WASHINGTON (AP) Jaime Moreno and Bryan Namoff scored late in the second half to help D.C. United beat the MetroStars 2-0 Saturday night and advance to the Eastern Conference final.
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Freddy Adu had an assist in his first career playoff appearance for D.C., which won the home-and-home, total-goals series 4-0. United beat the MetroStars 2-0 last Saturday night in East Rutherford, N.J.
Adu entered in the 79th minute and quickly helped United take the lead. He used his speed to beat the MetroStars' defense down the left side and played a perfect pass to the far post, where Moreno scored into an open net for a 1-0 lead in the 85th minute.
"I just went in, made a difference and everyone is happy," Adu said. "I'm at my best when I'm able to face up at the goal and make decisions. I got that today and everyone was expecting me to shoot that ball. The coach tells you to hit it as hard as you can against the goal mouth, and it worked perfectly."
United scored again in the 89th minute when Namoff converted a rebound after Dema Kovalenko's free kick.
"They have to start pushing people forward and then you get a 2-0 on the board, which doesn't really say what the game was," United captain Earnie Stewart said. "But in the end, it doesn't matter. In all honesty I think 2-0 is a bit exaggerated."
United goalkeeper Nick Rimando had six saves.
In a physical game that featured nine yellow cards, D.C. remained stingy on defense while protecting the two-goal lead it built in the first game of the series.
"The end result is all that we could wish and hope for," Stewart said. "We got that result and it's fantastic. Going to the conference final is very exciting."
United is now one win away from its fifth MLS Cup appearance. D.C., which has won a record three league titles, will play either the New England Revolution or Columbus Crew in the conference final next weekend. The Revolution won the first game of that series 1-0, and the teams will play again Sunday at Columbus.
If the Crew advance, they would host the conference final. If New England wins, D.C. would play at home.
