For the fourth time in six years, the New England Revolution found themselves in the MLS Cup. And for the fourth time in six years, the Revolution have found themselves on the losing end as the Houston Dynamo beat the Revs for the second straight year to win the MLS Cup 2-1 at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC on Sunday afternoon.
The Dynamo have only been in Houston for two years, relocating from San Jose back in late 2005, when AEG could not get funding for a soccer specific stadium. The team moved it’s operations, players and coaches to Houston and eventually became known as the Houston Dynamo. So in it’s two years in Houston, the team has given the city two MLS Championships.
Just like last season, the Dynamo fell behind to the Revolution. Taylor Twellman put the Revs ahead 1-0 when he put home a ball served to him from Brian Ralston and Shalrie Joseph. The Revs would take the 1-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
The Dynamo finally got on the board in the 61st minute when the Revs had trouble clearing the ball. The Dynamo’s Dwayne De Rosario sent a ball back across the penalty area that the Revs failed to clear and on the second try Joseph Ngwenya put under Revs goalie Matt Reis to tie the score at 1.
Just 13 minutes later, the Dynamo found themselves ahead on a brilliant goal from De Rosario as he took the cross from Brad Davis and snapped home a header to make it 2-1 Houston.
The Revs had some chances to score at the end as their best chance was saved by Dynamo goalie Pat Onstad off a diving header by Jeff Larentowicz from the Andy Dorman corner.
De Rosario was named MVP of the MLS Cup after the game.
The Dynamo are the first team in MLS history to repeat as champions since the 1996-97 D.C. United squads.
I’d also like to congratulate my old boss, Chris Canetti, who is the COO of the Dynamo on the championship.
