LA Galaxy controls the ball against FC Golden State Force in the Fourth Round of the 2018 US Open Cup. Photo: LA Galaxy
Ari Lassiter had been the forgotten man on the L.A. Galaxy’s forward depth chart until he made everyone remember that he can score goals, too.
The 22-year-old striker scored twice as L.A. Galaxy (MLS) defeated FC Golden State Force (PDL), 3-1, on Wednesday night in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round game at StubHub Center’s Track & Field Stadium.
“His two goals were good but he probably could’ve had five,” LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid said. “It was good for him to get those two, and his goal scoring is always appreciated.”
L.A. Galaxy is 3-0 in US Open Cup games in which Lassiter has scored since last season.
“As a striker it’s always important for me score goals and that’s what I came here to do,” said Lassiter, who had played predominantly for L.A. Galaxy II (USL) this season. “I need to contribute any way that I can and that’s what I did.”
It was the third and fourth Lamar Hunt US Open Cup goals of Lassiter’s career, and his left-footed scissor kick in the 38th minute was his first goal with the Galaxy’s first team since last July.
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 7, 2018
“It just set up nicely for me and sometimes you just have to go for that bicycle kick,” Lassister said. “I went for it and it paid off.”
Bradford Jamieson IV made his first start of the season and scored the game’s opening goal in the 15th minute for LA Galaxy, which will learn its next US Open Cup opponent on Thursday, June 7.
“I’m just taking it game-by-game and trying to focus on the little things,” said Jamieson, who had been sidetracked by concussions twice in the last two seasons. “I feel like getting sharper with every match and it’s coming along.”
LA Galaxy goalkeeper Justin Vom Steeg made some critical stops among his seven saves but Brazilian Pedro Fonseca scored in th for FC Golden State Force, which allowed as many goals against Galaxy as it had during its three previous tournament games.
⚽️⚽️ @Ari_Lassiter15 tucks it in the corner for his brace. #USOC2018 pic.twitter.com/21sZMgkiAu
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) June 7, 2018