Spokane Velocity FC remains undefeated in the 2024 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after the club’s second ever match in the tournament, as they took down the Los Angeles Force 1-0.
The lone score of the match was banged home by Velocity striker Luis Gil in the 85th minute of the contest. A wild first touch missile from midfielder Andre Lewis ricocheted off of LA Force goalkeeper Seth Torman and Gil quickly turned into Velocity’s “Johnny-on-the-spot”, sending the ball into the net.
“It was a great start by Andre, forcing the keeper to make a save and I was right there,” said Gil. “I know that you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net no matter how so, that’s what’s gonna make us move on.”
This is Gil’s second goal of the season and his first in this year’s Open Cup. It was his second career goal in the tournament. His first came back in 2012 when he was a teenager with Real Salt Lake, scoring a goal in a 3-1 upset loss to the Minnesota Stars FC (NASL). Gil’s play outside of the game-winning score helped his team in a major way, as his team took control of the game from the LA Force.
The Force seemed as though their gameplan revolved around hunkering down in the middle of the field and obstructing any path onto their third of the field. This created a slow tempo to the game, and only a single off-target shot from outside the box was recorded in the first 20 minutes of the game.
“I think they wanted to be a little bit more aggressive defensively than they were,” explained Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. “I think that we did a fantastic job with the ball and maintaining the ball, especially in the second half.”
The crowd watching the spectacle witnessed the game get physical at times, and were quick to cheer on or cheer against the referee’s calls. All 2,423 attendees did their best to aid the city’s newest professional sports organization, doing a splendid job according to Veidman.
“I’ll tell you something, a Wednesday night midweek game, regardless if it’s Open Cup or not, to have that many people here tonight was absolutely phenomenal,” said Veidman. The city showed up tonight and they are a massive reason why we pulled through that game and found a way to win. The fans are the heartbeat of every single football club.”
It was the first US Open Cup game for the city of Spokane since 2004 when the Spokane Shadow of the PDL (now USL League Two) dropped a first round game to the Sacramento Knights (USASA/NPSL).
The LA Force struggled to get going offensively, but keeping the Velocity off of the scoreboard for 85 minutes was a difficult task. Their chippy defensive prowess led to a couple of chances with the ball reaching deep into Velocity territory, but the club was only able to register a single shot on target throughout the match.
Velocity goalkeeper Peter Swinkels has yet to be scored on in his two starts during the Open Cup, and came away with one save. On the other side, Seth Torman of the Force recorded three saves.
Spokane Velocity return to league play on April 14 as they take on Lexington SC before their Third Round matchup when they travel to take on the Las Vegas Lights (USL Championship) on April 17.