United Can't Weather Storm, Falls to Dynamo

As if on cue, the rain began to fall 30 seconds into the second half, rekindling memories of the severe weather that halted the June 4 game.

By the 51st minute, with the turf no longer able to absorb water, players began to lose their footing and the ability to link the simplest of passes. Just as referee Ricardo Salazar was assessing Martínez a yellow card in the 54th, a lightning bolt sizzled overhead and plunged the stadium into near darkness. The teams hustled for the locker rooms and fans scrambled for cover.

Within 15 minutes, the lights were operational again and the rain had slowed to a mere downpour, but with lightning sighted and three-quarters of the field under water, the wait continued. Finally, after more than a hour, a stadium crew began the work of sweeping away stubborn puddles.

"It was boring waiting to see what would happen," United reserve Quavas Kirk said. "Someone said the game was off and then someone said we were going to play. It was crazy."

Team and game officials inspected the field several times before deeming it playable. The sloppy surface caused several spectacular collisions and had a particularly adverse effect on defensive efforts.

Houston keeper Pat Onstad made excellent saves on Clyde Simms and Francis Doe before Ching stretched the lead in the 79th minute by heading in Brad Davis's free kick. Martínez's awful night came to an end four minutes later with a second yellow card and ejection.

Finally, at 12:20 a.m., Salazar's whistle signaled the end of a very long night.

"It is very difficult to play after starting the game and stopping," United forward Luciano Emilio said.

United Notes: The timetable for defender Gonzalo Peralta's return from hernia surgery is the Aug. 10 game at New York, but midfielder Marcelo Gallardo will need more time because his hernia procedure was more involved, General Manager Dave Kasper said.