Wednesday night's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final wasn't short on offense as the New England Revolution and FC Dallas traded goals for much of the night. But in the end it was the Revs who had prevailed 3-2 before 10,618 fans at Pizza Hut Park, the first title in the club's history.
The visitors got goals from Brian Noonan in the 21st, Taylor Twellman in the 41st and rookie Wells Thompson in the 58th. The host side's goals came from Arturo Alvarez in the 30th minute, a game-tying tally, and from super-sub Abe Thompson in the 64th.
FCD head coach Steve Morrow made a couple of changes to his lineup from Sunday's 3-0 loss to Houston. The major alteration was the absence of the Hoops' designated player, Denilson, from the 18-man roster.
Morrow had pulled the World Cup-winning midfielder from Sunday's match and during training on Tuesday, he was doing work with the second team and sitting off by himself late in the day's workout. It was unclear whether or not the Brazilian was even in attendance for the match.
The Hoops boss also went with Wagenfuhr at left back. On Sunday, Morrow gave Blake Wagner his first MLS start at that spot with usual starter Chris Gbandi serving a suspension after getting sent off in a 2-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy on Sept. 23.
Noonan gave the visitors the lead following an interesting turn of events. After FCD midfielder Pablo Ricchetti was dispossessed about 25 yards from the goal, New England's Steve Ralston ran between Richetti and Hoops left back Wagenfuhr.
Ralston then floated in a great cross that FCD center back Adrian Serioux attempted to clear all while Hoops goalkeeper Dario Sala was calling for the ball. However, Serioux's clearance was unsuccessful and landed at the far post, where Noonan was waiting. And all the New England forward had to do was chip it into the net to give the Revs a 1-0 edge.
Just nine minutes later, FCD had an answer and drew the match level. Alvarez showed great individual effort to dribble his way just outside the New England box, hit a left-footed blast from about 20 yards out that bent toward the far post. His shot hit the iron and bounced into the back of the net for the equalizer.
Alvarez had another great chance for FCD in the 38th, when he created a great one-on-one opportunity with Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the FCD midfielder shot it right at Reis and he made an easy save from close range.
The Hoops looked to have swung momentum in their favor until Twellman converted in the 41st. Once again, Ralston was the table setter as he sent in a great corner kick that was headed toward the back post by Noonan. He got his head on the ball, which then bounced off FCD captain Carlos Ruiz. His carom fell at the feet of Twellman, who was left unmarked by Serioux at the far post and he easily converted to make it 2-1.
For the start of the second half, Morrow brought Yi on to take Serioux's spot at center back. Serioux then moved up to the central midfield to take Ricchetti's spot. Ricchetti left the field with a left groin strain and his status will be further evaluated Thursday.
The second half started off strongly for both side's marquee scorers. Ruiz had shots in the 47th and 51st minute but both of the Guatemalan international's efforts went wide right. Twellman again found space in the 49th but his blast went to the right of the Hoops goal.
But in the 58th, Twellman again made good things happen after crossing the ball into the FCD box. He found Noonan about 10 yards from the Hoops goal, who then laid the ball off to Thompson, who had beaten Serioux on the play. The Revs rookie midfielder then converted for his his second professional goal.
Less than a minute after Wells Thompson's goal, the FCD attack continued their momentum. Alvarez let fly with a shot but saw it go wide left in the 65th. And three minutes later, Ruiz had yet another golden opportunity but his shot went wide left.
Many had written the Hoops off for dead until Abe Thompson made it 3-2 in the 64th. Serioux started the entire sequence when he won a ball at the right corner flag. The Canadian international then found center back Clarence Goodson at the far post, who headed the ball back into the heart of the box.
Thompson, who had entered the match less than a minute prior after center back Alex Yi had to leave the field due to a concussion, then put one into the left side of the net to cut FCD's deficit to just one goal. It was Thompson's fourth career Open Cup tally.
In the 77th minute, the home crowd erupted when Morrow made his third and final change of the evening, bringing on Dallas native Kenny Cooper for Wagenfuhr. Just two minutes earlier, Wagenfuhr nearly offered up a nice parting shot when he got a great chance to the left of the Revs goal. His blast from about 25 yards out sailed high to the crowd's chagrin.
Cooper had not played since breaking his right tibia in the final moments of a 3-1 win against the L.A. Galaxy on June 9 in Frisco. He had missed a total of 19 matches covering all competitions -- 13 in MLS, three in SuperLiga and three in the Open Cup.
New England head coach Steve Nicol didn't make his first and eventual only substitution of the evening until the 78th minute when he brought on Adam Christman for Thompson.
FCD looked to have leveled yet again in the 80th after Dominic Oduro knocked one into the right side of the net from about 15 yards out. But the referee assistant's flag was up and the Ghanaian striker was ruled to be offside, keeping the score at 3-2.
The Revs came into the Open Cup Final winless in their last two trips to Frisco with a championship on the line having fallen in each of the last two MLS Cups. But earlier in the week, Nicol was adamant that he wasn't about to change his team's routine by staying at a different hotel or altering any other details.
Morrow, on the other hand, chose to do things a bit differently. After training Tuesday, the FCD coach and his 18-man roster trekked over to a local hotel, where they were sequestered until they arrived at PHP about 90 minutes before kickoff. Morrow's strategy nearly paid off as his side delivered their best effort in at least a month, but in the end, it wasn't enough.
FCD did muster one last gasp at drawing things level and sending the match into overtime. In approximately the 93rd minute, the Hoops were awarded a free kick about 20 yards from the Revs goal. Dax McCarty took the kick and sent a booming effort into the heart of the box, which was met by Cooper but his header went high over the goal.
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
