Sun Oct 12 21:22:49 2008

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D.C. United hangs on to earn point at Houston

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Houston, TX (Sports Network) - D.C. United, playing without four of its top five scorers this season because of injury and suspension - as well as down a man for the final 17 minutes because of a red card to Brian Namoff - held on for a 0-0 draw vs. the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo on Sunday afternoon at Robertson Stadium.

Playing with a lone forward and nine men behind the ball, it was obvious the gameplan was to limit the chances for the Dynamo (11-5-11), who are now on a six-match unbeaten run in Major League Soccer play.

D.C. (10-14-4), is currently on a seven-game winless streak and needs wins in the final two games of the regular season - vs. New England and at Columbus - to even have a chance to make the playoffs. United is currently second-to-last in the Eastern Conference table and three points out of a playoff spot.

Houston, which was playing without leading scorer Brian Ching because of a U.S. national team call-up, stretched its lead in the Western table to two points over Chivas USA with the draw. Houston also has a game in hand, which will be played on Wednesday when it hosts the San Jose Earthquakes.

After the Earthquakes match, the Dynamo will host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday while D.C. hosts New England on Thursday.