomez space to make the shot.

Dynamo 2, Chivas USA 0 -- Brian Ching scored late in second-half stoppage time after Brad Davis scored on a 64th-minute penalty kick as host Houston rallied after suffering a 2-1 loss in Game 1 and won its semifinal series.

Houston will host the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference final.