Despite solid defense from AC St. Louis, the Los Angeles Galaxy came away with a 2-0 win in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup. Both goals came more than an hour into the match, with Chris Klein scoring in the 69th minute and Juninho sending the ball into the back of the net at the 80 minute mark.
Both teams played evenly for the first twenty minutes, but after that, the Galaxy started to impose their will on the offensive end, but were unable to solve the defense. St. Louis, however, couldn’t get anything going, seemingly drawing offside flags every time they tried attacking, and the half ended scoreless.
The Galaxy kept attacking, and finally broke through when Klein took the pass from Tristian Bowen and slotted it home to give the home team the 1-0 lead. St. Louis sent in more offense right afterward, but in what was to be a bad omen, Chris Salvaggione was given a yellow card for stepping onto the pitch too early. LA kept attacking, and Juninho slipped the ball, sent by Eddie Lewis, past St. Louis keeper Alec Dufty. St. Louis was never able to mount any effective comeback, sending Los Angeles on to play either Seattle Sounders FC or the Portland Timbers Wednesday, July 7 in the Quarterfinals.
GOALS:
LA- Klein (Bowen) 69′
LA- Juninho (Lewis) 80′
DISCIPLINE:
LA- Kirovski 55′ (yellow, Reckless foul)
STL- Salvaggione 72′ (yellow, Entering without permission)
SUBSTITUTIONS:
STL- Salvaggione for Stisser, 72′
LA- Juninho for Bowen, 73′
STL- Kafedic for Cole, 76′
LA- Birchall for Mathis, 81′
STL- Moore for Cosgriff, 85′