Second Half

DC United makes a game of it with the fresh legs of Quavas Kirk whose constant injuries stopped the development of what at one time was one of the most promising attacking players in American Soccer. Kirk spurs DC forward to try and get something from the match, and Francis Doe scores a timely goal in the air. For a precious few minutes it seems like Houston is on the ropes, but after Kirk hits the post with a screamer, the life falls out of United as the Dynamo score a wonderful counter attacking goal by Stuart Holden who is headed to Palo Alto tomorrow to join the US Olympic Team. The rest of the match is spent by the Telefutura crew discussing the US Olympic Team, individual by individual and their chances in Beijing.

First Half

The tournament will mercifully end for DC United tonight. The improbable scenario of a four goal United victory combined with an Atlante loss is not worth discussing. But I would expect United to come out and show some fight today.

As the first half progresses it is obvious that Houston can name their scoreline tonight. As has been the case throughout the Superliga, the back line of the red and black is a couple steps slow and not reading the match at all. Rico Clark has put United out of its misery with an early goal, but the chances keep coming for Houston and in the cruelest form of punishment Bobby Boswell scores a goal against the man DC traded him for: the disinterested Zach Wells who fell asleep yet again. DC United lacks shape in the midfield with Fred trying to hold things together and has quite playing at the back altogether. The embarrassing performances don’t stop for United who seem to have mailed it on this tournament and will hope to get Santino Quaranta and Marcello Gallardo back as soon as possible.