Houston Dynamo held a 3-1 first-leg lead in the final of the MLS Easter Conference with tonight's hosts, DC United, needing at least a 2-0 win to take it to extra-time.
Despite plenty of DC possession the hosts could not find a way past a resilient Houston defence and indeed the away side extended their aggregate lead to 4-1 in the first half.
DC could not find a goal until the 83rd minute, by which time it was too late to mount a comeback.
Read how the action unfolded below with Sports Mole's live text commentary.
Good evening and welcome to the second leg of the Eastern Conference final between DC United and Houston Dynamo. Remember the visitors hold a 3-1 advantage.
First up, the teams...
DC United XI: Hamid; Russell, Jakovic, Dudar, Korb; Boskovic, Saragosa, Kitchen, DeLeon; Santos, Pajoy
Houston XI: Hall; Sarkodie, Boswell, Taylor, Ashe; Garcia, Moffat, Clark, Davis; Bruin, Kandji
So one of Houston's scorers from the last leg Will Bruin keeps his place in the XI, but another Andre Hinault is out.
DC will be looking for more of the same from Nicholas DeLeon if they are to overcome the two-goal deficit tonight.
A few minutes away from kickoff here and I think it's time to make a prediction. I'm going 1-1. Although I can see DC winning, I don't think they have it in them to go through.
Slight delay to kickoff from what I can tell. Remember that LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders follows this game, with LA 3-0 up in that.
Just trying to find what the delay is.. I'm sure we'll be underway soon! Stay tuned.
DC coach Ben Olsen said in the build-up to this game that his side are not out of it. He;s right, but they'll need to defend better than last time. If Houston make it 4-1 on aggregate I see no way back.
Teams are on the pitch, not long now!
Houston will kick us off...
Here we go!
Houston are pressing high to start with, forcing DC into some scrappy passing. They're not sitting on their lead.
Chance for Houston! Moffatt finds space on the edge of the box and shoots low. It's close, but wide.
DC nick the ball from Ashe, but Houston pres again and win it back. It's the visitors with the early pressure here.
Santos heads down a cross, looking for Pajoy, but Houston manage to get it away. First look in for United that.
DC have the added incentive of hosting the final, should they get through here at the RFK Stadium. It's still a big ask.
DC on top now. Houston are being forced to play more direct, but nothing is getting through. That said, there's not been a real chance thus far for the hosts.
Chance for DC! Korb gives it away but gets it back and shoots from fully 30 yards. Hall kees it out, but it wasn't textbook goalkeeping.
Chance for DC! Pajoy is found with a long ball in acres of space. He's onside but his cutback to Santos is cleared for a corner.
Boswell steals the ball from Pajoy and Houston try to break... however it's good pressure from DC and the visitors go all the way back to Hall.
The front two of United are working hard so far. Taking it in turns to drop deep and find space.
Santos looks to have won a corner on the left, but the call goes to the away team and they can relieve some of the pressure.
Davis is found on the edge of the area after Bruin finds Kandji, but he is crowded out and can't wrap his foot around the shot.
Good passing in the middle from DC. This time Houston are keeping their shape well. Korb finds space on the left, Pajoy tries an overhead cross to Santos but Hall claims well for Houston.
Long ball from the back again for Houston, Bruin can't win the header and DC are back on the ball.
It's very much set up now for Houston to play on the break and DC to control the possession.
DC almost find a way through as Boskovic almost plays in Pajoy, but the latter cannot gather and it's played away by Houston's defence.
Santos shapes to shoot from 25 yards for DC, but it's well blocked. He's capable from there the Brazilian.
Just a hint of the danger of the Houston counter as Kandji almost gets in behind, but he's offside.
Chance for DC! Santos looks to shoot but is crowded out. He finds Korb who crosses for Boskovic, but his header is well wide.
Finely poised this as DC break up another Houston counter.
Chance for DC! Pajoy is in acres of space on the left, finds DeLeon who in turn looks for Russell. His cross is headed goalwards by Santos but Hall saves.
Houston's centre-back Boswell has clearly been told to show Santos onto his right foot whenever possible. He's doing it well so far.
GOAL! DC 0-1 HOUSTON (Garcia)
Brad Davis does well to get to the byline. He cuts it back for Garcia who has made a run from the midfield and it's 4-1 on aggregate. Very hard now for the hosts.
The goal was somewhat against the run of play, but United haven't exactly dominated. They created more chances, but the danger of needing goals is you can get caught on the beak and that's exactly what Houston have done.
Free-kick from 45 yards here for DC... Kitchen meets it but his header goes over the bar.
Chance for Houston! Garcia was left unmarked on the edge of the box but the pass from Bruin was behind him. A better ball and it was 2-0 there.
United looking to get as many balls in the box as they can but Taylor is clearing everything currently.
Just over a minute of the half left, with a 4-1 advantage you can't look beyond last year's Conference champions here.
Santos is flagged offside. He was, by many yards. One minute added on...
Poor delivery from Russell after being played through by Boskovic, and that's the last action.
DC United 0-1 Houston Dynamo
So Dynamo hold a 4-1 aggregate lead, with DC having one half left to score three goals to force extra time.
The home side have probably had more of the chances. They've certainly had more possession, but Houston have played the perfect game on the break so far to extend their overall lead.
Will Olsen risk Dwayne De Rosario at half-time? He's far from match-fit, but it's desperate now for the hosts.
Another few minutes and the game will be back underway. I have to say Houston's centre-backs Boswell and Taylor have been immaculate since the first 10-15 minutes, in which Santos and Pajoy were linking up quite well.
De Rosario does not come on just yet. Olsen will be hoping his side are within two goals at least by the time his star man comes on. Saragosa comes off however, for Lewis Neal.
Second-half time. Can DC produce a miracle here?
I'm expecting high tempo from United now, with space opening up for Houston. Next goal is crucial. If it goes to the away team there's no hope for DC. If they get it... well, who knows?
Chance for DC! What a chance! Pajoy meets a Korb cross and it falls to Russell from the edge of the six-yard box. However he skies it.
Boskovic is playing slightly further up with the introduction of Neal. He'll need to be at his creative best for United to get back in this.
Davis almost gets on the end of a Bruin cut-back, as Houston look to break.
Houston are defending in numbers and Bruin then has another chance to break. However Dudar defends very well one-on-one. Neal then blazes one over from some way out for the hosts.
It's something of a 5-4-1 for the visitors, while DC have often just got two or three players in their own half. Likely to be one-way traffic in the next 35 minutes.
Chance for DC! A Korb cross falls to Pajoy, who looks to work space. His eventual shot is blocked and it was really good defending. It's Pajoy's last action, he's coming off for Salihi.
Chance for Houston! Davis finds Bruin and for a moment it's two-on-one, but Dudar closes the angle well and the danger has gone.
Nearly an hour gone and DC aren't looking likely to get even one back. De Rosario is looking likely to come on. Reports suggest he's to come on for Dudar in a going-for-broke change by Olsen.
Chance for DC! Good work for the hosts and Boskovic has a chance to shoot from the edge of the box but it's blocked to Hall. And here comes De Rosario! It is indeed Dudar who comes off.
Surely not even he can lift his side to three goals in just over 25 minutes? Stranger things have happened in football, though.
Bruin wastes a good chance for the visitors by delaying a cut-back until Clark was offside.
Substitution for Houston Clark was injured in that last move, tackled by De Rosario of all people. He's coming off for Camargo.
Chance for DC! Santos flicks on to Salihi, whose first touch is poor and Hall collects.
Chance for DC! And he blows it again! This time he's wide in the box and cuts inside rather than shoot on his right foot. It's blocked for a corner and nothing comes of it.
Chance for DC! Another one goes begging. This time De Rosario finds Santos and he heads over from a good position. They can't keep blowing these!
Chance for DC! Not as good a chance that for Salihi from an over-the-shoulder volley. He catches it well but Hall holds. Less than 20 minutes for the hosts.
Chance for Houston! The visitors should have wrapped it up. Kandji is through on goal and shoots early, but puts it wide.
Neal skies an effort from 25 yards as DC start to run out of ideas. Houston keep giving the ball away on the break, but time is certainly on their side.
Chance for Houston! Garcia ghosts into the box again but this time can only head Sarkodie's cross straight at Hamid.
Bruin, who has not played well, comes off for Cam Weaver.
Chance for Houston! Fantastic save Hamid! Kandji strikes hard from inside the box but Hamid gets a solid arm on it to deflect clear.
Davis gets a sight on his left foot, but it's blocked for a corner. Houston are closing this out here.
The 2006 and 2007 winners, and finalists last year, have been thoroughly professional tonight from front to back.
Weaver tries to lob Hamid, who had kicked poorly, from 50 yards, but it sails over.
GOAL! DC 1-1 Houston (Boskovic)
They're back in it... but it might be too late. Boskovic glides into the box and slots into the bottom corner with his right foot. Two goals needed for extra-time.
Chance for DC! A deflection drops the ball to Neal from an angle in the box. He takes his time but directs his shot straight down the throat of Hall. Huge chance!
Two minutes plus stoppage time left. Is there anything left in United?
Hall has played well for Dynamo tonight as he claims another high ball. Four minutes of stoppage time....
Chance for DC! De Rosario gets in some space on the edge of the box. He looks to bend it but it's easy for Hall.
Everyone back defending for Houston, as Santos slices the chance of a cross for a goal-kick. Just over two minutes, there's surely not enough time now?
Hall gathers another cross, this time from Korb. Another minute for Houston to hold on.
DC United 1-1 Houston Dynamo (2-4 on aggregate)
Well Houston take it 2-4 on aggregate. They've won the Eastern Conference after qualifying for the playoffs in fifth place. Some achievement, and now it's the MLS Cup final at this very ground.
It's likely they will face LA Galaxy, who are 3-0 up against the Seattle Sounders, with the return leg later tonight.
That's all from me. Thanks for reading and be sure to find out who Houston will face in the MLS cup final with Sports Mole's commentary later on. Good night.
