1:0 DC United New York Moreno 03.18.06 · Preseason

In a physical encounter that produced eight cautions and two ejections, D.C. United topped the New York Red Bulls 1-0 Saturday in both teams' opening match of the Carolina Challenge Cup. Jaime Moreno slotted the game's only goal past Tony Meola in the 56th minute.

And for the first three quarters of the match, at least, the game appeared to be a good preview of both clubs. Each side played fairly evenly -- despite the Moreno goal -- until the Red Bulls were forced to play shorthanded.

The ejections of Youri Djorkaeff and Taylor Graham, both late in the second half, made a comeback all but impossible. Both were sent off for earning a second yellow cards tackling, in the Canadian referee's opinion, too aggressively.

Moreno's game-winner came from a cross from substitute Justin Moose, who came on for Christian Gomez at halftime. Moose, playing on the right flank, sent in a low cross that was partially deflected by a New York defender into the path of Moreno at the far post. With little pressure, Moreno had no trouble first-timing his shot past a stranded Meola.

The Red Bulls best chance came in the first half when Seth Stamler hit a hard, left-footed volley over Troy Perkins' crossbar.

The game began to degenerate in the 79th minute when Djorkaeff was ejected for going hard into a tackle, receiving his second booking of the night. Matters were made worse when Graham was sent off shortly thereafter, reducing the Red Bulls to nine men.