FC Dallas Tops Revolution 4-2 For US Open Cup Title

Maximiliano Urruti scored twice and Mauro Diaz recorded a goal and three assists to lead FC Dallas to a 4-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Tuesday night to win the U.S. Open Cup at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

FC Dallas Tops Revolution 4-2 For US Open Cup Title

The win marked Dallas’ first Open Cup championship since 1997 — which came under its previous name, the Burn — and with it, the team has now earned a spot in the 2017 CONCACAF Champions League.

In the 2007 Open Cup final, New England defeated Dallas by a goal (3-2) in the same stadium in a rather astounding way to win that first tournament title in franchise history.

The Revolution’s Juan Agudelo opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Following a Dallas turnover deep in its own end, Gershon Koffie played a through ball and Agudelo beat his defender to fire a right-footed shot from the middle of the Dallas area just inside the far post to give New England a 1-0 lead. The shot marked the Revolution’s only one on goal in the first half.

Nevertheless, FCD responded with three of their own goals to put the score at 3-1 at halftime.

Urruti netted the first in the 15th minute to tie it 1-1. He took Diaz’s cross with his left foot and one-touched it into the goal with his right.

Then in the 40th minute, Dallas captain Matt Hedges made it 2-1 by heading home a Diaz chip– which came after a corner kick was deflected outside the box– over the Revolution defense.

Diaz pushed the score to 3-1 when he buried a hard low shot on a penalty kick just inside the near post in first-half stoppage time. The penalty was awarded by referee Baldomero Toledo after Hedges had his jersey pulled during a free kick.

Urrruti then finished a breakaway in the 62nd minute to make it 4-1. Agudelo scored the Revolution’s second goal in the 73rd minute with a tap-in at the near post after a pass from Teal Bunbury bounced off the foot of a Dallas defender.

Revolution coach Jay Heaps turned to his bench twice before halftime, bringing on Kei Kamara, who had been labeled as questionable with a right hip strain, for Gershon Koffie in the 37th minute and Chris Tierney for defender Je-Vaughn Watson during stoppage time, although neither substitution proved beneficial.

Watson played for FC Dallas from 2013-2015, and Tuesday’s game marked his first in Frisco since being traded to New England in March.

In the 32nd minute, New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton denied a strong chance by Dallas midfielder Ryan Hollingshead with a kick save.

New England previously lost in the Open Cup final in 2001. The Revolution fell 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy in overtime at Gillette Stadium.

Champions of two straight in league play, New England return to MLS action Saturday night at Montreal.

TORONTO, ON – MAY 07: Zach Loyd #17 of FC Dallas passes the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer game against Toronto FC at BMO Field on May 7, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena