MLS Cup 2006
Encyclopedia
The 2006 MLS Cup
was the championship game of the 2006 Major League Soccer season
, played on November 12, 2006 at Pizza Hut Park
in Frisco, Texas
between the New England Revolution
and the Houston Dynamo
. Houston won 4-3 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw following extra time. It was the first penalty shootout in MLS Cup history.
For the first time ever, the MLS Cup Final matched teams which did not win their respective conferences in the regular season. In every final since the inaugural season of 1996, at least one of the teams led its division after the regular-season campaign. On three occasions, the MLS Cup matched two conference regular-season winners (1999
, D.C. United vs. Los Angeles Galaxy; 2000
, Kansas City Wizards vs Chicago Fire; 2003
, San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire).
Houston and New England were separated by just two points during the regular season. The Revolution finished with 12 wins, 8 losses, and 12 draws for 48 points. Houston went 11-8-13 for 46 points. It was the narrowest margin between the finalists since 2003, when the Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes were just two points apart in their regular season records. In addition to their similar point totals, the teams finished with identical goal differentials (+4) and both finished 8-3-5 at home.
The teams also split their two regular-season meetings, playing to a pair of 1-1 draws. On May 27 at Gillette Stadium
, Steve Ralston
put the Revolution ahead with a 55th-minute goal, but a Ryan Cochrane goal five minutes from the end gave the Dynamo the equalizer. On July 22 at Robertson Stadium
, an own goal gave New England the lead in the 60th minute, but Stuart Holden
pulled Houston level again just three minutes later.
lost in a shootout in the opening game of the playoffs before recovering to win the inaugural championship match; their opponents, the Los Angeles Galaxy
, lost to the San Jose Earthquakes
in their first postseason game.
In the first round of the 2006 playoffs, the biggest upset came in the Western Conference, where the Colorado Rapids
upset top-seeded FC Dallas
on the road for the second straight year, again winning in a shootout. In the other Western Conference semifinal, Houston trailed Chivas USA 2-0 in the first leg but recovered to lose 2-1, despite missing a penalty kick, and win 2-0 at home to advance.
In the Eastern Conference, D.C. United needed a late goal to escape with a 1-1 home draw in the second leg against New York Red Bulls, winning 2-1 on aggregate. New England rallied from a 2-0 aggregate deficit in the second leg to force penalty kicks against Chicago, winning the shootout to advance.
In the conference finals, New England used an early Taylor Twellman
goal to knock off the MLS Supporters' Shield
winners and qualify for its third title game in five years. Houston recovered from an early penalty kick behind two goals from Paul Dalglish
for a 3-1 win over Colorado, reaching the championship in its first year in Houston.
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style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION:
|
GK
1
Matt Reis
DF
6
Jay Heaps
DF
4
Avery John
DF
15
Michael Parkhurst
MF
25
Andy Dorman
MF
8
Joe Franchino
(c)
MF
3
Daniel Hernandez
MF
21
Shalrie Joseph
MF
14
Steve Ralston
FW
11
Pat Noonan
FW
20
Taylor Twellman
Substitutes:
GK
12
Doug Warren
DF
16
James Riley
MF
31
Jeff Larentowicz
FW
30
Jose Manuel Abundis
FW
7
Jose Cancela
FW
2
Clint Dempsey
FW
18
Khano Smith
Manager:
Steve Nicol
MLS Cup
The MLS Cup is the championship match of Major League Soccer, the highest tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada. As the final match of the MLS Cup playoffs, the winner is crowned the season champion in the same manner as other North American sports leagues...
was the championship game of the 2006 Major League Soccer season
Major League Soccer 2006 season
The 2006 Major League Soccer season was the 11th season in league history. It began on April 1, 2006 and ended with MLS Cup 2006 on November 12, 2006 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas for the second consecutive year in a row.-Changes from 2005 Season:...
, played on November 12, 2006 at Pizza Hut Park
Pizza Hut Park
Pizza Hut Park is a soccer-specific stadium with a 21,193-seat capacity, built and owned by the city of Frisco, Texas. Its primary tenant is Major League Soccer team FC Dallas, which relocated from the Cotton Bowl in central Dallas to the fast-growing suburb...
in Frisco, Texas
Frisco, Texas
Frisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
between the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
. Houston won 4-3 on penalty kicks, after a 1-1 draw following extra time. It was the first penalty shootout in MLS Cup history.
The Matchup
MLS Cup 1999
The 1999 MLS Cup was a soccer match that took place at 1:30pm EST on 21 November 1999 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts to determine the champion of the 1999 Major League Soccer season. D.C. United defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - 0 with goals from Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno during...
, D.C. United vs. Los Angeles Galaxy; 2000
MLS Cup 2000
The 2000 MLS Cup was the championship game of the 2000 Major League Soccer season. The game was played on October 15, 2000, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. between the Kansas City Wizards and the Chicago Fire. Kansas City took advantage of an early breakdown by Chicago to net the game's only goal...
, Kansas City Wizards vs Chicago Fire; 2003
MLS Cup 2003
The 2003 MLS Cup was a soccer match that took place on November 23, 2003 at the The Home Depot Center in Carson, California to determine the champion of the 2003 Major League Soccer season. The San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Chicago Fire 4 - 2 with a goal from Richard Mulrooney in the 50th...
, San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire).
Houston and New England were separated by just two points during the regular season. The Revolution finished with 12 wins, 8 losses, and 12 draws for 48 points. Houston went 11-8-13 for 46 points. It was the narrowest margin between the finalists since 2003, when the Chicago Fire and San Jose Earthquakes were just two points apart in their regular season records. In addition to their similar point totals, the teams finished with identical goal differentials (+4) and both finished 8-3-5 at home.
The teams also split their two regular-season meetings, playing to a pair of 1-1 draws. On May 27 at Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, 21 miles southwest of downtown Boston and from downtown Providence, Rhode Island. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution...
, Steve Ralston
Steve Ralston
Steve Ralston is a retired American soccer player and a current assistant coach for the Houston Dynamo.-Professional:...
put the Revolution ahead with a 55th-minute goal, but a Ryan Cochrane goal five minutes from the end gave the Dynamo the equalizer. On July 22 at Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
, an own goal gave New England the lead in the 60th minute, but Stuart Holden
Stuart Holden
Stuart Alistair Holden is an American football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League....
pulled Houston level again just three minutes later.
MLS Cup Playoffs
This was the first time since 1996 that both MLS Cup finalists lost their opening game in the playoffs and recovered to claim a spot in the title game. That year, D.C. UnitedD.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
lost in a shootout in the opening game of the playoffs before recovering to win the inaugural championship match; their opponents, the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, lost to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in their first postseason game.
In the first round of the 2006 playoffs, the biggest upset came in the Western Conference, where the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
upset top-seeded FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
on the road for the second straight year, again winning in a shootout. In the other Western Conference semifinal, Houston trailed Chivas USA 2-0 in the first leg but recovered to lose 2-1, despite missing a penalty kick, and win 2-0 at home to advance.
In the Eastern Conference, D.C. United needed a late goal to escape with a 1-1 home draw in the second leg against New York Red Bulls, winning 2-1 on aggregate. New England rallied from a 2-0 aggregate deficit in the second leg to force penalty kicks against Chicago, winning the shootout to advance.
In the conference finals, New England used an early Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman is a retired American soccer player who currently works as a television analyst for the Philadelphia Union and ESPN soccer.-Youth and College:Taylor was raised in St...
goal to knock off the MLS Supporters' Shield
MLS Supporters' Shield
The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
winners and qualify for its third title game in five years. Houston recovered from an early penalty kick behind two goals from Paul Dalglish
Paul Dalglish
Paul Kenneth Dalglish is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Dalglish, son of former Scotland international Kenny Dalglish, was born in Glasgow though spent his childhood in Liverpool where his father managed Liverpool F.C...
for a 3-1 win over Colorado, reaching the championship in its first year in Houston.
Match details
----| PENALTIES | |||||
Kelly Gray Kelly Gray Kelly Gray is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-College:Gray played forward and midfielder at the University of Portland from 1999 to 2001... Stuart Holden Stuart Holden Stuart Alistair Holden is an American football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.... Dwayne De Rosario Dwayne De Rosario Dwayne Anthony De Rosario is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer. He also plays for the Canadian national team.-Early career:... Brad Davis Brad Davis (soccer) Brad Davis is an American footballer who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... Brian Ching Brian Ching Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
4–3 | Shalrie Joseph Shalrie Joseph Shalrie Jamal Joseph is a Grenadian footballer who currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.-College:... Matt Reis Matt Reis Matt Reis is an American soccer player who currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.-College:Reis played college soccer at UCLA... Pat Noonan Pat Noonan Pat Noonan is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... Taylor Twellman Taylor Twellman Taylor Twellman is a retired American soccer player who currently works as a television analyst for the Philadelphia Union and ESPN soccer.-Youth and College:Taylor was raised in St... Jay Heaps Jay Heaps Jay Heaps ) is a former American soccer player. He is the current head coach for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.... |
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| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> | HOUSTON DYNAMO: | |||
| GK | 18 |  Pat OnstadPat Onstad Patrick Stewart "Pat" Onstad is a Canadian soccer retired goalkeeper, who is currently an assistant coach for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
||
| DF | 16 | Craig Waibel Craig Waibel Craig Waibel is a former American soccer player.-College:Waibel played college soccer at University of Washington, and with Spokane Shadow in the USL Premier Development League prior to turning professional.... |
||
| DF | 5 | Ryan Cochrane |
||
| DF | 2 | Eddie Robinson Eddie Robinson (soccer) Eddie Robinson is an American soccer player who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-College:... |
||
| DF | 24 | Wade Barrett (c) |
||
| MF | 9 | Brian Mullan Brian Mullan Brian Mullan is an American soccer player who plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer. He has previously played for Wisconsin Rebels, Colorado Comets, Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes and Houston Dynamo. He is one of only two players to have won MLS Cup five times, the other being... |
||
| MF | 14 | Dwayne De Rosario Dwayne De Rosario Dwayne Anthony De Rosario is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer. He also plays for the Canadian national team.-Early career:... |
||
| MF | 51 | Adrian Serioux Adrian Serioux Adrian Serioux is a Canadian soccer player who is currently a free agent.-Club career:After playing college soccer for the University of New Haven, Serioux started his pro career with the Toronto Lynx in the A-League. He then moved to England to join Millwall... |
||
| MF | 11 | Brad Davis Brad Davis (soccer) Brad Davis is an American footballer who currently plays for Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
||
| FW | 25 | Brian Ching Brian Ching Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
||
| FW | 8 | Paul Dalglish Paul Dalglish Paul Kenneth Dalglish is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Dalglish, son of former Scotland international Kenny Dalglish, was born in Glasgow though spent his childhood in Liverpool where his father managed Liverpool F.C... |
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| Substitutes: | ||||
| GK | 1 | Zach Wells Zach Wells Zach Wells is a retired American soccer goalkeeper.-College:... |
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| DF | 4 | Chris Aloisi Chris Aloisi Chris Aloisi is an American soccer player who currently plays for Long Island Rough Riders in the USL Premier Development League.-College:... |
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| DF | 3 | Kevin Goldthwaite Kevin Goldthwaite Kevin Goldthwaite is a former American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College:After graduating from Christian Brothers High School ,... |
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| DF | 6 | Kelly Gray Kelly Gray Kelly Gray is an American soccer player, currently without a club.-College:Gray played forward and midfielder at the University of Portland from 1999 to 2001... |
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| MF | 22 | Stuart Holden Stuart Holden Stuart Alistair Holden is an American football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League.... |
||
| MF | 7 | Chris Wondolowski Chris Wondolowski Christopher Elliott Wondolowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... |
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| FW | 15 |  Alejandro MorenoAlejandro Moreno Alejandro Moreno is a Venezuelan footballer. He played for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club before attending UNC Greensboro. He currently plays for Chivas USA in Major League Soccer.-College:... |
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| Manager: | ||||
| Dominic Kinnear Dominic Kinnear Dominic Kinnear is a Scottish-born American former soccer player. He is currently the head coach of Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.As a player, he began his professional career with Scottish club St... Man of the Match: Brian ChingBrian Ching Brian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:... Assistant referees: Craig Lowry Nate Clement Fourth official: Kevin Stott |
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Matt ReisMatt Reis
Matt Reis is an American soccer player who currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.-College:Reis played college soccer at UCLA...
Jay HeapsJay Heaps
Jay Heaps ) is a former American soccer player. He is the current head coach for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer....
Avery JohnAvery John
Avery John is a Trinidadian soccer player.-Youth and College:John attended Vessigny [Antilles] Government Secondary School and then Presentation College, and played college soccer for Yavapai College in Arizona and American University in Washington, DC...
Michael ParkhurstMichael Parkhurst
Michael Parkhurst is an American soccer player. He plays primarily as center back for F.C. Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga...
Andy DormanAndy Dorman
Andrew "Andy" Dorman is a Wales international footballer. Born in England of English parents, he grew up in Wales and represented the Wales schools team, eventually gaining full senior international recognition when FIFA amended its rules on eligibility...
Joe FranchinoJoe Franchino
Joe Franchino is a retired American soccer player.-College:Franchino played youth club ball in Alta Loma, CA for such competitive teams as the Aztecs and Arsenal. His first club team, the Aztecs, won the State Cup Championships the first year the Under-10 age bracket started...
(c)
Daniel Hernandez Shalrie JosephShalrie Joseph
Shalrie Jamal Joseph is a Grenadian footballer who currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.-College:...
Steve RalstonSteve Ralston
Steve Ralston is a retired American soccer player and a current assistant coach for the Houston Dynamo.-Professional:...
Pat NoonanPat Noonan
Pat Noonan is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Taylor TwellmanTaylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman is a retired American soccer player who currently works as a television analyst for the Philadelphia Union and ESPN soccer.-Youth and College:Taylor was raised in St...
Doug WarrenDoug Warren
Douglas Patrick "Doug" Warren is an American soccer goalkeeper, who last played for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer. He was a member of the U.S. team at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship....
James Riley Jeff LarentowiczJeff Larentowicz
Jeffery Adam Larentowicz is an American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-College:...
Jose Manuel Abundis Jose CancelaJosé Cancela
José Carlos Cancela Durán is a Uruguayan soccer player who plays attacking midfielder for Herediano in Costa Rica. He is nicknamed "Pepe"....
Clint DempseyClint Dempsey
Clinton Drew "Clint" Dempsey is an American soccer player who plays for Fulham and the United States national team. Dempsey usually plays as either an attacking midfielder, or a striker....
Khano SmithKhano Smith
Khano Smith is a Bermudian footballer.-College and Amateur:Smith played college soccer at Champlain College and Lees-McRae College, and in the USL Premier Development League for Carolina Dynamo.-Professional:...
Steve NicolSteve Nicol
Stephen "Steve" Nicol is a Scottish former professional footballer. A utility player who played in the all-conquering Liverpool team of the 1980s, he was most recently coach of New England Revolution, and was the longest-tenured head coach in MLS to coach a single club.As a player, Nicol was a...