Revolution Wins Opener

Rookie Pat Noonan and Dario Fabbro each scored a goal to lead the New England Revolution to a 2-0 victory over the MetroStars in the opening round of the MLS playoffs Saturday night in front of 10,211 at East Rutherford, N.J.

The two-game series switches to Foxboro, Mass., for a second match next Sunday. Under the league’s new playoff format, the team with the most goals in the two games advances to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Revolution scored its first goal in the 17th minute when Fabbro redirected a shot by Jay Heaps past Jonny Walker.

The MetroStars were denied a tying goal in the 48th minute when defender Eddie Pope appeared to put a shot into the net below the crossbar. However, an official ruled that the ball never crossed the goal line before Noonan kicked it out of the goal.

Chicago 2, D.C. United 0 -- Andy Williams and Ante Razov each scored a goal to help the Fire spoil United’s return to the playoffs in front of 15,202 at Washington.

United, which had been 12-0 at home in the playoffs, hadn’t played in the postseason since beating the Galaxy in 1999 for its third MLS Cup title.

Williams scored on the game’s first shot by tucking a low drive inside the far post from nearly 30 yards.