How does Tom Soehn sub out the league's leading scorer down three goals in the playoffs?

D.C. United and the Chicago Fire staged an intense, epic battle last night. The visitors stunned D.C. by taking advantage of some indecisive defending in the back to twice find net early on. Following last week's 1-0 home win, it gave the underdogs a three-goal cushion on aggregate.

But just when it looked like Chicago was going to cruise to victory, D.C. suddenly went mental. Clyde Simms jumpstarted the attack with a long-range scorcher. Then Christian Gomez squeezed one past Chicago 'keeper Matt Pickens. It appeared that D.C. had gotten the equalizer in the dying minutes, but Gomez was (correctly) whistled for a handball. Agony for the black and red; ecstacy for the upstart Fire.

Video highlights here. The Washington Post also has an extraordinary photo gallery from the match.