Aaron Bibout scored the first hat trick of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup to help Ventura County FC (VCFC) in a 7-0 win over Laguna United FC at the Sports Dignity Health Park Track & Field Facility.
Luis added a goal and three assists while VCFC — formerly known as LA Galaxy II — overwhelmed Laguna United to advance to America’s oldest soccer tournament’s Second Round.
Yousef Farah’s miss from close range two minutes from halftime while VCFC led 2-0 sealed the visitor’s fate before the hosts separated itself in a lopsided second half.
A pair of assists by Muller before the break paved the way while Ascel Essengue and Jason Bucknor added to VCFC’s tally.
Defender Essengue got the game’s first goal after 18 minutes when Muller’s corner kick attempt found the center back who used a first-timed, toe-poke to squeeze the ball past Laguna United defender Tiago Aranibar and goalkeeper Hector Flores.
Bibout added VCFC’s second goal four minutes from the break following a fine set-up cross by Muller which ended with the former blasting past Flores from just inside the 6-yard-box after an elusive first-touch opened the space.
The teams went into the break with Ventura in a 2-0 lead after Farah’s rushed attempt in front of goal kept the visitors from closing the deficit before Bibout added his second goal seven minutes after the restart from a corner kick that fell kindly for him to volley beyond Flores.
Bibout capped-off his night after 68 minutes with the tournament’s first hat trick with his third conversion from a volley before Bucknor and Muller piled on the trouble for Laguna United.
On Muller’s goal, Vincent Garcia became one of the competition’s youngest players (in the Modern Era) to provide an assist (14 years, 8 months, 23 days). TheCup.us is working on confirming if he is, in fact, the youngest.
Bibout became the 74th player in the Modern Era to score a hat trick but he’s the first Cameroon-born player to do so.
Laguna United defender Ben Nicholson’s night went from bad to worse when a cross into the box by VCFC’s Bucknor deflected off the Laguna man and into his own net.
VCFC will face El Paso Locomotive FC in the Second Round at the DHSP Track & Field Stadium on April 2 for a chance to appear in the Third Round which takes place April 15-16.