The season had such promise. Sure, D.C. United would be starting the year at their bogeyman's torture dungeon, but win, lose or draw in that first match at the hellscape of BBVA Compass Stadium, many pegged the Black-and-Red to make a competitive run in the Eastern Conference in 2013.
Oops.
Tonight, los Capitalinos will seek to start the turn-around against that same Houston Dynamo team in the friendlier confines of RFK Stadium. But back in March, we saw United keep things level - at least on the scoreboard - for 80 minutes before a James Riley own goal put Houston ahead for the duration. A late insurance goal would provide the final 2-0 margin. That game would prove the beginning and end of the John Thorrington as CAM experiment, and remains one of the two games the South Africa-born former U.S. international has played this season.
The Gamethread for tonight will be up shortly. In the meantime, while you get your gear on and head toward that tarnished jewel of a stadium on the Anacostia, share your recollections on that first game in Houston here in the comments. Think there's any chance tonight goes differently?