Houston Downs New England at RFK for 2nd MLS Cup
The Houston Dynamo won a second consecutive MLS Cup on Sunday at RFK, besting the New England Revolution in a come-from behind 2-1 victory. The Revolution lived up to their tag as the league’s nearly men, losing yet again in the championship match.
This loss had to be especially painful for the Revs as they opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Veteran playmaker Steve Ralston found space on the right and crossing perfectly for Taylor Twellman to power a header into the net. New England dictated most of the first-half play in front of a respectable and lively crowd of nearly 40,000.
Photos by Kyle Gustafson
The game came to life in the second half – perhaps it was the Jimmy Eat World halftime performance – as the Dynamo pressed hard for an equalizer. But without star striker Brian Ching, they struggled to make headway, even as New England began to sit back and let Houston come at them. When the goal finally did come, it was via some poor defending by New England. They first failed to clear a deep cross, then allowed Dwayne DeRosario the time and space to slot a second ball into the back of Joseph Ngwenya. The Zimbabwean international whiffed on his first chance, but still beat keeper Matt Reis to the ball and poked it home.
Both teams played a nervous ten minutes before Houston took the lead. Brad Davis cut inside and placed a delicate left-footed ball right on the head of DeRosario. As he’s done so many times in the past, DeRosario delivered the knockout blow, driving his header low and just inside the near post for 2-1. The Revs created a few excellent chances in the last quarter of an hour, and should have tied the game when Jeff Larentowicz could only put his diving header right at Houston keeper Pat Onstad.
For Houston, another impressive run to the championship game and a deserved win sparked by the league’s most clutch player in DeRosario. For New England, the bridesmaid tag is getting harder and harder to shake.