For the second time in its history, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC is in a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal.
With goals by Timothy Tillman, David Martinez, and Mateusz Bogusz, LAFC earned a 3-1 home win over USL Championship side New Mexico United at BMO Stadium. The Black and Gold advance to the final four where they will trave face fellow MLS side Seattle Sounders FC.
“We jumped just as high as we needed to tonight,” head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “We just cleared the bar.”
“But certainly we can play better.”
After leading 2-0 at halftime, United’s Greg Hurst cut LAFC’s lead in half 12 minutes after the restart to spark the visitors and make things difficult for The Black and Gold who sweated out a lackluster second half. Now, the top team in the MLS Western Conference is back in the Semifinals for the first time since their inaugural season in 2018.
LAFC were able to set the tempo into cruise control early after Tillman continued his goal-contributing form in the tournament.
When United goalkeeper Alexandros Tambakis parried away Bogusz’s attempt, the ball fell kindly for Tillman — the midfielder made no mistake and slammed home the game’s first goal in the 6th minute.
With two goals and an assist, Tillman has a goal contribution in each of LAFC’s three cup matches.
“It took a little more patience,” Tillman said. “But we managed the game really well.”
The hosts continued to keep their foot on the gas and doubled their lead 30 minutes later when 18-year-old Martinez, who was making his first LAFC start, used two attempts to get the ball beyond Tambakis and into the net.
With a through ball by Bogusz, the forward slipped into the box and pounced on his own rebound to slam the ball home after Tambakis saved the first shot back into Martinez’s path.
The 2-0 deficit did not keep the large bunch of traveling supporters from continuing its raucous atmosphere in the visitor’s section, and, 12 minutes into the second half, the fans were rewarded with a Hurst scorcher.
The forward ripped a shot from outside the box that arrowed into LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ side net to bring New Mexico United within one.
The Black and Yellow immediately added wingers Sergio Rivas and Dayonn Harris for fresh legs before, less than 10 minutes later, throwing on forward Daniel Bruce for an extra attacker.
The numbers committed forward for New Mexico United left space for Bogusz to get on the scoresheet 13 minutes from time with a long run that finished with him cutting onto his right foot and curling past Tambakis.
“We fielded a very strong team tonight,” Cherundolo, who remained silent amid questions surrounding links to the newly-vacant United State’s men’s national team, said. “Our objective was to advance and we did that so job well done.”
United bowed out after making it to the quarterfinal phase for the second time in its history. The club leads the Western Conference of USL and face Birmingham Legion FC in their next league game.
The Black and Gold will play six games before the they travel to take on the Sounders in the Semifinals the week of Aug. 27-28.
The last time LAFC reached the final four, eventual champion Houston Dynamo eliminated The Black and Gold in a penalty shootout.