D.C. United edges MetroStars

WASHINGTON — Mike Petke headed in Freddy Adu's corner kick in the 64th minute, and D.C. United beat the MetroStars 3-2 Sunday night in a tuneup for their first-round playoff series.

Adu had two assists, and Christian Gomez scored twice to help United (11-10-9) finish the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the MetroStars (11-12-7). The teams will start a home-and-home series Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J.

D.C. extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 games.

The MetroStars scored first in the 14th minute when Eddie Gaven eluded defender Bryan Namoff and found John Wolyniec, who scored his 10th goal of the season on a diving header at the near post.

Gomez answered with two goals in six minutes to put United ahead 2-1. He tied it by finishing Ben Olsen's cross, then beat goalkeeper Jonny Walker with a nifty chip in the 29th minute. Jaime Moreno had his league-leading 14th assist on the go-ahead goal.

Ricardo Clark scored from 35 yards away in the 50th minute to make it 2-2, but Petke followed with his first goal of the year to help D.C. win the final MLS game of the regular season.

Adu finished the regular season with 13 points. United had a scare, however, when he went up for a header in the second half and was undercut by Craig Ziadie. Adu came down on his neck and was down for several minutes before walking off the field under his own power. Ziadie received his second yellow card of the game for an ejection and a suspension for the first game of the playoffs.