Gyasi Zardes leads Galaxy past Arizona United, 2-1, in U.S. Open Cup

Gyasi Zardes scored twice to lead the Galaxy past Arizona United SC, 2-1, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament.

With the victory Wednesday night in Peoria, Ariz., the Galaxy advances to the fifth round of the century-old event to face the Carolina RailHawks in Cary, N.C., on Tuesday.

The single-elimination tournament features pro teams and amateur clubs from around the country. The pro teams include Major League Soccer clubs such as the Galaxy along with those from the lower-tier North American Soccer League and USL Pro.

The RailHawks, an NASL club, have knocked the Galaxy out of the last two U.S. Open Cup tournaments.

On Wednesday night, the Galaxy fell behind 1-0 in the 37th minute when Arizona United’s Matt Kassel scored at the Peoria Sports Complex.

But in the same minute Zardes got the Galaxy even with a goal on a pass from Robbie Rogers. Zardes then scored the game-winner in the 53rd minute on an assist by Stefan Ishizaki.

“My teammates are the ones that got the ball in the [18-yard] box and all I had to do was just put the ball on target, which I did both times,” Zardes said.