Open Cup Title Defense Begins

Just when the Galaxy players were getting ready for a much-needed three-game home stand, the soccer powers that be have sent them back on the road, halfway across the country, for a nonleague match.

The Galaxy has played nine of its last 12 Major League Soccer games on the road. It begins defense of its U.S. Open Cup title tonight in Blaine, Minn., in a third-round game against the Minnesota Thunder of the A-League.

Coach Sigi Schmid said the Galaxy was looking at the game in a positive light rather than as a hindrance.

“We’re defending a title so that’s a responsibility the team takes seriously,” Schmid said Tuesday from Minnesota. “It’s our first domestic title, so that means a lot to us. And thirdly, there is bonus money involved, so nobody’s going to shy away from that.”

All A-League teams were issued first-round byes in the U.S. Open Cup while MLS clubs received byes into the third round.

The Thunder advanced with a 6-1 second-round win over the San Diego Gauchos of the D3 Pro League on June 26. Minnesota is led by Jakob Fenger (five goals, four assists), Johnny Menyongar (four goals, five assists) and Johnny Torres (five goals, one assist).

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Galaxy defender Danny Califf is not eligible to play tonight after accumulating too many caution points in last year’s tournament.... The winner of the Galaxy-Thunder match will play at the winner of the Seattle Sounders-San Jose Earthquakes game on Aug. 7 in the quarterfinals.