The New England Revolution earned the first piece of hardware in their history on Wednesday night, dispatching FC Dallas by a 3-2 score to win the US Open Cup final at Pizza Hut Park.

Runners up in the 2001 Open Cup, as well as the '02, '05, and '06 MLS Cup finals, Steve Nicol's squad finally broke through, powered by Pat Noonan's one-goal, two-assist performance.

Taylor Twellman and Wells Thompson also added goals for the victors, while Arturo Alvarez and Abe Thompson countered for Dallas.

The Revolution nearly got off to a quick start in the third minute when the ball slipped under Clarence Goodson and found Taylor Twellman in space. The U.S. international attempting a quick shot, his effort was mis-hit somewhat, ending wide of the near post.

In the 15th minute, FC Dallas got a chance of their own when a Clarence Goodson header off a trademark Adrian Serioux throw-in also flashed wide of the near post, keeping the game scoreless.

The visiting team would get on the board first in the 21st minute when Steve Ralston sent a cross into the front of the Dallas goal from the right side. Defender Serioux had come back to make a play on the ball, opting to use the outside of his right foot instead of his left to break up the play, but missed, allowing Pat Noonan to settle the ball on the other side of the box and tap it in for an easy goal to give New England the lead.

Three minutes later, Dallas went on the attack again, with Carlos Ruiz running onto a ball in the box with only one defender back. As Michael Parkhurst battled with Ruiz for the ball, El Pescadito tumbled to the ground, looking for a penalty kick, but the referee waved play on as Parkhurst stood over the frustrated striker in triumph.

Ruiz's shaky start continued in the 27th minute when he couldn't connect with an Arturo Alvarez cross while wide open in the middle of the box.

The fortunes of Steve Morrow's club would turn around at the half-hour mark, however, as Alvarez took matters into his own hands. Receiving a pass from David Wagenfuhr, Alvarez moved the ball into the middle of the field, readying a shot from just outside the box. Striking the ball with the outside of his left foot, he sent a laser beam on goal that banged off the inside of the far post before ending in the back of the net.

Alvarez continued to be a nuisance for Revolution defenders in the 38th minute, dancing around several players before being sprung behind the New England backline by a coy give-and-go sequence. Aiming between goalkeeper Matt Reis' legs in hopes of notching his second goal in less than 10 minutes, it would not be so as Reis was up to the challenge, denying Alvarez's low shot to keep the game tied.

Despite having momentum on their side, FC Dallas would concede another goal four minutes before halftime. Steve Ralston's corner kick popcorned around in the box, allowing Twellman to get his foot to it, unleashing a hard strike past Sala at point-blank distance to help New England regain a 2-1 lead going into the break.

Half number two began with a bang for Dallas as Drew Moor's cross into space bent in behind several defenders, allowing Ruiz to get his head to the ball, but the resulting shot was never on target, missing wide right.

New England fired back in the 48th minute as Twellman found himself unmarked again on the left side. One-on-one with Sala, the blonde forward settled the ball with his chest before nailing a left-footed shot low, missing just inches wide of the far post.

A 55th minute strike from Serioux was hit on a line, but right at Reis, hardly troubling the New England netminder as he made the save.

The Revolution's advantage would be doubled in the 57th minute when rookie Wells Thompson scored to extend the lead to two goals. Twellman's low cross was flicked back expertly by Noonan in the box to an on-rushing Thompson, allowing the Wake Forest product to get a clean strike on the ball, leaving Sala to pick the ball out of his net for the third time on the night.

In the 64th minute, Dallas' fading hopes were rejuvenated when a Serioux cross to the far post was headed back into the mix by Goodson. Subbed into the match only seconds earlier, Abe Thompson made his first touch a good one, shooting the loose ball past Reis to make the game 3-2.

Ten minutes later, Twellman threatened again, with Dallas needing an outstanding save from Sala on the close-range header to stay within a goal.

At the other end of the field, a half-volley from David Wagenfuhr missed leveling the game by inches as it traveled over the crossbar from 25 yards out.

Kenny Cooper, returning to the field for the first time since suffering a broken leg in early June, officially completed his comeback by registering his first shot in the second minute of stoppage time, but he pushed his header over the bar, ending any chance of a comeback for FC Dallas and sealing the victory for New England.

Scoring

NE – Pat Noonan 21'

FCD – Arturo Alvarez (David Wagenfuhr) 30'

NE – Taylor Twellman (Pat Noonan) 41'

NE – Wells Thompson (Pat Noonan) 57'

FCD – Abe Thompson (Clarence Goodson) 64' 

Lineups

NE – Matt Reis; Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, James Riley, Andy Dorman, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson (Adam Cristman 78'), Steve Ralston, Khano Smith, Pat Noonan, Taylor Twellman 

FCD – Dario Sala; Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Adrian Serioux, David Wagenfuhr (Kenny Cooper 76'), Dax McCarty, Pablo Ricchetti [Alex Yi 46' (Abe Thompson 64')], Juan Carlos Toja, Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Ruiz, Dominic Oduro