Galaxy Finally Solves Earthquakes in the Open Cup
The Galaxy advanced to the semifinals of the U.S Open Cup for the second consecutive year Tuesday night by defeating the San Jose Earthquakes, 10-9, on penalty kicks after the teams had played to a 1-1 tie after overtime.
The Galaxy’s victory at Negoesco Stadium on the University of San Francisco campus was its first this year against San Jose after losing twice in MLS play.
Midfielder Simon Elliott gave the Galaxy the lead in the 73rd minute with an unassisted goal, but San Jose forward Junior Agogo tied it for the Earthquakes with a goal in the 81st minute off a pass from Wade Barrett.
No goals were scored in the final nine minutes of regulation or in 30 minutes of overtime and the game went to penalty kicks, with the Galaxy prevailing.
The Galaxy will play the defending Open Cup champion Chicago Fire, which defeated Los Angeles in last year’s Open Cup semifinals, on Aug. 21 or 22 at a site to be determined.
The Fire endured all it could handle in its quarterfinal before finally defeating the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the A-League, 3-2, in overtime in front of a sellout crowd of 2,500 at Wheaton, Ill.
Former Galaxy player Welton gave the Riverhounds a lead in the ninth minute, but the Fire answered with goals from Hristo Stoitchkov in the 15th and Dema Kovalenko in the 49th. Former Fire midfielder Paul Dougherty tied it for Pittsburgh with 20 minutes left and Chicago got the game-winner from Amos Magee in the 111th minute.
Next month’s other semifinal pits the New England Revolution against 1996 Open Cup winner Washington D.C. United.
On Tuesday night, the Revolution scored twice within 12 minutes to defeat the Columbus Crew, 2-1, in front of 5,695 at Foxboro, Mass.
Brazilian midfielder Cate netted the first goal on a penalty kick in the 50th minute after Andy Williams had been fouled by Columbus defender Mike Clark. William Sunsing increased New England’s lead in the 62nd minute off a pass from Williams.
D.C. United edged the Richmond Kickers of the A-League, 2-1, on a pair of second-half goals by Abdul Thompson Conteh in front of an announced 8,439 at Washington.
