D.C. United will be missing two young starters Sunday when it faces the host Houston Dynamo in the opener of the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference finals.

Defender-midfielder Andy Najar, 19, can't play in either match of the home-and-home, total-goals series. He was suspended by the league for throwing a ball at an official in a playoff match against New York.

D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, 21, can't play Sunday because he received a red card for taking down Kenny Cooper in Thursday's 1-0 victory over New York.

Hamid allowed 25 goals in 26 regular-season games.

Hamid, by the way, describes himself as an "unbelievable fanatic" of James Bond films despite the fact most of them were released before he was born.

Joe Willis is D.C. United's backup keeper. Robbie Russell has filled in for Najar.