11/12/2006 10:28PM

MLS Cup 2006 notebook

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It was, of course, the first MLS Cup Final to be decided by penalty kicks. But Sunday's MLS championship game was the fifth to go into extra time, and the second in as many years. Four of the last six finals have gone to extra time (since 2001), after four finals in a row were decided in regulation time following the inaugural MLS Cup.

Nov. 11 headlines -- MLS
Dy-no-mite! Houston wins MLS Cup
Supporters get Cup party started
MLS Cup 2006 notebook
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Ching named MLS Cup MVP
Convoy carries Dynamo fans to Cup
Kinnear thankful for amazing season
Little used Dynamo make big impact
Houston's Onstad saves the day
Dynamo defense made right moves
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Shootout decision tough for Revs
Nicol: 'I can't tell you how bad it feels'
Dempsey at peace with Revs' effort
New England stunned by let down
Defeat tough for Revs to swallow
VIDEO
  Dynamo are champs: 350K
  Trophy presentation: 350K
  Postgame press conf.: 350K
  Houston locker room: 350K
  Game highlights: 350K
  Twellman's goal: 350K
  Ching counters: 350K
  N.E. GK Reis: 350K
  PK shootout: 350K
MLS RADIO
  Nov. 12 postgame: Listen
  Commissioner Garber: Listen
  U.S. Soccer Gulati: Listen
  BBC's Richard Fleming: Listen
  Houston's Waibel: Listen
  Nov. 9 show archive: Listen
  Nov. 10 show archive: Listen
  Nov. 11 show archive: Listen
OTHER HEADLINES
Nov. 10
Nov. 11
GEAR
Championship T-shirt
Youth T-shirt
Champs cap
Order MLS Cup products
AUCTION
Bid on MLS items

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The crowd of 22,427 was the largest crowd ever to see a soccer event at Pizza Hut Park, bettering the crowd of 22,322 that attended an Interliga doubleheader in January. The crowd also surpassed the crowd of 21,193 that attended last year's final.

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The two goals barely a minute apart equaled the shortest span in MLS Cup history. In the 2003 final, DaMarcus Beasley of the Chicago Fire scored in the 49th minute to cut the San Jose Earthquakes advantage to 2-1, but straight from the kickoff, Richard Mulrooney converted a long Craig Waibel service to restore the margin to two goals in an eventual 4-2 San Jose victory. Sunday's goals were officially recorded at 71 seconds apart.

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The Revolution's goal snapped their scoreless run in MLS Cup Finals at five hours, 46 minutes, by far the most in MLS Cup history. The next longest is the Los Angeles Galaxy run of 187 minutes without a goal, the final 75 minutes of the 2001 final to Carlos Ruiz's golden goal to win the 2002 championship in the 113th minute.

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The goal also ended Pat Onstad's shutout streak in MLS Cup Finals at 148 minutes, the second longest in history. Kevin Hartman's current streak of 233 minutes is the record; Onstad passed Tom Presthus, who had a streak of 135 minutes for D.C. United in 1998-1999.

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The Revolution had six shots on goal in Sunday's final. In their previous two trips to the MLS Cup Final, both of which of course also went to extra time, they had a total of three shots on goal combined.

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Revolution midfielder Joe Franchino was shown a yellow card Sunday, the third MLS Cup Final he's been cautioned. Each of them has come before the 25th minute (the caution against Houston came after 16 minutes.

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