MLS Cup 2011

MLS Cup 2011
EventMLS Cup
Los Angeles Galaxy Houston Dynamo
1 0
DateNovember 20, 2011
VenueThe Home Depot Center, Carson, California, US
Man of the MatchLandon Donovan
(LA Galaxy)
RefereeRicardo Salazar
Attendance30,281
WeatherRain, 53 °F (12 °C)[1]
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MLS Cup 2011, the 16th edition of Major League Soccer's championship match, was played between the Houston Dynamo and the Los Angeles Galaxy to decide the champion of the 2011 season. The soccer match was played at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on November 20, 2011.[2] Los Angeles won their third championship, defeating Houston 1–0 off a 72nd-minute goal from Galaxy captain Landon Donovan.[3] David Beckham and Robbie Keane assisted the game's lone goal. With the win, the Galaxy became the first team since the Columbus Crew in 2008 to win both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup in the same year.[4][5]

For Los Angeles, it was a league-record seventh appearance in the MLS Cup final, while it was Houston's third appearance in the league final.[6] Both the Galaxy and the Dynamo qualified for the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League. The Galaxy earned their third successive berth, while the Dynamo earned their third ever berth in the Champions League and their first since the 2009–10 edition.

  1. ^ "2011-11-20: LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo, MLS Cup". MLSsoccer.com. November 20, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  2. ^ "Home Depot Center selected as MLS Cup 2011 host". MLS Soccer. May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  3. ^ "David Beckham wins MLS title with LA Galaxy but stays quiet on future". BBC Sport. November 21, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  4. ^ "Dynamo 0, Galaxy 1". ESPN. November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Landon Donovan's strike gives L.A. Galaxy MLS Cup crown". Washington Times. November 20, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  6. ^ "2011-11-20: LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo, MLS Cup". MLSsoccer.com. November 20, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2012.