LAFC Advances to Semifinals of U.S. Open Cup; Defeats New Mexico United 3-1

July 11, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Los Angeles FC News Release

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) advanced to the Semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2018 with a 3-1 win over USL Championship side New Mexico United FC in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. Timothy Tillman, David Martínez and Mateusz Bogusz each scored for LAFC in the win, which extended the club’s unbeaten streak in all competitions to 13 games.

LAFC will now face the Seattle Sounders on the road in the Open Cup Semifinals on August 27 or 28. The exact date and time of the game will be determined at a later date, with the winner of that game advancing to the Open Cup Final on Wednesday, September 25, against the winner of the other Semifinal between Sporting Kansas City and Indy Eleven.

Timothy Tillman gave LAFC a perfect start in the sixth minute, collecting the rebound of a Mateusz Bogusz shot and hitting a right-footed shot past New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis to give the home side an early 1-0 lead.

David Martínez doubled LAFC’s lead in the 37th minute when he scored his first-ever goal at BMO Stadium. Martinez saw his first shot saved by Tambakis, but the rebound came straight back to him and he was able to find the back of the net with his second attempt, making the score 2-0 going into the halftime break.

New Mexico United pulled a goal back in the 57th minute when Greg Hurst collected a pass from Nanan Houssou and curled a shot past Hugo Lloris and inside the post to make the score 2-1.

The score would stay that way until the 77th minute when Bogusz put the game away with his 13th goal of the season in all competitions. Bogusz collected a pass from Tillman at midfield and raced at the New Mexico defense before cutting back onto his right foot and firing a shot into the net to give LAFC a 3-1 win and a berth in the Open Cup Semifinals.

LAFC returns to MLS action on Saturday, July 13, when the club hosts the Columbus Crew at BMO Stadium in a rematch of MLS Cup 2023. That game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and is available for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 710 AM ESPN LA, the ESPN LA app and 980 AM La Mera Mera.

NEWS & NOTES

With the win, LAFC is now unbeaten in a club-record 13 straight games, including three U.S. Open Cup games.

The club is 12-0-1 in that time, outscoring opponents 33-7.

LAFC is now 10-3-2 all-time in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, including an 8-2-0 mark at home.

LAFC is into the Semifinals of the…