For the second year in a row, DC United has won the Carolina Cup challenge, hosted by second division side Charleston Battery. In the final match of the tournament last week, United faced MLS side Toronto FC in a see-saw tale of shifting fortunes and momentum. Chris Pontius assisted Charlie Davies in the 12th minute to put United up by one, but only nine minutes later Toronto came even when Dwayne de Rosario scored on a penatlty kick. Toronto then surged ahead on a goal by Brazilian Maicon Santos in the 28th minute, but then lost a man when defender Mikael Yourassowsky was sent off after his second yellow card, late in the first half. United dutifully exploited the man advantage and pulled even in the 62d minute when Joseph Ngwenya took a pass from Santino Quaranta and scored for United, and that ended the scoring.
The tied final score was enough for United to win the Cup, based on previous wins over the Chicago Fire and Charleston Battery, and thus United ends the preseason with seven wins, two over MLS opponents, and the repeat as the Cup champions. A fine preseason indeed, but then again so was last year. United's home opener at RFK stadium is Saturday March 19, against the Columbus Crew.
Bon Voyage.
“LIKE A JEDI KNIGHT— no, better than that— A TEMPLAR KNIGHT. This is a FLASH OF PURE INSPIRATION, and let me tip my hat to the genesis of this goal: Ibarra. Lionel only absolutely LIGHTS IT UP here, he LIFTS OFF IT, FLAMETHROWERS IT PAST poor Reny Vega. It’s just as well Reny didn’t get a hand to that because it would have TAKEN IT OFF HIS WRIST. Superlative football and an out of this world BERNINI SCULPTURE of a finish." GOL TV Commentator Ray Hudson
