Monterey Bay Falls to LAFC in Penalty Shootout at Cardinale Stadium, U.S. Open Cup Run Comes to an End in Round of 32

May 10, 2023 – United Soccer League Championship (USL) – Monterey Bay FC News Release

SEASIDE, California – Monterey Bay F.C. fell 4-5 on penalties to Major League Soccer side LAFC in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Cardinale Stadium, ending the Union’s run in the Round of 32 in front of the largest crowd to date in the Club’s short history. After going down early in the first half and trailing for over an hour in the match, Simon Dawkins scored at the death in the 90th minute to revive the Union and bring the match into extra time. Jesse Maldonado scored his first career goal at Cardinale Stadium to give the Union the lead four minutes into extra time, but LAFC equalized late to send the match to the first penalty shootout in Monterey Bay F.C. history.

Starting the match on the front foot at home, Monterey Bay F.C. earned an early opportunity in the 5th minute of the match. A tackle won by Chuy Enríquez near the halfway line sparked a counter for the Union, but the shot by Christian Volesky was saved at the near post. LAFC earned an opportunity in the 12th minute, but the shot by Yekeson Subah from the top of the box was caught by Antony Siaha. After earning a free kick 19 minutes in, James Murphy took the set piece for the Crisp and Kelp and whipped a cross into the box to Mobi Fehr, but his headed attempt missed wide of the left post. Six minutes later, the visitors struck first with a goal from Christian Torres to give LAFC the 1-0 lead. Monterey Bay came excruciatingly close to the equalizer on a corner kick opportunity in the 32nd minute, but Fehr’s shot from inside the six hit the bottom of the crossbar and back out into play. In the 36th minute, Alex Dixon fired a shot on goal from just outside the box, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper and the half ended with an edge to LAFC.

Monterey Bay came out aggressively to start the second half as the side searched for the equalizer. In the 56th minute, a combination down the left side between Enríquez and Walmer Martínez gave the Union an opportunity to attack in space, but Martínez’ cross into the box was cleared away by the LAFC defense. The visitors looked likely to score a second when Nathan Ordaz found himself alone inside the box in the 66th minute, but his shot was heroically kick-saved by Siaha to keep Monterey Bay in the match. Second-half substitute Jesse Maldonado made a run from the left side to the top center of the box in the 81st minute, but his right-footed shot was…