Dynamo repeat as champions

WASHINGTON – The Houston Dynamo rallied from a nervous and sloppy start to beat the New England Revolution 2-1 Sunday in the MLS Cup, a rematch of last year’s final.

A savvy tactical move by coach Dominic Kinnear led to two second-half goals, making Houston the first back-to-back champions since D.C. United won the league’s first two titles in 1996 and 1997.

“This one is more special,” said midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, who assisted on the tying goal, scored the winning goal and was named the game’s MVP, “because we’re the second team now to go back-to-back.”

The Dynamo have won the championship both years of their existence in Houston, but look further and it’s easy to call them a dynasty. Much of the team won the Cup as the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001 and 2003 before that club was disbanded and reborn last year in Texas, where standing-room-only crowds of orange have cheered the players on.

The game drew 39,859 to the neutral site of RFK Stadium, with sections of fans decked in orange for the Dynamo, blue for the Revolution and black for the stadium’s usual home team, D.C. United.

The Dynamo played without forward Brian Ching, the MVP of last year’s MLS Cup. The former Gonzaga star strained his left calf in last week’s Western Conference final.