page_title: MLS Cup 2007
section_title: Summary
hierarchical_section_title: MLS Cup 2007 / Match / Summary
caption_attribution_description: English: Dwayne De Rosario
context_page_description: MLS Cup 2007 was the 12th edition of the MLS Cup, the post-season championship match of Major League Soccer in the United States. It was played on November 18, 2007, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C., between the New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo in a rematch of the previous edition. The match determined the championship of the 2007 season and was attended by 39,859 spectators.
  Houston won the match 2–1 after falling behind on a Revolution goal scored by Taylor Twellman in the 20th minute. The Dynamo made a tactical change in the second half that yielded two goals from Joseph Ngwenya and Dwayne De Rosario, the latter of whom was named the match's most valuable player. The Dynamo became the second team to win consecutive MLS Cups, while New England lost their third consecutive and fourth overall cup.
context_section_description: The match was played in front of 39,859 spectators at RFK Memorial Stadium, including a large contingent of traveling New England and Houston supporters alongside the home D.C. United fans. The Revolution organized several free buses for fans traveling between Foxborough, Massachusetts, and RFK Memorial Stadium, and also organized a free viewing party at Gillette Stadium.
  The Dynamo were without injured striker Brian Ching, who was replaced by the pairing of Nate Jaqua and Joseph Ngwenya, and suspended midfielder Ricardo Clark; the Revolution fielded a full-strength lineup that was similar to those used in their other playoff matches. Alex Prus was named the referee for the MLS Cup final, reprising his role from the 2007 U.S. Open Cup Final, which also featured the Revolution.
  Houston took several of the early chances to score, but New England were the first to score. A few minutes after a tackle in the Revolution box by Avery John was waved off as a potential penalty, the team made a series of passes on a counterattack towards Steve Ralston at the top of the penalty box. Ralston crossed to the far post, where the ball found Taylor Twellman, who headed in the opening goal in the 20th minute. The Revolution continued to control possession in the midfield and created additional chances to extend their lead, but failed to capitalize on them.
  At halftime, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear switched his team from a 4–4–2 to an attack-oriented 3–5–2 formation to encourage scoring chances. Before the new formation was allowed to set in, Revolution forward Pat Noonan had a close-range shot in the first minute of the second half that was saved by Pat Onstad. After another shot from Noonan that missed the target, the Dynamo pushed ahead for an equalizing goal and won a corner kick in the 61st minute. The corner was taken by Brad Davis and cleared away by New England's defense, but fell to Brian Mullan, whose far-post cross found Dwayne De Rosario. De Rosario sent the ball back across the goal to Joseph Ngwenya, who misplayed his first touch but used his right foot to make a shot that passed under goalkeeper Matt Reis and into the net.
  With the score tied at 1–1, New England attempted to strike back, but an attempt by Khano Smith was tackled away by Craig Waibel for a goal kick. After exchanging words with Waibel, Smith attempted to headbutt the Houston defender in front of referee Alex Prus, who issued a yellow card. Kinnear had planned to switch back to a defensive 4–4–2 formation after the equalizing goal, but kept Houston in the existing 3–5–2 formation at the behest of the players, who communicated using hand signals. The Revolution kept a majority of possession, but only produced a single shot to challenge Onstad before the Dynamo had taken a 2–1 lead on a counterattack. In the 74th minute, Brad Davis sent a lateral cross to Dwayne De Rosario, who headed the ball from 13 yards (12 m) and scored Houston's second goal. New England brought more of their players into a series of attacks while looking for an equalizing goal, with chances by Pat Noonan in the 77th and 82nd minutes that missed the target. Ralston was substituted for Andy Dorman in the 78th minute, who served a corner kick in the 87th minute that was headed towards goal by Jeff Larentowicz. Larentowicz's point-blank header was saved by Pat Onstad with a kick to preserve the lead and win the Houston Dynamo a second consecutive MLS Cup title.
caption: Dwayne De Rosario scored the winning goal for Houston and was named MLS Cup MVP.
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