Los Angeles FC is into the Quarterfinals of the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
A 3-0 victory over USL Championship club Loudoun United FC at BMO Stadium earned The Black and Gold a spot in the final eight of America’s oldest soccer tournament.
“The Open Cup is a very quick way to win a title,” LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman said. “That’s what we want to do.
“We want to win every single game. That’s what it’s about.”
Second half goals by Cristian Olivera and Tomas Angel followed Tillman’s eighth minute opener in a game where star forward Denis Bouanga contributed with a pair of assists.
With the win, LAFC remains undefeated against Division 2 opposition in the club’s relatively short team history (5-0-1, 1-0 PKs)
The Black and Gold withstood a tricky first half that ended with a narrow 1-0 lead.
Loudoun United head coach Ryan Martin’s defense — a backline of three center-backs and flanking wing backs on each side — stood firm for 50 minutes, but ultimately fell victim in the second half with the notorious 3252 behind them.
Tillman, who was summoned by US Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter for the national team’s 27-man training camp, put LAFC in the lead with a close-range, tap-in goal.
The start was near perfect for the hosts who figured out how to take control from the start against Loudoun United following the slow start against the Las Vegas Lights in the previous round.
“We kind of lost our way a little bit defensively,” LAFC assistant coach Ante Razov, who filled in for the suspended head coach Steve Cherundolo following a red card against the Lights, said. “Lapses in concentration mostly.
“We tightened that up and paid attention to it the last few weeks in training, now we’re seeing it pay off.”
In the second half, Loudoun United opted to switch things up and start the half with a backline of four which helped the attack create a pair of opportunities that forced LAFC goalkeeper Abraham Romero into two saves to keep the visitors scoreless.
Moments later, Bouanga collected a pass in midfield before taking off on a lengthy run beyond four Loudoun United defenders and into the 18-yard box to lay the ball off for Olivera who dispatched beyond United goalkeeper Dane Jacomen.
Bouanga added his second assist nine minutes later.
“That play has happened a couple of times in training,” Angel, who featured in his first match as an LAFC player today and left with the game ball following his first goal, said. “I knew when he picked up his head it was the same play that’s been happening.
“So when he gave me the ball, you as a striker, you have to have the goal painted in your head and I knew right away that I had to finish rapidly and it was a goal — thanks to God.”
The live draw that will reveal the quarterfinal matchups is set for Wednesday night with the final eight meeting on July 9-10 for a chance to make the semifinal.
The Round of 16 loss for Loudoun United marks the club’s deepest run in the tournament since its inception in 2018.
After 11 games, the Red-and-White currently sit midtable in the USL Eastern Conference as a trip south of Los Angeles, down the 5 Freeway to Orange County is on the horizon for its second match at Orange County SC in 18 days on Saturday following a 2-1 Round of 32 win on May 7.
Conversely, LAFC is seven points from the top of MLS Western Conference standings with a game in hand.
Up next for The Black and Gold is a trip to Atlanta for a matchup against Atlanta United on Saturday.