Los Angeles Blues

2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Chivas USA setting new trend with 2-1 win over LA Blues

May 30, 2013 by Gerald Barnhart

Having allowed an early goal to USL Pro’s LA Blues in the 11th minute, Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy marched down the field and took the game into his own hands, converting a second half penalty for the game-winner as they downed their nearby lower division foe 2-1 to reach the Fourth Round.

Despite getting numerous chances in the early going, the MLS side, which is winless in their last seven league games (0-6-1), found themselves in a hole yet again when George Davis made a great run down the right side and found a fortunate deflection on his shot 11 minutes into the contest.

Chivas USA was not able to find the equalizer until seven minutes into the second half when Carlos Alvarez and Tristan Bowen worked together to pull even. Alvarez took the ball up the middle and dished it out to Bowen on the left flank of the area before getting it back at the spot, where he spun and drove it into the lower right corner of the goal.

The winner from Kennedy came in the 62nd minute after a three minute delay in which Miller Bolanos spent on the turf after a collision between the striker and goalkeeper Aaron Perez drew the penalty.

The net minder was not done, however, as he was called upon to do his normal job, making a pair of big saves two minutes apart as the hosts fought back.

The victory marked the second consecutive year and third time in four years that the club has won it’s opening game of the tournament, changing a history that saw them eliminated in the opener four consecutive times after their 2005 debut.

Editor’s Note: Chivas USA first-year coach head coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola (Chelis) was dismissed by the club the following day and replaced by Jose Luis Real Casillas, the Sporting Development Director at Chivas Guadalajara.

Scoring Summary

LA: George Davis (unassisted) 11’
CHV: Carlos Alvarez (Tristan Bowen) 52’
CHV: Dan Kennedy (PK) 62’

Misconduct Summary

LA: Duach Jock (yellow, foul) 25’
LA: Nelson Pizarro (yellow, foul) 60’
CHV: Miller Bolaños (yellow, delaying the game) 71’
CHV: De Luna (yellow, foul) 77’
CHV: Carlos Borja (yellow, delaying the game) 90+2’

Lineups

Chivas USA: Dan Kennedy, Carlos Borja, Mario de Luna, Joaquin Velazquez, Josue Soto (Eric Avila 22), Aaron Ponce (Gabriel Farfan 45’), Carlos Alvarez, Giovani Casillas (Jorge Villafaña 45’), Marvin Iraheta, Tristan Bowen, Miller Bolaños

Subs not used: Patrick McLain, Bonny Burling, Marky Delgado

LA Blues: Aaron Perez, Jimmy Turner, Duach Jock, Erlys Garcia, Matt Hull (Sergio Ortiz 87’), Rodrigo Lopez, Alan Russell, Nelson Pizarro, Mehishad Momeni (Juan Perez 66’), Gabriel Gonzalez (Chris Cortez 58’), George Davis

Subs not used: Steve Gonzalez, Charlie Pettys, Corey Miller, David Bakal

Referee: Daniel Radford; Referee’s Assistants: Cesar Calderon, Luis Gutierrez; Fourth Official: Charles Zuckermann

2013 US Open Cup Second Round: LA Blues avenge last year’s upset, cruise past Ventura County Fusion, 5-1

May 22, 2013 by Kim Tate

The LA Blues came out in spectacular fashion tonight in Fullerton, scoring five goals in the first half, and knocking Ventura County Fusion out of the Second Round of the US Open Cup and advancing to the Third Round of the US Open Cup, where they will face MLS side Chivas USA.

The Fusion started out with possession for the first minute, but created very little chances and the Blues were quick to win the ball from the get go. Four minutes in, a perfectly crossed ball from Shay Spitz found Gabriel Gonzalez, who headed the ball into goal, giving the Blues an early 1-0 lead and kickstarting an onslaught that saw them up by three by the 12-minute mark.

The Fusion gained possession and bounced back making a run to set up Ema Boateng, who clumsily skied a shot just over the Blues bar in the sixth minute.

But not even a minute later, the Blues were on the attack when Matt Hall crossed a ball to Spitz, who struck with his left foot from the top of the box into the upper left corner for a spectacular finish, giving LA a 2-0 lead in just under 10 minutes.

You’d think the Fusion would start to look alive after finding themselves down two goals in 10 minutes, but it was quite the opposite, actually, as they themselves down by three only two minutes later. Mehrshad Momeni found a ball played from his right and danced around until he found some space to strike from distance, putting a rocket into the back of the net from about 20 yards out.

The entire first half was the LA Blues show, and now down by three the Fusion attempted to pick up the aggression when Frankie Lopez gained possession and spun a shot high, but it went well wide of the Blues’ net.

In the 29^th minute things got worse for Ventura County when a defender dragged Gonzalez down in the box and the referee whistled for a penalty to the Blues. Allen Russell converted the penalty for LA and the Blues, now up 4-0, rode the advantage out, scoring another goal six minutes later. It was Momeni again, firing another 20-yarder off a corner cross and putting the Blues up by five.

In the 40^th minute, Fusion midfielder Steve Palacios was given a yellow card for a hard foul on Momemi on the edge of the area that resulted in him being carried off after several minutes laying on the ground in pain.

The Fusion saw three more chances before the halftime whistle, but shots were high and wide.

Sam Hayden came up with a couple of big saves for Ventura County early and midway through the second half, preventing what could have been a sixth goal for the Blues. The Fusion saw a chance in the 68^th minute but the header went high. Finally, in the 87^th minute, the Fusion put themselves on the scoreboard when Peter Schmetz flicked a cross with his head into the back of the net from the six.

The Blues held onto their four-goal lead up until the final whistle blew, handing the Fusion a record loss as it was the first time in four years in which the Fusion have lost a game by more than one goal, including previous fixtures against the Blues and Chivas USA.

2011 US Open Cup Third Round: Battle of LA sees Galaxy come back to beat Blues

June 29, 2011 by Nick Gaspar

Post-game interviews available below

Call it the Battle of Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Derby, but don’t call it an easy victory for the Los Angeles Galaxy. After Cesar Rivera scored a stunner to put the Los Angeles Blues up 1-0 the Galaxy rallied back with two unanswered goals to advance to the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup, 2-1.

The first half started off with the Galaxy playing lethargically. The game also started auspiciously as Blues’ captain Josh Tudela received a yellow for a challenge 17 seconds into the game. The game was officiated by Alejandro Mariscal, but the most interesting part was that Eduardo Mariscal and Apolinar Mariscal were the assistant referees and Felisha Mariscal was the fourth official. It was a family gathering of sorts for them. Not long after, Gregg Berhalter received a yellow card for his tackle in the eighth minute. The head referee’s cautions allowed him to keep a tight reign on the game throughout the night.

The first half was filled with shots too high or wide to bother either keeper, but Blues’ defender Cameron Dunn went out with an injury and was replaced by former Galaxy member Leonard Griffin. The best chance of the half came in the 41th minute when the Galaxy’s Jovan Kirovski put a header on target that was saved by Dautt, but not handled. Berhalter then put the ball on target only to have it cleared by Nelson Akwari. The Blues then had a chance on the counter-attack with Israel Sesay, but he failed to score and the score was 0-0 at halftime.

In the second half the Blues came out with the attacking mindset. Their persistence paid off when Chukwundu Chijindu cut a ball across the corner of the eighteen to newly-signed Carlos Borja who fired a shot that was controlled by substitute Cesar Rivera who slotted it into the back of the net for a shocking 1-0 Blues lead in the 62nd minute.

This woke up the sleeping giant in the Galaxy. They pressed further up the pitch in order to get an equalizer while the Blues dug in. Galaxy manager Bruce Arena brought in Juninho to help the attack, and in 75th minute he achieved his purpose. His free kick found the head of Omar Gonzalez who equalized the game with the Galaxy’s first goal and sent the Galaxy supporters into a frenzy.

According to Gonzalez, “Right before that, Gregg (Berhalter) looked at me and said, ‘Wake up and find a way to get yourself into the game.’”

They didn’t have to wait much longer as six minutes later in the 81st the Galaxy found their hero. It was already a week for Mike Magee to remember, as he performed admirably in goal for the Galaxy in an MLS match for the Galaxy, earning himself MLS Player of the Week honors. Once again, he was able to step up again, this time with an Open Cup goal. Juninho sent a floating free kick that found Gonzalez, then was headed back across the penalty area to an open Magee, who slotted the game winner.

Although the scoring was over, the bookings weren’t. Galaxy forward Adam Cristman received a yellow for not adhering to the distance, and Blues midfielder Israel Sesay was visibly frustrated in receiving two successive yellow cards for the red in the 90th minute.

“I told (Magee) the other day that it would be nice for him to come help in the field once awhile,” joked Arena.

“The goal kinda lit a fire under us and we started playing better and it resulted in a win,” said Magee.

“Let’s give our opponents credit, they played quite well,” said Arena. When asked about the skill difference the manager had this to say, “We should be a little bit ahead of them technically and maybe professional fitness, but a lot of those players have played in the league.”

The Blues felt positive about how well they played though. “We have guys that can be on that team… credit for us to get a goal on a team that doesn’t give up many goals,” said Akwari.

The Galaxy will move on to the Quarterfinals where they travel to Seattle to face the Sounders on July 12.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Mike Magee

Scoring Summary

LAB: Cesar Rivera (Carlos Borja) – 62nd min.
LAG: Omar Gonzalez (Juninho) – 75th min.
LAG: Mike Magee (Omar Gonzalez) – 81st min.

Misconduct Summary

LAB: Josh Tudela (Yellow) – 1st min.
LAG: Gregg Berhalter (Yellow) – 8th min.
LAB: Mehrshad Momeni (Yellow) – 70th min.
LAG: Adam Cristman (Yellow) – 88th min.
LAB: Israel Sesay (Yellow) – 90th min.
LAB: Israel Sesay (Yellow / Red) – 90th min.

Lineups:
LAG: Brian Perk; A.J. DeLaGarza, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, Sean Franklin; Mike Magee, Jovan Kirovski (Juninho 64′), Michael Stephens, Bryan Jordan (Miguel Lopez 46′); Chad Barrett (Adam Christman 83′), PaoloCardozo
LAB: Oscar Dautt; Cameron Dunn (Leonard Griffin 40′), Melson Akwari, Erlys Garcia, Mike Randolph; Mehrshad Momeni (Akeem Priestly 87′), Josh Tudela, Edwin Miranda (Cesar Rivera 46′), Israel Sesay; Carlos Borja, Chukwudi Chijindu

Saves: LAG – 2, LAB – 5; Fouls: LAG – 16, LAB – 19; SOG: LAG – 9, LAB – 3; Attendance: 3,627

2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Bracket D: Kitsap Pumas at Seattle Sounders; LA Blues at LA Galaxy

June 27, 2011 by Gerald Barnhart

THIRD ROUND

Kitsap Pumas at Seattle Sounders
June 29, 10 p.m. ET Starfire Sports Stadium; Tukwila, Wash.
Video/Audio: Video: Seattle; Audio: Kitsap

Los Angeles Blues at Los Angeles Galaxy
June 28, 10:30 p.m. ET Titan Stadium (CSUF); Fullerton, Calif.
Video/Audio: TBA

Kitsap Pumas

Founded in 2009 by a former co-owner of the USL Seattle Sounders, the Pumas have been a dominant force playing as a professional side in the PDL, reaching the postseason in its first two years.

First Round: Kitsap Pumas (PDL) 0:0 (6:5 in PKs) El Paso Patriots (PDL)
The Pumas battled with host El Paso in the hot Texas summer to a scoreless stalemate over 120 minutes in the First Round Tuesday. Penalties to break the tie also went into extra time as the match needed nine rounds to decide a winner with Kitsap coming out on top 6-5. Recap [+]

Second Round: Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) 1:3 Kitsap Pumas (PDL)
In a showdown of PDL unbeatens, the Pumas grabbed the initial lead through Cameron Hepple 17 minutes in, only to see the visitors get level six minutes later via an own goal from Steve Mohn. Robbie Christner restored the advantage just before the break in the 43rd, and provided some insurance with another goal two minutes before the close of the game. Recap [+]

Path to Open Cup: For the third consecutive year, it was a neck-and-neck race with Portland. This year’s berth came down to a complete deadlock on all tiebreakers, with the two sides having played to a scoreless draw in their lone meeting. Instead of using a lottery, the two clubs and league office agreed to use an unprecedented ‘fifth match’ to serve as the tiebreaker ,as they were scheduled to meet in the regular season the Friday after qualifying concluded. Kitsap opened with a 3-0 victory at home versus the Crossfire with Warlen Silva providing a goal and assist. A week later they played to the stalemate against the Timbers. On the final qualifying weekend, the Pumas won 6-1 at Tacoma with Matt Friesen scoring twice, They finished with Friesen scoring in a 1-0 win at North Sound, leaving them vulnerable to Portland’s result, however, the Timbers only managed a 2-0 win later that night, creating the table deadlock. In the tiebreaker match, Kitsap jumped to a two-goal lead via Robbie Christner and Nik Besagno, only to see Portland fight back in a thriller. A Brent Richards goal cut the deficit, but Christner added a second in the 66th to restore the lead before Brian Burke was sent off, allowing the hosts to make a late charge in hopes of penalties only to come up short, 3-2.

This Month in USL PDL: Kitsap was idle this week in league play after defeating fellow PDL side Real Colorado in the Open Cup. The previous week the Pumas posted a 4-1 win over visiting Abbotsford June 17. Brian Burke tallied to give the lead to Kitsap, who saw goalkeeping star Zach Lubin from the First Round match sent off in the 72nd. Abbotsford then leveled before the Pumas tallied two unanswered from Nik Besagno and Matt Friesen shorthanded. They opened the month with a pair of road victories, downing Washington Crossfire 2-1 June 8 and the Portland Timbers U23s in a wild 3-2 decision June 3. The team is 8-0-1 in the PDL Northwest Division.

Open Cup History: The Pumas have yet to miss the tournament in three years of play, making them the first PDL team to qualify in each of their first three years. Only two other teams have accomplished that. They had been haunted by the senior Portland Timbers club, who have knocked them out twice as a member of the second division. They were blanked 3-0 in the first round of the 2009 tournament and downed 4-1 last year in the second round with Nik Besagno scoring the team’s lone goal. They opened with a 4-2 overtime win against the Bay Area Ambassadors (USASA/NPSL).
PRO ERA RECORDS: 3-2-0 overall | 0-1-0 vs. pro teams (0-0-0 vs. MLS)

Seattle Sounders

How They Qualified: Automatic entrant from top six MLS finish in 2010.

This Month in MLS: Seattle won the first of two games this week, downing the New York Red Bulls Thursday evening 4-2, in a game where a two-goal lead from Erik Friberg and Osvaldo Alonso was erased, before Roger Levesque scored two off the bench. They played host to the New England Revolution Sunday, coming from behind for a 2-1 win on goals from Tyson Wahl and Alvaro Fernandez. The Sounders played their third match of the month June 18 in Toronto, edging the hosts on a 90th free kick from Fredy Montero, after playing nearly the entire second half down a man from Jhon Kennedy Hurtado’s send-off. Seattle opened the month with a scoreless draw in Chicago June 4 with Keller in goal, and played a 2-2 stalemate at home against Northwest rival Vancouver Whitecaps June 11. Seattle saw the Whitecaps steal the draw after the Sounders had rallied to take the lead on goals from Mauro Rosales and Osvaldo Alonso in a wild finish.
Last Five: W-W-W-D-D | Season Record: 8-4-7 (5-2-3 Home), Tied for second in Western Conference, Second Overall.

Open Cup History: Sounders FC set out to become a force in the Open Cup during their 2009 inaugural year, and did just that. They became the first expansion team since Chicago Fire in 1998 to take the Cup, winning 2-1 against DC United. They then turned around and made more history in 2010, as they became the first team since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms in 1982 and 1983 to win back-to-back Open Cups. Their victims this time were the Columbus Crew, the final score 2-1 in front of the largest Final crowd ever. Seattle has earned both titles, only playing non-MLS opposition twice (defeating the Portland Timbers in the Third Round both years). The first Puget Sound Showdown against Kitsap marks the first time the team has played a non-first or second division side.
PRO ERA RECORDS: 7-0-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 2-0-0 vs. Non-MLS Teams (0-0-0 vs. PDL)

Note: A USL team also called the Seattle Sounders made 12 Open Cup appearances from 1995-2008 and made history with back-to-back trips to the Semifinals in 2007 and 2008. The USL franchise’s history is officially not recognized by the MLS franchise, nor by the Kitsap Pumas, who gained the USL Sounders’ franchise rights.

Los Angeles Blues

Founded in 2010 by the ownership of the successful Pali Blues W-League team, the side is in its debut season in USL Pro.

First Round: Hollywood United (NPSL) 1:3 LA Blues (USL Pro)
Despite playing a man down since Leo Griffin was sent off in the 19th minute, LA’s Mehrshad Momeni scored once in each half to give the Blues a two-goal lead in the First Round. Hollywood would answer but after both sides saw a red card late each, Gerardo Bravo sealed it for the Blues. Recap [+]

Second Round: LA Blues (USL Pro) 1:0 Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
In a closely fought contest, the professional club came out on top with a strike from Israel Sesay just before halftime, putting away a rebound after a Chukwudi Chijindu breakaway was stuffed point blank by Fusion goalkeeper Sam Hayden. Recap [+]

This Month in USL Pro: Aside from the Open Cup contests, the Blues were idle in June prior to Friday’s first of two meetings against visiting Harrisburg City Islanders on the weekend. LA found themselves trailing in the 53rd minute, but answered back six minutes later when Chijindu found Josh Tudela for the equalizer in a 1-1 draw. They finished the weekend with a 2-1 loss to the City Islanders, getting a consolation strike from Sesay eight minutes from time. The team is 5-3-3 and sits third in the USL Pro National Division.

Path to Open Cup: Automatic entrant from USL Pro.

Open Cup History: First appearance in the tournament.

Los Angeles Galaxy

galaxy2005champs — Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

How They Qualified: Automatic entrant from top six MLS finish in 2010.

This Month in MLS: On Saturday, Los Angeles earned a scoreless draw under unlikely circumstances in San Jose, losing starting keeper Donovan Ricketts to an apparent broken arm early and then Josh Saunders to a red card just before halftime, leaving midfielder Mike Magee as the netminder for the remainder of the match. The Galaxy played their third match of the month in Colorado June 18 , posting a 3-1 victory with Juninho doubling the advantage after an own goal and Chad Barrett securing the victory late. They opened the month with the first of two draws, finishing in a scoreless stalemate against DC United June 3 with Josh Saunders in goal. On June 11 they hosted Toronto in a 2-2 draw with two go-ahead goals from Chris Birchall and Juan Pablo Angel.
Last Five: D-W-D-D-W | Season Record: 9-2-8 (4-0-4 Home), first in Western Conference, first Overall.

Open Cup History: The Galaxy have had a considerable amount of success in the Open Cup, winning two championships in 2001 and 2005, as well as finishing as runners-up in 2002 and 2006. Since falling short to the Chicago Fire in the 2006 Final, the Galaxy were upset by the Richmond Kickers (3rd Division) and then failed to qualify the next two years. In 2010, they returned to the tournament where they beat AC St. Louis of the NASL (2nd Division) before losing to eventual champion Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinals.
PRO ERA RECORD: 21-8-1 (1-0 in PKs) overall | 11-2-0 vs. Non-MLS teams

Local History: Since teams from Los Angeles began participating in the Open Cup in 1954, LA-area clubs have reached 24 Open Cup Finals, winning 10 of those games.

2011 US Open Cup Quarterfinal Scenarios

LA Galaxy / LA Blues at Seattle Sounders
Starfire Sports Stadium – Tukwila, Wash. – 10:00 pm ET
OR
Kitsap Pumas at LA Galaxy
Titan Stadium – Fullerton, Calif. – 10:30 pm ET
OR
LA Blues at Kitsap Pumas
Bremerton Memorial Stadium – Bremerton, Wash. – 10:00 pm ET

–

2011 US Open Cup Second Round: LA Blues outmuscle Ventura County Fusion 1-0

June 22, 2011 by Nick Gaspar

In a match-up of experience versus youth, experience won out. The Los Angeles Blues, boasting multiple players with MLS experience, defeated the Ventura County Fusion on the strength of a late first half Israel Sesay goal, sending the club forward to a Third Round US Open Cup contest with the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.

The Blues were missing two starters from last week’s U.S. Open Cup first round victory due to red cards with Josh Tudela and Leonard Griffin out for this week’s game. Defender Nelson Akwari stepped up and took the leadership role throughout the game by maintaining a strong back line that helped goalkeeper Oscar Dautt preserve the shutout.

“Those guys are talented, but Nelson has been around. We knew he was going to step up and it wasn’t a surprise,” said Sesay.

The Blues controlled the game from the outset of the match, but the Fusion fought back. They had one of their best chances in the 32nd minute when Jake Hustedt headed a cross just wide.

Their misfortune turned into the Blues’ gain in the 45th minute. Blues forward Chukwudi Chijindu had a breakaway stuffed point blank by Fusion goalkeeper Sam Hayden only to have the deflection fall to Israel Sesay. Sesay then faked a shot to lose the defender and scored the lone goal of the game.

“I got an opening and saw the defense coming back. I took a touch and then I took a shot,” Sesay said.

The Fusion had their best opportunity at the beginning of the second half. David Walker beat Blues defender Michael Randolph down the right flank and had a one on one situation with the goalie. His shot beat Dautt in the middle of the box and rolled just wide of the post as the Fusion failed to equalize.

It was an omen of things to come as the Fusion applied pressure throughout the second half and kept the ball on the Blues’ side of the field. Unfortunately the Blues backline held their own throughout the match and did not allow for too many more chances after Hustedt’s shot.

Things did get a tense towards the end as a member of the Fusion’s coaching staff was ejected in the 85th minute and the Fusion’s Gyasi Zardes and the Blues’ Dane Saintus, Chijindu also received cautions to go with Sesay’s card at the beginning of the game.

After the game though, the focus shifted to next week where some Blues’ players will get an opportunity to face off against their former squad. Akwari, Tudela, Griffin, Randolph, Sesay and Chijindu (who is on loan from Chivas USA) all have MLS experience and will get an opportunity to show that the talent gap is not that big between the first and third divisions of the American soccer pyramid.

“We feel (that the talent gap) isn’t that much. We’re going to show everyone what we are capable of doing,” said Sesay.

TheCup.us Match MVP: Israel Sesay

You can follow Nick Gaspar on Twitter @TheNtotheG.

Scoring:
LA: Sesay – 45th min.

Cautions:
17′: Sesay (LA)
62′: Chijindu (LA)
90+1′: Saintus (LA)
90+2′: Zardes (VC)

Ejections:
85′: coach (VC) (straight)

Stats:
Shots Saves Fouls Corners
Blues: 9 Blues: 3 Blues: 17 Blues: 3
Fusion: 8 Fusion: 3 Fusion: 17 Fusion: 4