McBride’s Two Goals Help Crew Tie D.C. United in Series

Brian McBride scored two goals and the Columbus Crew kept its championship hopes alive with a 4-2 victory over two-time Major League Soccer champion D.C. United on Sunday in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The loss broke United’s streak of 13 consecutive playoff victories and evened the best-of-three series. The deciding game will be played Wednesday in Washington, with the winner advancing to the MLS Cup championship game against the Chicago Fire on Sunday at the Rose Bowl.

McBride chased down a loose ball in the box and pushed a shot past D.C. goalkeeper Tom Presthus from 10 yards out in the eighth minute. Thomas Dooley made it 2-0 in the 37th minute on a header from seven yards out off a cross from Jason Farrell.

McBride got his fourth playoff goal and the game-winner in the 47th minute, fighting off two defenders and flicking a header inside the far post from 12 yards.

Reserve Tony Sanneh put United on the scoreboard with a header off a cross by defender Jeff Agoos in the 65th minute.

Roy Lassiter made it 3-2 in the 77th minute after Carey Talley intercepted a rushed pass from Dooley.

MLS scoring leader Stern John put the game away in the 81st minute with a header off a cross by Robert Warzycha.

The game, which was the last the Crew will play in Ohio Stadium, featured an MLS-record 50 fouls and seven yellow cards as the teams battled in a steady rain. Columbus will have its own soccer-specific stadium next season.