Welcome to the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final! Scott Viar and Tavio Palazzolo will be blogging all the action. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to use our email form and we’ll try to answer your questions and post your comments throughout the night.

9:51pm - Well, that’s all for tonight.  Congratulations to D.C. United, the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions!  Be sure to check back tomorrow for our postgame article.  Disappointed that the action is all over with?  Nothing to worry about, as state qualifying tournaments for the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup start in just a couple of months!  We will keep you updated on all the upcoming action.  Any questions or comments on how we did this year?  Use our email form, be sure to leave your e-mail address, and we’ll get back to you. I’m Tavio Palazzolo signing off, thanks for joining us tonight. We hope you enjoyed our coverage of the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament!

9:30pm - IT’S ALL OVER!! D.C. United has won the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup!  Charleston put up a valiant effort, with plenty of chances, but they just couldn’t equalize, and D.C. hold on to take the top prize, $100,000 and the first official spot in the 2009-2010 CONCACAF Champions League.  The Charleston Battery take home $50,000 for being runner-up and the pride of representing the United Soccer Leagues well.

9:28pm - With time ticking away, Marco Reda finds himself offside on a flick into the box, and that may be it for the Battery.

9:26pm - D.C. United is closing in on their 12th major trophy, as only 3 minutes of stoppage time now stand between them and the 2008 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title.

9:21pm - Charleston is knocking on the doorstep, knowing they’re running out of time.  Darren Spicer sets up Osvaldo Alonso at the edge of the 6 with DC players surrounding him, but he sends his header just over the bar.

9:17pm - The Battery have now made their third and final substutition, with David Kenga coming in for Stephen Armstrong.

9:15pm - D.C. has made their final substitution, putting in Marcelo Gallardo for Rod Dyachenko in the 80th minute.

9:11pm - Surprising stat, the Battery are taking their 6th corner on the night, while D.C. United has only had one.  After the clearance, Jaime Moreno takes Nelson Awkari one-on-one to the right corner flag before losing possession.

9:09pm - Charleston makes a tactic change to go more offensive with their first substitution on the night, replacing midfielder Chris Williams with forward Darren Spicer.

8:57pm - A third yellow card has been shown to D.C. United, this one to Fred for a challenge on Osvaldo Alonso, who seems to be getting a beating tonight.

8:46pm - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL! Charleston is caught sleeping in the back and Fred places it inside the near post to give D.C. United the 2-1 lead in the 50th minute. 

8:42pm - The second half is underway, and already a yellow card has been issued to Clyde Simms for knocking over Osvaldo Alonso out of the air on a 50-50 ball.

8:37pm - Here are some stats from the first half: Shots 7-2 DC, Shots on goal 3-1 DC, Corner kicks 3-0 Charleston, Offsides 1-0 Charleston, Yellow cards 1-1

Don’t forget, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to use our email form and we’ll try and get back to you during our blog.

8:26pm - The whistle has blown for halftime, and nothing has been settled just yet.  It’s 1-1 at RFK as D.C. and Charleston fight for the U.S. Open Cup title.

8:24pm - First half now in stoppage time as both sides are getting a couple of chances to take the lead.

8:18pm - D.C. makes their second substitution as Fred comes in for Joe Vide, who comes off limping.

8:15pm - Charleston’s Osvaldo Alonso takes the free kick and it sails a couple feet high of the mark.  Meanwhile, Jaime Moreno finds his way into the box and shoots it near the left post.  However, goalkeeper Dusty Hudock was there to make the tough save.

8:13pm - Gonzalo Martinez clips Randi Patterson just outside the 18 yard box, and earns a yellow for his efforts.  Gives Charleston a dangerous free kick from about 23 yards out.

8:12pm - First yellow card has been given to the Battery’s Kevin Nylen for a (slight) challenge on Santino Quaranta in the 33rd minute.

8:05pm - Sorry for the technical difficulties.  GOOOOOOOOOOOL.  Charleston tied it up in the 10th minute when a long ball from Chris Williams found a streaking Ian Fuller on the right side, who put it past Crayton and into the net.

7:41pm - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.  Jaime Moreno sets up Luciano Emilio for the opening tally of the match.  1-0 DC.

7:37pm - Starting lineups:  DC - Crayton; Martinez, McTavish, Namoff, Burch; Quaranta, Vide, Simms, Guerrero; Moreno, Emilio.  CHS - Hudock, Akwari, Nylen, Reda, Alonso, Williams, Armstrong, Fuller, Alavanja, Wilson, Patterson.

7:20pm - Coverage has not started yet on FSC, so while we wait for that to occur, what is at stake tonight is two-fold:  the winner takes home $100,000 with the runner-up $50,000 and the winner also earn a place in the 2009-2010 CONCACAF Champions League.