Pablo Sisniega did exceptional work filling in at Keeper for LAFC on Thursday night.
Photos courtesy of LAFC.
Different competition, and much improvement from two months ago, but the end result still the same.
Facing LAFC in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the San Jose Earthquakes were out to show LAFC that this was not the same Quakes team that LAFC drubbed 5-0 at Avaya Stadium back on March 30.
The Quakes rammed that point home with an early first half goal and was able to find spaces against LAFC’s defense on several occasions. However, just like back in March, LAFC’s offense asserted themselves at the right time. Goals from Diego Rossi, Adama Diomande and Carlos Vela helped LAFC overcome a more determined Quakes squad and advance in the US Open Cup with a 3-1 winat Bacn of California Stadium.
“The way they played made the game tough to play,” Vela said of the Quakes effort. “Sometimes you see a lot of space but your legs don’t see the same and that’s why you make mistakes. In the end, we scored 3 goals and that’s really good. Even if you have 10 chances and you score 3, it’s difficult to lose games.”
The win sends LAFC into the quarterfinals, which will take place on July 10. LAFC will face the Portland Timbers, who eliminated the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night, at Banc of California Stadium.
Down by one goal with the first half winding down, LAFC finally broke through in the 35th minute. Lee Nguyen dribbled forward, then played a ball inside the box, where Diego Rossi timed his run perfectly and chipped a ball inside the six-yard box over keeper Andrew Tarbell for the equalizer.
LAFC then took control of the match in the second half. LAFC took the lead in the 60th minute, as Danilo Silva recovered a ball, played it forward to Diego Rossi, who sent a ball forward, Adama Diomande outraced San Jose’s Marcos Lopez to the ball inside the penalty area. Rossi’s pass was so pin-point that it allowed Diomande to round Tarbell and shoot the ball into the back net. LAFC sealed its trip to the quarterfinals in the 85th minute, as Vela dribbled into the penalty area, hesitated as he looked for a sightline, then finally saw one in the middle of the box and Vela fired a shot that beat Tarbell to give LAFC a two-goal cushion.
It was a very physical game, but we tried to play our football and when we do it well, we get out of the pressure they give,” Rossi said.
The Quakes took the lead eight minutes into the match. Jackson Yueill sent a ball forward, Cristian Espinoza chased the ball down from the right side, took a touch into the penalty area, then chose to play a pass to Valeri Qazaishvili, who rewarded Espinoza’s unselfishness with a shot that beat keeper Pablo Sisniega near post to put the visitors in front. Sisniega eventually redeemed himself in the 27th minute, as Espinoza sprung Qazaishvili with a ball over the LAFC backline, Qazaishvili made the run into the penalty area, fired for goal, but Sisniega made the save off his feet and Tristan Blackmon cleared the ball out of the box.
With MLS play currently paused due to competitions such as the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America, head coach Bob Bradley was enabled to go with nearly his full compliment of players for its US Open Cup run. Vela, Rossi, Latiff Blessing, Lee Nguyen and Adama Diomande were all in the starting lineup for LAFC, but with Center Back Walker Zimmerman and keeper Tyler Miller away for USMNT duty and Right Back Steve Beitashour still injured, Bradley opted to go with Danilo Silva and Eddie Segura in the back line and Sisniega between the pipes.
“It was an incredible experience,” Sisniega said. “These games are a little different. They’re a little more open and a little more intense. I’m happy with the result and the work the team put in.”
Before resuming US Open Cup play, LAFC will resume MLS play next Friday with a trip to Colorado to face the Rapids.
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