Devon McTavish gave the American outfit the lead in the 45^th minute after Argentinean Marcello Gallardo’s shot hit him and fortunately fell into his path and he made no mistake from close range.

But the Jamaicans lifted their game and deservedly got the equalizer in the 85^th minute when substitute Lovell Palmer volleyed home from six metres, resulting from a Robert Scarlett corner that caused confusion in the box.

Of the two coaches Lenworth Hyde Snr was the more happier with the result with the return leg set for next Tuesday in Washington.

Said Hyde Snr: “We are very satisfied and the confidence showed the longer the game went. I think we played fairly good although I didn’t think we started out well. I must lift my hat off to the guys it was a team effort and I know we can do much better next time”.

DC’s coach Tom Soehn said he was disappointed because he was looking for a win on the road.

Said Soehn: “We were looking for a win so we are a little disappointed in the result. It was our first real game and we showed a lot of rust. We tried to close the gap as quick as we could but Harbour View were quicker than we are, obviously there are in the middle of their season and their pressure cause us problems”.

The game started in front of a relatively small crowd for a game of this nature and it was the black and white clad DC United sporting several South Americans that seized the early initiative.

DC’s new signing, former Argentina World  Cup player, Gallardo sporting the number 10 shirt, showed a few glimpses of his class with some well weighted passes from the heart of midfield.

In the 23^rd minute Gallardo brought out a brilliant save from the young Dwayne Miller with a curling freekick from 25 metres.

He along with Brazilians Fred, Luciano Emilio, Clyde Simms although they dominated didn’t really created any clear-cut opening.

Harbour View’s first chance came in the 37th minute and it was a sweeping counter attack started by Refiek Thomas and involved Jermaine Hue and ended with Fabian Taylor firing just wide.

But just as the home team was coming into their own, DC struck on the stroke of half time.

Gallardo, formerly of French outfit PSG collected a ball just outside the box and shot towards goal but his effort hit teammate McTavish, fell nicely for him and he made no mistake from six metres out.

Harbour View a little dejected but came out with a lot of verve in the second half, taking the fight to their more accomplished opponents, stepped up the pace.

In the 73^rd minute, the young Thomas just failed to latched onto a Scarlett cross and his sliding effort just failed to make contact.

But it was not surprising when the Caribbean champion found the equalizer in the 85^th minute.