Dynamo repeats as MLS champion
WASHINGTON -- The Houston Dynamo became the first team in a decade to successfully defend the Major League Soccer title when it rallied to beat the New England Revolution, 2-1, in the final Sunday in front of 39,859 at RFK Stadium.
Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario’s header from about eight yards in the 74th minute capped Houston’s comeback from a goal down at halftime.
“This one is more special,” said De Rosario, who set up the tying goal, scored the winning goal and was selected the game’s most valuable player, “because we’re the second team now to go back to back.”
Taylor Twellman gave the Revolution the lead in the 20th minute, but former Galaxy forward Joseph Ngwenya tied the score, 1-1, in the 61st minute.
The Dynamo has won the championship both years since the team disbanded as the San Jose Earthquakes and was reborn in Texas last year, beating the Revolution both times. The Earthquakes also won the title in 2001 and 2003, which makes for a run of four championships in six years for several Houston players.
“This is ridiculous, man,” defender Eddie Robinson said. “To be so fortunate is unbelievable.”
The Dynamo became MLS’s first repeat champion since D.C. United won the league’s first two titles, in 1996 and 1997.
The Revolution fell at the final hurdle for the fourth time. New England lost the 2002 and 2005 MLS Cups in overtime and was defeated in a penalty-kicks shootout after overtime last year.
“How cruel can it be?” midfielder Steve Ralston said. “We’re all devastated right now.”
Twellman put the Revolution ahead when he rose above two defenders to head in Ralston’s cross from the right for his 10th goal in 21 playoff games. He scored in three in a row, including the previous week’s 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference final.
“A tale of two halves. We outplayed them the first half, had quality chances,” Twellman said. “The second half, we came out, bunkered in, and didn’t get the job done.”
The Dynamo’s rally came after Coach Dominic Kinnear switched in the second half from a 4-4-2 formation to a 3-5-2 to create more scoring opportunities.
Receiving a cross from De Rosario, Ngwenya mis-kicked with his left foot but had time to reload and score with his right foot from about six yards.
De Rosario put the Dynamo ahead with a header. De Rosario was well marked by Jay Heaps, but there was little Heaps or goalkeeper Matt Reis could do as the ball bounced just inside the right post.
De Rosario became the first player to score the winning goal in two MLS Cups -- he did it in 2001 -- and is also the first two-time MVP.
“He has a flair for the dramatic,” Kinnear said.
The Dynamo played without forward Brian Ching, the MVP of last year’s MLS Cup, who strained his left calf in last week’s Western Conference final.
