What many didn't know was it would be after almost two hours of regulation and overtime soccer to happen.

The two star strikers scored within a minute of each other in the second overtime of the game to force a shootout - which Houston won 4-3 to capture the 2006 MLS Cup.

"It can be a cruel way to decide a championship, but those are the rules that we play with and our team is the fortunate one today," Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear said.

Houston's Ching was the MVP because of his equalizer in the 114th minute, just a minute after New England's Twellman's go-ahead tally as well as his game-winning penalty kick in the shootout.

"Can't say enough about my teammates and how they battled through the move and the heat, they are kind of just warriors man," Ching said. "That's the best way to describe those guys and I think you saw that tonight and as soon as (New England) scored we fought back. We weren't going to lose tonight."

After battling to a 0-0 tie after 90 minutes of regulation, the two teams battled to a 1-1 tie after two 15 minute overtime periods.

Twellman got the championship's first goal in the 113th minute after taking a pass from Khano Smith while streaking down the middle of the field. He unleashed a left-footed strike from about 18 yards out that found the right corner of the net.

"I think everybody in the stands that was a Houston fan and all our players on the field were like 'oh crap,'" Ching said. "Immediately after that it was like ok, I'm going to do everything I can to score a goal. I wasn't going to give up and that's just the mentality of our team and it's been our mentality all year long."

Before the Revolution even had a chance to finish celebrating their goal, Ching answered. He headed a Brian Mullan cross into the corner of the net from about eight yards out, just past an outstretched Matt Reis.

"When Chingy's header hit the net, I was in a state of disbelief because (the equalizer) happened so fast," Kinnear said. "You go from complete despair to complete elation so I think the path that led me from despair to elation was too fast for my mind to catch up with it. People were jumping on the bench when we scored and I wasn't jumping because I couldn't believe it."

"We just weren't mentally tough to see the game through, we had about five minute left, that's the old adage when you score that's your most vulnerable time and I don't think we did the right things to win the game," Reis said.

With that, the two teams went to the shootout.

With Houston winning the penalty-kick shootout 3-2, New England's Pat Noonan missed high on his chance. Houston's Brad Davis' chance was then saved by New England goaltender Reis before Twellman tied the score at three. Ching put Houston up 4-3 before Jay Heaps' chance was saved by Houston goaltender Pat Onstad to preserve the Dynamo victory.

"To be honest with you I didn't have a clue what (Heaps) was going to do," Onstad said. "It was one of those things that I actually thought before he hit it to go to my left, next thing you know I'm going to the right."

Houston took the play to New England early in the first half, holding the majority of the possession in the first 15 minutes before New England took the momentum.

New England had the best opportunity of the opening frame in the 24th minute. Twellman was given a chance after a low, hard cross from Joe Franchino found him at the far post. Twellman missed the opportunity as he headed the ball right at Onstad.

There were very few chances in the second half as the teams' back-lines shut down most of the respective offensive buildups.