Following a first-half strike from FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper, New England manager Steve Nicol called Steve Ralston into the game for the second half. It worked, as New England came from behind in the second half and secured the three points.

After the game, Nicol said: "Having an extra guy up the field really stops them from getting into you. The biggest difference was when we turned the ball over, we didn't let them get at us. In the first half, every time we turned the ball over, they got at us. Consequently, we lost the ball 35 yards out and it ends up in the back of the net 20 seconds later."