Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United: Nick DeLeon puts D.C. in front on the road

Most expected D.C. United to be content with a draw in the first leg of their Eastern Conference final and once Chris Pontius went down injured, joining Dwayne De Rosario and Andy Najar on the sidelines, a conservative approach seemed a given. That hasn't been the case, though, and D.C.'s aggressiveness has paid off in the form of a Nick DeLeon goal that has them up 1-0 on the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The goal was only possible because the Dynamo defense was out of sorts and allowed Lionard Pajoy to run in behind the back line with ease. He cut in from the left and picked out the far post, literally, hitting the bar. The ball bounced to DeLeon, though, who hit the ball first touch. It looked like the ball was heading wide of the goal, but it deflected off of Andre Hainault and found the net to put the visitors in front.

DeLeon might lose the goal with it be called an own goal instead, but that doesn't matter. What is important is that shorthanded D.C. lead 1-0 on the road in the first leg.