New England Revolution - 2007 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Champions

The New England Revolution, of Major League Soccer, won the 94^th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup on Wednesday at Frisco, Texas against Dallas FC, also of MLS. The Revolution have lost the MLS Cup final at Pizza Hut Park twice in their two visits to the finals at the soccer only stadium.

While the team has represented the MLS Eastern Conference in the MLS Cup three times and second time at the US Open final, this was the first championship ever for the "Revs." They had failed in the three MLS Cup finals and the 2001 US Open final. In 2002, they lost the MLS Cup to the Los Angeles Galaxy - the team to whom they lost the Open Cup the year before.

An MLS entry has won the cup 11 times of the last 12; The Rochester Raging Rhinos won the open in 1999 against the MLS Colorado Rapids.

Pat Noonan, Taylor Twellman, and Wells Thompson scored for the Revolution; Arturo Alvarez and Abe Thompson scored for Dallas. The Revolution held the game in check for the remaining 26 minutes to capture the championship. It was the highest scoring cup game since 1993, when CD Mexico (San Francisco) destroyed the United German-Hungarians (Philadelphia) 5-0. The 1971 finals saw 10 goals scored between Hota SC (New York) and the San Pedro Yugoslavs (6-4, Hota).

The history of the US Open Cup - beginning first as the National Challenge Cup and now named The Lamar Hunt US Open - goes back to 1914 when the United States Football Association began the tourney as being open the amateur and professional players based on the British Football Association Cup format. While the North American Soccer League (NASL) teams rarely participated in the tournament, the MLS teams have participated since the leagues' founding. It is open to affiliated teams of The United States Soccer Federation (USSF).

The first Cup champions were the Brooklyn Field Club who defeated the Brooklyn Celtics. Much like the early NFL, teams were supported by industry. For the 40 years between 1928 and 1968, it was generally a home and away series format, save for a few times in the 1940's and 1950's. In the 1960's, the format went back and forth until settling in 1969 on the "one and done" format, with the winner advancing, the loser going home.

Sir Thomas Dewar - one of the founders of the Dewar's Scotts Whiskey brand - donated the Dewar Cup to promote soccer in the United States at the founding of the tournament.

REFERENCES:

"About the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup," URL: http://www.usopencup.com/History/55786.html

"A first time for everything," URL: http://www.usopencup.com/home/207568.html

Dell'Apa, Frank, "Finally, Revolution enjoy slice of glory," URL: http://www.boston.com/sports
/articles/2007/10/04/finally_revolution_enjoy_slice_of_glory/

"Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Champions," URL: http://www.usopencup.com/finals/index_E.html

"Lamar Hunt US Open Cup," URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_Hunt_U.S._Open_Cup