Somehow, there's no score at halftime between D.C. United and the New England Revolution on a hot, humid, and hectic night on East Capitol Street.
D.C. United could very easily have had three goals in the first half were it not for the interventions of Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis, who saved golden opportunities for both Dwayne De Rosario and Charlie Davies before the latter scooped a penalty kick over the bar just before halftime.
Pat Phelan had been penalized for handling the ball in the area and Davies was handed a chance to score his 9th goal of the MLS season, but could only fire high over the crossbar as the crowd shrieked in shock and horror.
Prior to the penalty, Davies could have put the home side ahead in the 17th minute, but Reis was able to deflect the striker's low shot around the keeper's right post. De Rosario, who worked well with Davies in the first half, will have occasion to wonder what might have been had he not curled a 20-yard effort just over Reis' crossbar after a quarter of an hour. The Canadian almost atoned for that miss two minutes later, but Reis was equal to the task again, knocking the shot wide of his left post. Those were De Rosario's only two shots on goal of the half, but the midfielder will also regret not getting his boot on Andy Najar's third-minute cross from the right wing, which whizzed harmlessly through a crowded penalty area.
New England did have a point-blank chance after half an hour when Zak Boggs let fly with a thunderous right-footed shot from outside the D.C. United penalty area, but Bill Hamid was able to parry that chance safely away.