LA Galaxy Seal A Late US Open Cup Win 4-2

By Connor Aylward
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Updated: July 21, 2016

The US Open Cup Quarterfinal showdown between Western Conference rivals the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy took place Wednesday Night at the Stubhub Center’s track stadium. Typically home to the USL side “Los Dos”, this big tournament game would take place here due to the annual Crossfit games held at Stubhub Center.

Between the two clubs there is no doubt the Galaxy came out with a lineup that looked more menacing in a surprise move by manager Bruce Arena who typically doesn’t play with a full hand in these games.

#LAGalaxy XI: Diop; Garcia, Steres, Leonardo, Romney; Husidic, De Jong; Lletget, Magee, Boateng; Gordon #LAvSEA pic.twitter.com/cWjfidPNoX

— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) July 21, 2016

This one got off to a rough start for the Galaxy defense as none other than Leonardo did what well, Leo does. Turned it over on a bad maneuver with no coverage behind him and an easy steal from Michael Farfan led to the Sounder goal giving them a quick 1-0 lead in the 4th minute.

4′ SEATTLE GOAL.

Leonardo with a failed clearance right to Farfan who chips Diop. Horrible mistake by the Brazilian. #USOC2016

— Adam Serrano (@LAGalaxyInsider) July 21, 2016

Alan Gordon saw that it didn’t stay that way for long though. The “Super-Sub” typically for Los Angeles gets a quick hitter to tie the game up at 1 off of a great pass by Baggio Husidic.

WATCH: @LAGalaxy draw level in the 17th min through a savvy redirect from Alan Gordon. 1-1 down in SoCal #USOC2016 https://t.co/BNnwOwjJpC

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 21, 2016

It would stay at that score for the remainder of the first half as the teams went back and forth at one another but neither could seem to put one in the others net.

The second half was entirely a different story.

The MLS veteran Herculez Gomez was able to punch one in right next to Galaxy keeper Clement Diop in the 58th minute giving his Seattle side a 2-1 lead and that lead would hold for quite some time.

And then Giovani Dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes came in off the bench.

And things got ugly for the Sounders. Quickly.

Trailing 2-1 when they entered with just over 20 minutes left in regulation the duo made things happen quickly. Gio was able to steal one and run at the net for a quick punch in to tie it up at 2.

WATCH: Moments after entering the match, @OficialGio equalizes for @LAGalaxy in the 77th minute. #LAGalaxy #USOC2016 https://t.co/npMa2q4wvZ

— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 21, 2016

Just minutes later Gyasi Zardes was running the pitch with Sebastian Lletget alongside and passed one-off getting Lletget a goal giving Los Angeles a 3-2 lead in the 85th minute. Then three minutes later, Lletget was at it again, finding goal for a second time and giving his club a 4-2 lead in the 88th minute.

That would seal it for the Galaxy and the club will be moving on to the semifinals against FC Dallas. The first time Los Angeles has gone as far as the semis since 2006.

A great win for the Galaxy tonight and they will keep on moving forward in this US Open Cup competition. We’ll get to see the Galaxy again this Saturday in MLS Cup competition against the Timbers in Portland at 12:30 PST on ESPN. Thanks for reading along Galaxy fans and keep on coming back to CaliSports for all your Galaxy news.

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