Photo courtesy Los Angeles FC
LOS ANGELES – New Mexico United’s run in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to a conclusion on Wednesday night as Greg Hurst’s second-half goal proved only a consolation as Los Angeles FC took a 3-1 victory in the Quarterfinal clash at BMO Stadium, with a pair of first-half goals served as the difference for the hosts.
LAFC will visit Seattle Sounders FC in the Semifinals on August 27-28 as it bids for its first trip to the U.S. Open Cup Final after maintaining its perfect record of advancement against lower-division opposition in the tournament.
The hosts made a strong opening and after a spell of pressure took the lead in the sixth minute. Mateusz Bogusz cut into the penalty area from the left side and curled a shot to the far post that New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis was able to parry, but the rebound came straight to United States international Timmy Tillmann, who roofed his finish from 10 yards past the scrambling defense.
New Mexico got its first good look at goal four minutes later when Zico Bailey fired a shot over the crossbar from 20 yards, and in the 23rd minute the visitors created another half-chance as they turned over possession and pushed forward quickly only for Avionne Flanagan to miscue his finish and send it high.
As New Mexico gained more possession after LAFC’s early pressure, however, the hosts were consistently a threat on the counterattack. In the 27th minute following a United corner, Denis Bouanga sprang forward on the right and played a sweeping pass for Bogusz that New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis came out to confront before Jacobo Reyes was able to help ward off the danger.
The hosts doubled the lead eight minutes before halftime, however, as United was unable to relieve a spell of pressure. A slipped pass by Bogusz played David Martinez into the left side of the penalty area, and while his first-time shot was blocked by Tambakis, the rebound came straight back to the Venezuelan youngster to put home at the second effort.
HERE. WE. GO.@GregHurst10 pulls @NewMexicoUTD within a goal!#USOC2024 | @opencup https://t.co/Bk4vZM1K46 pic.twitter.com/kbmGtaioWj
— USL Championship (@USLChampionship) July 11, 2024
Trailing by a pair of goals at the break, New Mexico breathed new life into the game just before the hour mark on a sensational strike by Hurst. After a move down the right initiated by Marco Micaletto, the ball came centrally to Nanan Houssou, who found Hurst at the top-right edge of the penalty area. The Scottish forward took a touch centrally and then unleashed a powerful strike to the bottom-right corner that beat LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
The visitors then went close to leveling moments after Daniel Bruce entered the game with 20 minutes remaining as the English forward gained possession on the left side, cut past a defender moving centrally only for Lloris to deny his curling shot. With 13 minutes to play, though, Bogusz produced a piece of individual brilliance for the hosts to restore LAFC’s two-goal lead. Picking up possession near the halfway line in the right half of the field, the Polish winger drove across the field and into the left side of the penalty area, where he cut back onto his right foot and curled a shot into the far corner to put the game out of New Mexico’s reach.
Scoring Summary
LAFC – Timmy Tillmann 6’
LAFC – David Martinez 37’
NM – Greg Hurst (Nanan Houssou) 57’
LAFC – Mateusz Bogusz (Timmy Tillmann) 77’