Galaxy Loses in Open Cup

Chris Brunt scored on a header in the 21st minute to lead the Minnesota Thunder of the A-League to a 1-0 upset of the Galaxy in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday night in front of 5,500 at Minneapolis.

The Galaxy, which was without injured midfielders Cobi Jones and Andreas Herzog and started a lineup of mostly reserves, including goalkeeper Dan Popik, was outshot, 13-7, and never recovered from its slow start.

“We lost the game in the first 20 minutes tonight,” Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid said. “We gave them confidence and hope in those first 20 minutes, even though we slowly grabbed the game back it was not enough.”

Schmid brought in striker Carlos Ruiz and midfielder Marcelo Saragosa in the second half to try to create momentum but nothing materialized. Ruiz did have a shot in the 89th minute that was tipped over the crossbar by Thunder goalkeeper Joe Warren.

Two other MLS teams lost to A-League teams in the fourth round. The Charleston Battery defeated the Metro- Stars, 1-0, and the Rochester Raging Rhinos defeated the New England Revolution, 3-1, on penalty kicks after the teams were tied, 1-1, through regulation and overtime.

In matchups of MLS teams, Chicago defeated Columbus, 2-1, in overtime on a goal by Damani Ralph, and Dallas defeated Colorado, 3-0, led by two goals by Eddie Johnson.

Elsewhere, the Kansas City Wizards got two goals from Davy Arnaud in a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Silverbacks of the A-League.

*

Asian Cup

Defending champion Japan and former three-time winner Iran won at the Asian Cup, and Qatar fired coach Philippe Troussier two days after it lost to Indonesia in its opening game.

Iran defeated Thailand, 3-0, on two goals by Ali Daei, and Japan edged Oman, 1-0, on a goal by Shunsuke Nakamura.

Troussier, 49, said he was “bitterly disappointed and really surprised” when told of his dismissal.

*

Quick Passes

Argentine Javier Saviola has been approved for Spanish citizenship by the country’s government, FC Barcelona said on its website.... Leicester, of division one in the English league, signed veteran Arsenal defender Martin Keown, 38, to a one-year contract. Keown was released by Arsenal in May.

-- Compiled by Jim Barrero