In a six-goal affair, the LA Galaxy came back from behind twice to top the Seattle Sounders 4-2 in the US Open Cup quarterfinal, fueled by a late brace from Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget.
Seattle’s evening opened with an ideal start, as a 4th-minute goal by Michael Farfan after a costly giveaway from Leonardo in his defensive third gave the road team an early 1-0 lead.
It did not take long for LA to draw even thanks to an Alan Gordon tidy finish from inside the 18-yard-box directly following a Baggio Hušidić missed shot towards goal mere minutes later.
The Galaxy had a few other chances in the first half to take a lead, most notably through an Emmanuel Boateng big chance missed in the 3rd minute. Alan Gordon also had a close-range header saved in the 12th minute and Lletget saw a shot from outside the box fizz past the post in the 23rd minute.
Each club mustered two corners in the first half as LA dominated possession 59 percent to 41 percent when the teams headed to the locker rooms at the break.
The second half kicked off with Clément Diop forced to make a big save on a Seattle counter attack in the 55th minute. Longtime MLS and USMNT veteran Hérculez Gómez gave the Sounders the lead for the second time not long thereafter, as the American finished from a close tight angle with his right foot in the 58th minute.
Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was forced to make a change in the 66th minute as two Sounders players collided with one another, injuring Aaron Kovar who was replaced with Cristian Roldan.
Bruce Arena countered, bringing on two offensive weapons in Gyasi Zardes and Giovani Dos Santos in the 74th minute. His tactics were nearly instantly reward when Dos Santos bagged the tying goal just minutes later after a Zach Scott error.
Schmid brought on some firepower of his own, introducing Jordan Morris in the 82nd minute, hoping to find a late winner.
However, Schmid’s search for an equalizer proved fruitless as Lletget buried two goals in the final ten minutes to help punch LA’s ticket to the US Open Cup semifinal.
LA Galaxy 4, Seattle Sounders FC 2
Wednesday, July 20, 2016 – 7:30 p.m. PT
2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Quarterfinals
StubHub Center Track and Field Stadium – Carson, Calif.
Scoring Summary:
- SEA – Michael Farfan (unassisted) 4’
- LA – Alan Gordon (assisted by Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget) 17’
- SEA – Herculez Gomez (assisted by Dylan Remick, Michael Farfan) 58’
- LA – Giovani dos Santos 77’
- LA – Sebastian Lletget (assisted by Baggio Husidic, Gyasi Zardes) 85’
- LA – Sebastian Lletget (assisted by Gyasi Zardes) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
- LA – Leonardo (caution) 31’
- SEA – Dylan Remick (caution) 32’
- SEA – Tony Alfaro (caution) 57’
Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Clement Diop; Rafael Garcia, Leonardo, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney; Nigel de Jong (Jeff Larentowicz,90+1’), Baggio Husidic; Sebastian Lletget, Mike Magee © (Giovani dos Santos 74’), Emmanuel Boateng; Alan Gordon (Gyasi Zardes 74’).
Substitutions not used: Dan Kennedy, A.J. DeLaGarza, Jack McBean, Jelle Van Damme.
TOTAL SHOTS: 16; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2.
Seattle Sounders FC: Tyler Miller; Dylan Remick, Tony Alfaro, Zach Scott ©, Oniel Fisher; Zach Mathers, Nathan Sturgis (Brad Evans 76’), Michael Farfan; Oalex Anderson (Jordan Morris 82’), Aaron Kovar (Cristian Roldan 66’), Herculez Gomez.
Substitutions not used: Stefan Frei, Tyrone Mears, Joevin Jones, Andy Craven.
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 8; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 3.
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Referee’s Assistants: Ian B Anderson and Cameron Blanchard
4th Official: Michael Radchuk
