FC Dallas assumes control

Abe Thompson scored the go-ahead goal in the 55th minute to lead FC Dallas to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night in Denver in the opener of the home-and-home playoff series.

Ronnie O’Brien moved the ball to the back post and Thompson shot it past goalie Joe Cannon.

Carlos Ruiz opened the scoring for Dallas in the 15th minute, and Terry Cooke tied it for Colorado in the 23rd.

Dallas can win the Major League Soccer playoff series with a victory or tie next Saturday at home.

D.C. United 1, New York 0 -- Christian Gomez scored on a give-and-go in the 77th minute at East Rutherford, N.J., to lead United over the Red Bulls in the first game of their first-round playoff series.

D.C. United, which has never lost a playoff game at home against the Red Bulls franchise, can win the series with just a tie next Sunday at RFK Stadium.