MLS: D.C. United 1, New York 1

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Heath Pearce headed home a goal in the 65th minute Saturday and New York earned a 1-1 tie with D.C. United in the first leg of a conference semifinal series.

Pearce's score on a corner kick was fumbled by United goalkeeper Bill Hamid into his own net and allowed New York to claim an even sheet as the Eastern Conference semifinal series moves on to the second leg at Red Bull Arena.

United had taken a 1-0 lead only 4 minutes earlier when the Red Bulls' Roy Miller inadvertently redirected a cross into his own goal.

D.C. lost Andy Najar for the next match due to a pair of yellow cards issued to the Honduran when he hurled a ball in the direction of an official after drawing citation for a hard foul on Joel Lindpere.