The Dynamo at the Battery Stadium, Sponsored by Duracell

DC United 1 : 1 Houston Dynamo (Final)

Listening now to the Houston/DC match-up for the Carolina Cup challenge. Nil-nil so far. Interesting developments? Sounds like a 4-4-2 (or, more accurately, a 1-3-4-2) with Perkins starting in the net. The Perkins start says that he definately has the inside track for starting (though with Nowak you never know.)

30th Minute: The Houston Moreno finds the net after a messy corner. But the REAL Moreno responds after Houston gave up the penalty.

35th Minute: Some pushing and shoving on the sidelines. The announcer sounds thrilled by the idea of a brawl, noting it would be the first at the stadium. Dwayne De Rosario gets a straight red! Hahahahhahha! That's hilarious.

36th Minute: No wait! There's more! Ricardo Clark picks up a second yellow in the same altercation, and he's sent off. 11 men for United, 9 for Houston. Please tell me we can convert this.

Half-Time: They haven't converted yet, and we're in the half.

46th Minute: Strange development. Nowak and Kinnear agree to allow Houston to move back to full strength. Strange. Dominic Kinnear now owes Nowak one.

55th Minute: Ryan MacIntosh subs for Troy Perkins. So perhaps the Rimando edged out theory doesn't work here, and the "Rimando with minor injury" theory can be floated.

60th Minute: We're well into the "let's use our sub" portion of the friendly. Walker and Dyachenko in. Consider these games not about the tournament or a cup, but more a typical preseason friendly.

70th Minute: Alecko in for Jamie. Game is dreadfully dull at this point. Houston not subbing as much. Perhaps not at all except for their players that were ejected.

75th Minute: Yawwwwwwn. DC's subs are holding their own against Houston's starters, but nothing much to speak of. Houston with their first real set of subs.

78th Minute: Devon MacTavish comes into the game. Brandon Prideaux shaken up on a play, and he exits.

82nd Minute: Jeff Carroll enters the game for brother Brian.

83rd Minute: United getting a bit of pressure on Houston.

85th Minute: About three corners in the last five minutes for DC. If I had any confidence that DC could convert a set piece, I would think this is good stuff.

90th Minute United with a few last chances in the closing minutes, but nothing doing. 2 minutes of stoppage.

Full Time Draw and both Houston and United remain at the top of the Carolina Challenge Cup table. United takes on Charleston on Saturday. Charleston defeated the Red Bulls earlier tonight. Interesting first half, tedious second. I'm such a snob.