Last year's final was more dramatic, the goals scored late in extra time. This time, Twellman converted in the 20th minute, the Revolution spending the rest of the match squandering chances and then watching almost helplessly as the Dynamo rallied in the second half before 39,859 at RFK Stadium.
"If you told us before the game the chances we'd make in the game we would have been happy," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "We could have scored three or four goals and they scored a scrappy goal to tie. It's real simple. You don't take chances and it comes back to bite you, and that's exactly what happened. But this has absolutely nothing to do with any other game."
The Revolution overwhelmed Houston in the midfield in the first half, controlling possession and creating offense through Khano Smith on the left wing. But the Dynamo adjusted in the second half, as they did a year ago, switching from a 4-4-2 setup to match the Revolution's 3-5-2, sending left back Wade Barrett forward and moving Dwayne De Rosario into an outside left midfield role and Brad Davis to a central spot.
De Rosario was involved in both Houston goals, setting up Joseph Ngwenya's tying score in the 61st minute and heading in the decider in the 74th.
Houston set the second-half tone on the kickoff, penetrating into the penalty area on a Craig Waibel cross. The Dynamo scored off a kickoff in last year's final, Brian Ching finishing a cross from the right wing. Though Ching (calf) missed this match, the Dynamo still were able to exploit the Revolution defense with crosses.
The Revolution defenders started feeling the pressure early in the second half. De Rosario found room on the left, crossing for Waibel, who ran into the penalty area and fired wide (55th). That signaled the game was opening up, and the Revolution nearly capitalized, Pat Noonan volleying high (59th) off a Steve Ralston cross.
