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2007 Semifinals
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Sep 4
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New England Revolution (MLS)
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2 : 1 (aet)
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Carolina RailHawks (USL-1)
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Sep 4
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Seattle Sounders (USL-1)
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1 : 2 (aet)
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FC Dallas (MLS)
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FC Dallas makes it an all-MLS final
Hoops win 2-1 over Seattle, will host New England on Oct. 3
For the second time in three years, FC Dallas will return to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final after a 2-1 overtime win against the USL First Division’s Seattle Sounders. In front of over 10,000 fans at Qwest Field in Seattle, the second biggest crowd in modern Sounders history, the two teams battled to a scoreless draw at the end of regulation. The best scoring chance of the evening came in the second half when Seattle defender Taylor Graham nodded a corner kick delivery toward goal, and had it rattle off the crossbar.
In extra time, Carlos Ruiz broke the deadlock with a goal less than two minutes into overtime on an assist by Arturo Alvarez. Both teams continued to push for another goal, but failed to produce until the 119th minute when Hoops forward Abe Thompson was brought down in the penalty area by Zach Scott. After Seattle’s Noah Merl was shown a red card for something that happened away from the play, Thompson converted the penalty kick to give the visitors a two-goal cushion heading into the final minutes.
The Sounders were able to pull one back during stoppage time, on a goal by Leighton O’Brien, but the clock would eventually run out on them.
FC Dallas will host the New England Revolution in the Open Cup final at Pizza Hut Park on October 3 at 8 p.m. EST.
Revolution return to final
Extra-time goal from Noonan propels 10-man Revs past 9-man RailHawks
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Former teammates Connally Edozien of Carolina and the Revs’ Shalrie Joseph were sent off after this near-fight late in the first half. 8 yellows and 3 reds were shown that night.
Photo by Tony Biscaia / RevsNet.com |
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Pat Noonan’s goal in the fourth minute of extra time was enough to earn the New England Revolution their second trip to the U.S. Open Cup final with a 2-1 win over the Carolina RailHawks. The visitors struck first in the 6th minute when Anthony Maher scored on a pass from Johnny Steele. New England would equalize in first-half stoppage time, as Jeff Larentowicz tallied on a diving header on an assist from Noonan.
Prior to the Revs equalizer, Carolina’s Connolly Edozien and New England’s Shalrie Joseph were both sent off when a fight nearly broke out between the two teams. Reckless and unpunished fouls on both sides peaked after a foul committed by Avery John on Carolina’s Johnny Steele, led to some pushing and shoving that escalated and saw the two former teammates ejected in the 42nd minute.
The game was marred with eight yellow cards and after Carolina defender David Stokes was sent off in the 80th minute, that brought the red card total to three.
Noonan would prove to be the hero for New England, scoring the game-winner four minutes into extra time on an assist from rookie Adam Cristman.
Despite playing a man down for the last ten minutes of regulation and through all 30 minutes of extra time, the RailHawks continued to hang on and nearly equalized on a frantic corner kick play in the dying seconds of the match. Chad Dombrowski’s header on goal forced Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis to dive to his left to make the save, and to send New England to the championship game.
The Revolution will aim for their first trophy in team history when they face FC Dallas in the Open Cup final. The match will be played October 3rd at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX.
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