Seattle probably won’t be an easy out, but with Clint Dempsey guaranteed to be out with his long suspension from the competition and the Sounders more concerned about MLS than the Open Cup, this is just the opportunity LA could use to make it to the semifinals and really make a run at silverware in 2016.
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The spark for that comeback was ignited in the 74th minute when Arena brought Giovani dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes off his bench. But they would relinquish the leads each time, eventually allowing a second-half brace to LA’s Sebastian Lletget that sealed the result at StubHub Center’s Track and Field Stadium in Carson, Calif.
The lead lasted just 13 minutes before Alan Gordon pulled the Galaxy even, redirecting a Baggio Husidic shot in from the edge of the six-yard box.
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.
Michael Farfan and Herculez Gomez each scored for Seattle.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Union – who have hosted and lost the past two Open Cup finals – were eliminated on penalty kicks after playing to a 1-1 draw at New England. The Brazilian telegraphed a pass out of the back, and Michael Farfan pounced on the ball before easily chipping over a stranded Clement Diop for the opener.
“I remember that game”, said Gordon, 34.
The Galaxy will be making their first U.S. Open Cup semifinal trip since 2006.
With extra time looming, Fabian Castillo scored a stunning 91st-minute strike to send Dallas into the semifinals.
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“As soon as they came in, I knew they were going to bring a lot of energy”, Lletget said. His tactics were almost instantly rewarded when Dos Santos bagged the tying goal just minutes later after a Zach Scott error. Midfielder Sebastian Lletget got the eventual game victor in the 85th minute.
