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MLS: US Open Cup
San Diego 1, Texas 0 December 2, 2011 DALLAS – San Diego won its sixth U.S. Open Cup title in the 11-year history of the event, and their third title in four years, with a 1-0 win over Texas in the championship match. Chris Wondolowski scored the only goal of the match in the 51st minute and San Diego controlled play while smothering Texas with their defense in every area of the field. Shalrie Joseph led that fine defensive performance and was named Man of the Match.There were not many scoring chances for either team. Nate Jaqua had the first potential scoring chance in the 13th minute but he didn’t have the speed to get to the net before San Diego’s defense closed him down and Ugo Ihemelu dispossessed him of the ball in the penalty area. San Diego had the best scoring chance of the first half. Wondolowski pulled Troy Perkins off his line and Perkins managed to block his shot but the ball came to Joseph with most of the net open. With an easy scoring chance, Joseph hit the crossbar in the 20th minute. Joseph also sent a shot just over the crossbar from the edge of the box in the 43rd minute. Both teams settled right back into a defensive posture when the second half began. San Diego’s goal came suddenly. Landon Donovan played a smart pass 25 yards into the penalty area for Wondolowski, who opened up space for a shot with a deft first touch. He then beat Perkins with a low shot inside the near post. After Wondolowski’s goal, San Diego’s defense tightened the vice even further. Joseph played a dominant second half busting up attacks and leading the way as San Diego bogged down Texas’ midfield from sideline to sideline. The Red Fury managed just four shots all game and had only one, a free kick from 35 yards out, in the final thirty minutes of the match. Box Score Scoring San Diego – Chris Wondolowski (Landon Donovan, Dwayne DeRosario), 51st Bookings None Team Statistics Shots: San Diego 5, Texas 4 On Goal: San Diego 1, Texas 1 Corners: San Diego 1, Texas 2 Possession: San Diego 57, Texas 43 Passing: San Diego 84, Texas 76 Lineups San Diego Sun San Diego: 1-Hesmer 6, 30-Alston 6, 3-Ihemelu 6, 32-Boswell 7, 4-Pearce 6, 21-Joseph 8, 8-Ljungberg 6, 11-Smith 7, 14-DeRosario 6, 10-Donovan 6, 18-Wondolowski 6. Subs: Zizzo (Wondolowski, 62) 6, Banner (Pearce, 84) 5, Schilawski (DeRosario, 90) 6. Texas Texas: 23-Perkins 5, 5-Albright 7, 45-Mendes 5, 22-Conde 6, 3-Dunivant 6, 4-Marquez 6, 39-Fernandez 7, 33-Mapp 6, 26-Arnaud 5, 9-Angel 6, 21-Jaqua 5. Subs: Levesque (Jaqua, 62) 6, Duka (Arnaud, 69) 4, Phelan (Marquez, 85) 6. Man of the Match: Shalrie Joseph, San Diego |