CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy advanced to the round of 16 in the U.S. Open Cup with a hard-earned, 4-1 victory over La Máquina in overtime in front of a StubHub Center crowd of 4,752.
The five-time MLS Cup champions not only used their fitness but some quick thinking in getting past an amateur side that had given the Galaxy problems all night with their excellent organization and technical skill.
It was in the sixth minute of the first period of extra time when the Galaxy lined up for a free kick just outside the Máquina penalty area. The Galaxy’s Jose Villarreal was on the ground, appearing to be suffering from cramps and getting help from teammates, when the Galaxy’s Baggio Husidic took the free kick quickly and sent a pass to a wide-open David Romney, who calmly slotted the ball past Máquina goalkeeper Luis Sosa and into the net for the eventual game-winning goal. Sebastian Lletget added two goals in the 105th and 115th minutes to seal the outcome.
Confusion definitely reigned after Romney’s goal.
“I have no idea what was going on,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said when asked about the play after the game.
The fourth official, Michael Radchuk, then incorrectly reported to the public address announcer that Husidic had scored instead of Romney. And the goal wasn’t even officially announced to the crowd for at least a couple of minutes.
For Romney, it was nothing new. The Galaxy defender had his first goal with Galaxy II last year credited to Alejandro Covarrubias. His first goal this year with the Galaxy’s reserve team was mistakenly given to Jack McBean.
“My first goal this year, they give it to Baggio,” he said with a grin. “My reaction was, ‘Not again.’ I’ve never actually had a goal given to me.”
Romney said he wasn’t sure what to do on the pivotal sequence.
“I was thinking, ‘Am I allowed to shoot this? Is this really real?’“ he said. “I just got it on my right foot and tucked it away.”
Husidic said he hadn’t taken many quick free kicks in his career – “Not in the pros; maybe in college or amateurs when I was the best player on the team,” he said with a straight face – but got confirmation from referee Ramon Hernandez that the play counted.
“I knew he wasn’t going to call it back,” he said. “I think we were a bit more clever on that play.”
Defender A.J. DeLaGarza said the Galaxy had been told beforehand about Hernandez’s reputation.
“I’m not really surprised,” DeLaGarza said. “I’m surprised at how we scored, I guess.”
In any event, the Galaxy are through the round of 16 on June 29 against an opponent to be determined.
“Those types of games you always get surprised,” Midfielder Sebastian Lletget said. “It doesn’t matter how ready or how professional you are before the game, those teams are always going to give that extra 10 percent and we just have to match it.
“That’s our job. Fortunately for us it worked out in the end.”
