Galaxy Eliminates San Jose

Herculez Gomez scored a pair of first-half goals and the Galaxy eliminated the San Jose Earthquakes from the U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night in a quarterfinal game.

The Galaxy played the last 27 minutes with 10 men after defender Todd Dunivant, a former Earthquake, earned his second yellow card, and a subsequent red card, in the 63rd minute.

The Galaxy, which has eliminated the Earthquakes from the Open Cup four times since 2000, will next play host to the Minnesota Thunder of the United Soccer League in the semifinals on Sept. 14.

Minnesota upset the Kansas City Wizards, 3-1, the third consecutive MLS team to lose to the Thunder. Minnesota previously eliminated Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids.

Jovan Kirovski assisted on both of Gomez’s goals, in the fifth and 31st minutes.

San Jose cut the deficit in half on a 76th-minute goal by Ronald Cerritos.

The teams will meet again in an MLS game on Saturday night in San Jose.

In other quarterfinal games, the Chicago Fire and FC Dallas of MLS advanced on penalty kicks after tying Rochester (USL) and D.C. United, respectively, 1-1, after regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.

Chicago won, 5-4, on penalty kicks and Dallas won, 4-1.