Match Report: Vancouver Whitecaps 0 - DC United 1

• Goals scored: Neagle 61' (penalty)
• What happened: Vancouver dominated the match almost from start to finish-- they hit the crossbar and goalpost multiple times but could not score. DC were awarded a questionable penalty early in the second half and scored. Vancouver were awarded a penalty late in second half stoppage time-- Cristian Techera's kick hit the post.
• Who sang the national anthems: A child
• Players in today's match that I recognized because they used to play for the Seattle Sounders: Fredy Montero and Sebastian Le Toux (Update-- According to my friend Michael, DC United goalscorer Lamar Neagle is a native of Federal Way, WA and former Sounder as well. Additionally, Michael says that his wife of many years has always had a crush on Neagle.)
• Question I had while watching the match: How do the Tyranno-Vision screen and Roof Opening Apparatus (pictured below) not fall down on to the field and crush the players?

• Other question I had while watching the match: How does one get a job on the Stretcher Crew (pictured below-- the four guys in white vests)? 

• Final questions I had while watching the match: Why did they water the pitch at halftime if it is artificial? Or was the truck that drove around spreading sand instead?
• How we got tickets: Free from friends
• Where the teams were in the MLS standings coming into the match: Vancouver-- mid-table in the Western Conference; DC United-- bottom of the the Eastern Conference
• Things the Vancouver fans did not like: The officiating, especially after Neagle converted the penalty kick for DC United (video below)

•  Things that disappointed the Vancouver fans: Techera missing the potentially equalizing penalty kick in stoppage time (video below)

• What this match teaches us: They still play the Vancouver Whitecaps Anthem before games.

FA Cup Final: Chelsea 1 - Portsmouth 0

Above: Portsmouth players attempt to console Kevin-Prince Boateng after he missed a penalty that would have given Portsmouth the lead. Moments later, Drogba scored to put Chelsea ahead.

Portsmouth's season has been a complete disaster-- relegated from the Premier League, unable to pay their players and creditors, facing possible bankruptcy. Somehow, though, they managed to make it all the way to the FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Somehow they managed to survive a first half in which Chelsea hit the goal post/cross bar five times. Somehow they managed to win a penalty early in the second half. Boateng, however, rather than scoring, managed to drive his shot straight into the feet of the diving Petr Cech. Not surprisingly, at the end of the match, Boateng could be seen on the bench with a jacket over his head to hide the fact the he was crying.

Match of the day: Napoli 0 - Inter 0

One of the more exciting nil-nil games I have ever seen. Inter are still in first place. Napoli are in fourth.