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FOXBORO - Finally, the New England Revolution can call themselves champions.

SuperLiga champions, after winning in the eighth round of a scintillating "sudden victory" shootout.

New England goalkeeper Matt Reis tipped a drive by Corey Ashe off the crossbar in the eighth round of penalty kicks to provide the Revolution with a 3-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo Tuesday for the SuperLiga championship.

New England and Houston were deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time and 2-2 at the end of two 15-minute overtime periods in the match at Gillette Stadium played before 9232.

In the penalty kick "shootout," New England defender Chris Albright converted his chance against Houston goalie Pat Onstad for a 6-5 lead, while the left-footed Ashe then had his potential drive stopped by Reis. In the first 15-minute overtime, Houston regained the lead when reserve forward Kei Kamara headed in a cross from the left side from Brian Ching in the 98th minute.

But, in the 102nd minute, New England's Shalrie Joseph headed in the equalizer for the Revolution, converting an indirect kick from the left side by Steve Ralston.

"That was some great professionalism, they'll do anything to win the game," said New England coach Steve Nicol of the passion that both franchises demonstrated. "You saw the respect between the teams, that's the way that it should be."

The defending MLS Cup champion Dynamo and New England matched first half goals - Nate Jacqua converting for Houston in the 18th minute and Ralston accounting for the Revolution goal in the 41st minute.

Jacqua ran onto a long free kick taken by Dynamo rookie midfielder Geoff Cameron that New England defender Amaechi Igwe misplayed, unable to clear the ball and forcing Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis out of position in which to make a save.

In the penalty kick "shootout:" New England's Steve Ralston, Shalrie Joseph and Taylor Twellman converted chances in the first five-man rotation, while Houston's Craig Waibel, Chris Wondolowski and Ricardo Clark scored for the Dynamo.

Tied at 3-3 in the shootout, the teams then went to a sudden victory "shootout" with Jeff Larentowicz and Chris Tierney scoring on the first two chances for New England, while Wade Barrett and Kei Kamara converted for the Dynamo.

"It was a good wide open game, good attacking play on both sides," said Houston coach Dom Kinnear. "When you get to penalties, it's who's got the luck? Tonight was their night."

New England gained the equalizer at 1-1 in regulation time shortly before halftime when Ralston, on the extreme far right wing, took a cross from the left side by Mauricio Castro, and uncorked a sizzling shot just inside the left goalpost.

It was a free-wheeling and wide-open flow of play during the first half which found New England with eight shots and a half-dozen corner kicks, Houston with 11 shots and four corner kicks. Geoff Cameron, the 23-year old from Attleboro, in his rookie MLS season after being Houston's first selection in the MLS Draft out of URI, set up the Dynamo's first goal with a long free kick, which New England's Amaechi Igwe mis-played. Igwe attempted to trap the ball and heel it backwards, but lost possession and Nate Jacqua ran onto the loose ball and let loose a low drive which Revolution goalie Matt Reis had no chance of defending. "Two terrible goals," added Nicol as Igwe was victimized by Kamara, claiming space and sailing over him for the second Dynamo goal.

Cameron nearly had a goal in the 36th minute, after a Brad Davis corner kick out of the right wing. The ball was punched away by Reis, but in the scramble, Cameron could not completely control the ball for a shot and it was knocked away.

Cameron, defensively, did a commendable job marking New England striker Kenny Mansally -- Houston coach Dom Kinnear utilizing his speed. Cameron also cleared out one of Ralston's four corner kicks in the 28th minute. In the second half, Cameron marked up both Taylor Twellman and Adam Cristman, while also creating a chance for the Dynamo off of a corner kick in the second overtime period.

It was a free-wheeling and wide-open flow of play during the first half which found New England with eight shots and a half-dozen corner kicks, Houston with 11 shots and four corner kicks.

"We didn't disappoint anybody," added Kinner. "I hope we play them one more time -- that'll be the MLS Cup."

Ralston had corner kicks at two, 16, 28 and 32 unfulfilled, while Mauricio Castro placed the ball in the box on corners at 23 and 34. In addition to the Revolution's first goal, New England had two other superb chances, Shalrie Joseph sending a point-blank left-footed drive over the crossbar at 8 and Ralston having a free kick knocked away by Houston goalie Pat Onstad at 28.

New England, unbeaten (3-0-3) in regular season MLS matches all-time with Houston, including 3-0 and 2-0 victories over the Dynamo this season, had advanced to the SuperLiga title match by compiling a 3-0-1 record, not having allowed a goal at home in its three matches in Foxboro.

Houston, unbeaten in its last five (2-0-3) MLS matches had scored nine goals in winning three of its four SuperLiga matches. Houston had beaten New England in the past two MLS Championship matches, earning a 2-1 victory in 2007 and a 2-1 victory (on penalty kicks) in 2006.

Ralston had corner kicks at two, 16, 28 and 32 unfulfilled, while Castro placed the ball in the box on corners at 23 and 34. In addition to the Revolution's first goal, New England had two other superb chances, Shalrie Joseph sending a point-blank left-footed drive over the crossbar at 8 and Ralston having a free kick knocked away by Houston goalie Pat Onstad at 28.

Houston striker Dwayne DeRosario totaled five shots, having a low shot on the left wing at 38, taken off the New England goal line by a sliding save from Revolution defender Chris Albright, while forcing Reis to make saves at 24, 36 and 44.

During the second half, Houston generated eight shots, while New England had four shots and a pair of corner kicks.

New England's career club-leading goal scorer Taylor Twellman, limited to five appearances due to knee and hip injuries this season, came on as a reserve in the 58th minute. The Revolution was severely short-handed defensively without two starters, Michael Parkhurst with the U.S. Olympic Team and Jay Heaps banished as a result of a "red card" in the SuperLiga semifinal round match with Atlante.