Red Bulls ousted by D.C. United

HARRISON, N.J. The Red Bulls paid the ultimate penalty for failing to convert a penalty kick and they find themselves out of the MLS playoffs again.

The game was delayed a day because of the nor'easter snowstorm that made the field unplayable on Wednesday.

It was a crushing ending to the season for a team that boasted the league's highest payroll and the likes of Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez, who was red-carded for accruing his second yellow card in the 75th minute.

"I thought we didn't deserve to lose," Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill said. "We tried our hearts out and we fell short. I'm gobsmacked . . . We obviously could have won the game. That's why it hurts so much."

It might hurt even more because the Red Bulls could have taken the lead in the 73rd minute. D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid was red-carded and sent off for tripping Cooper at the top of the penalty area. Joe Willis, who replaced midfielder Branko Boskovic, was put in goal. Cooper converted his attempt, but referee Mark Geiger claimed two Red Bulls encroached on the kick -- they were Henry and Dax McCarty -- and had the kick retaken. This time Willis dived to his left to deny Cooper.

DeLeon took a pass from defender Robbie Russell and beat goalkeeper Luis Robles from 12 yards for the winner.