Galaxy Pours It On, Beats Chivas USA Again

By Grahame L. Jones

Aug. 4, 2005 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

Landon Donovan and Chris Albright scored in the last two minutes Wednesday night, and the Galaxy rolled over Chivas USA, 5-2, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the nation’s oldest soccer competition.

The two goals made the result more lopsided than the match itself and served only to increase the discontent of Chivas USA, which still is seeking its first victory over its Home Depot Center co-dweller.

“It’s frustrating,” goalkeeper Brad Guzan said. “We’ve played them four times and lost four times.”

The loss knocked Chivas USA out of the competition, while the Galaxy, which won the Cup in 2001, moves on to an Aug. 24 game on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes, who defeated the Portland Timbers, 2-0, Wednesday night to reach the last eight.

Wednesday’s match was played on a cool, windy night at the Home Depot Center’s track and field stadium, and the Galaxy used a mix of starters and reserves.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair and featured no fewer than five goals. Chivas USA twice held the lead but found itself in the familiar position of trailing after 45 minutes.

Douglas Sequeira started things off early, his headed goal off a corner kick by Francisco Gomez beating goalkeeper Steve Cronin at the near post in the fourth minute.

The Galaxy tied it, 1-1, eight minutes later when Cobi Jones fired a shot past Guzan after a build-up involving Troy Roberts and Jovan Kirovski and starting with a throw-in by Todd Dunivant.

Chivas USA regained the advantage in the 20th minute on a free kick by Ramon Ramirez after Jones had fouled Ramirez about 24 yards out.

Guzan helped preserve the advantage for a while at least by making a tremendous diving save to deny Jones.

But two odd plays in the last 10 minutes of the half undid Chivas USA’s hard work to that point.

In the 36th minute, Galaxy forward Joseph Ngwenya latched on to a loose ball that had rebounded from midfield, sidestepped a defender and steered his shot past Guzan from 16 yards.

The last minute of the half brought the game-winning goal.

Defender Armando Begines lost track of a pass from Ezra Hendrickson, and Herculez Gomez was on hand to punish the mistake with the Galaxy’s third goal.

In other Open Cup games, FC Dallas, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards and Chicago Fire also advanced to the quarterfinals, but the MetroStars lost, 3-1, to the Rochester Raging Rhinos and the Colorado Rapids were thrashed, 4-1, by the Minnesota Thunder.

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U.S. Open Cup

Fourth-round scores and semifinal pairings for the 92nd annual U.S. Open Cup (teams are from MLS unless noted as being from the United Soccer League or the Premier Developmental League):

WEDNESDAY’S FOURTH ROUND

* Galaxy 5, Chivas USA 2

* San Jose 2, Portland (USL) 0

* Rochester (USL) 3, MetroStars 1

* Kansas City 6, Des Moines (PDL) 1

* Minnesota (USL) 4, Colorado 1

* D.C. United 3, Richmond (USL) 1

* FC Dallas 3, Columbus 1, OT

* Chicago 3, New England 2, OT

QUARTERFINALS

Aug. 24

* Galaxy at San Jose