LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, May 23, 2023) – Continuing their 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign, the LA Galaxy advanced to the Quarterfinals of the tournament with a 2-0 shutout win over LAFC at BMO Stadium on Tuesday night. Tyler Boyd scored the game-winning goal and Riqui Puig scored his first goal of the tournament, while goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann recorded six saves in the Round of 16 win over LAFC.
LA Galaxy In The U.S. Open Cup
Tuesday’s match marked the Galaxy’s 56th all-time U.S. Open Cup contest dating back to 1999, with LA improving to 37-18-1 in the competition with the win over LAFC. In 27 all-time road matches played in the U.S. Open Cup, the Galaxy hold a 12-14-1 record. LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney improved to 5-1-0 in six all-time U.S. Open Cup matches as manager of the LA Galaxy in the victory against LAFC. The Galaxy advanced to the Quarterfinals of the tournament for the second straight campaign and will travel to face the winner of the Round of 16 match between Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids, whom play each other on Wednesday, May 24.
LA Galaxy Against LAFC
The U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match between the LA Galaxy and LAFC marked the 19th edition of El Tráfico across all competitions, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 8-6-5. Against LAFC, the Galaxy hold a 6-4-5 record in league play, a 0-2-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs and a 2-0-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup. In nine all-time road matches played across all competitions against LAFC, the LA Galaxy hold a 2-4-3 record (19 GF, 21 GA). In 19 matches played between the LA Galaxy (42 GF) and LAFC (40 GF) across all competitions, El Tráfico averages 4.3 goals per game.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LAG– Tyler Boyd (Mark Delgado), 49th minute – Mark Delgado played in Tyler Boyd down the right side of the penalty area. Boyd cut inside on his left foot and drilled his curling shot into the far corner of the goal.
LAG– Riqui Puig (Mark Delgado), 52nd minute – Riqui Puig picked up the ball from the halfway line and dribbled past three defenders into the penalty area before chipping his shot from outside the six-yard box into the back of the net.
Postgame Notes
- The U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match between the LA Galaxy and LAFC marked the 19th edition of El Tráfico across all competitions, with the Galaxy leading the all-time series 8-6-5.
- Against LAFC, the Galaxy hold a 6-4-5 record in league play, a 0-2-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs and a 2-0-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup.
- Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match against LAFC marked the sixth match in the span of 17 days for the LA Galaxy; an average of a match played every 2.83 days.
- In the Galaxy’s last five matches played across all competitions dating back to May 10, the Galaxy hold a 3-2-0 record (7 GF, 7 GA).
- In eight matches played on the road across all competitions during the 2023 campaign, the Galaxy hold a record of 1-5-2 (3 GF, 13 GA).
- Riqui Puig recorded his first goal in U.S. Open Cup play and his second across all competitions during the 2023 campaign.
- Puig recorded six shots (5 on target), 52 accurate passes (86.7% pass accuracy), two chances created and four successful dribbles in the win over LAFC.
- Tyler Boyd scored his first U.S. Open Cup goal in the Round of 16 win over LAFC.
- In two matches played across all competitions this season against LAFC, Boyd has recorded two goals.
- Jonathan Klinsmann recorded six saves and a shutout in the win U.S. Open Cup win over LAFC.
- In five career U.S. Open Cup appearances for the LA Galaxy, Klinsmann holds a record of 4-1-0 and has posted two shutouts.
- In 11 career matches managed across all competitions against LAFC as head coach of Toronto FC and the LA Galaxy dating back to 2018, LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney holds a record of 4-4-3.
- Vanney holds a 4-3-2 record in nine career matches managed across all competitions as head coach of the LA Galaxy against LAFC.
- Additionally, Vanney improved to 5-1-0 in six all-time U.S. Open Cup matches as manager of the LA Galaxy with the win over LAFC.
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Next Game
*Next up, the LA Galaxy return to MLS Regular Season action by playing host to Charlotte FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, May 27. The match on May 27 kicks off at 7:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Round of 16
LA Galaxy at LAFC*
May 23, 2023 – BMO Stadium (Los Angeles)
Goals by Half 1 2 F
LA Galaxy 0 2 2
LAFC 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
LA: Boyd (Delgado), 49
LA: Puig (Delgado), 52
Misconduct Summary:
LAG: Calegari (caution), 29
LFC: Crisostomo (caution), 36
LAG: Rodríguez (caution), 41
LAG: Puig (caution), 52
LFC: Duenas (caution), 56
LFC: Gaines (caution), 76
Lineups:
LAG: GK Jonathan Klinsmann; D Calegari, D Martín Cáceres, D Eriq Zavaleta (Chris Mavinga, 62), D Julián Aude (Tyler Boyd, 45), M Mark Delgado, M Gastón Brugman (Daniel Aguirre, 80), M Riqui Puig, M Raheem Edwards (Kelvin Leerdam, 68), M Memo Rodríguez; F Javier “Chicharito” Hernández © (Dejan Joveljić, 62)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Jonathan Bond; M Gino Vivi
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Riqui Puig, 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Riqui Puig, 5); FOULS: 19 (Memo Rodríguez, 5); OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 6
LFC: GK Eldin Jakupovic ©; D Javen Romero (Armando Avila, 62), D Diego Rosales, D Noah Dollenmayer, D Julian Gaines (Yekeson Subah, 77); M Mateusz Bogusz (Matheus Maia, 62), M Danny Crisostomo, M Erik Duenas, M Stipe Biuk (Christian Torres, 62), F Kwadwo Opoku (Christopher Jaime, 62), F Nathan Ordaz
Substitutes Not Used: GK John McCarthy; M Jeremi Rodriguez
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (Mateusz Bogusz, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Mateusz Bogusz, Nathan Ordaz, 2); FOULS: 16 (Erik Duenas); OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 5
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Marcos DeOliveira
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 64 degrees
Attendance: 16,362
_All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
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LA GALAXY POSTGAME QUOTES
LA GALAXY HEAD COACH AND SPORTING DIRECTOR GREG VANNEY
On nothing else mattering in a game like this, against your rival, one on one:
“I mean, it’s… any time you’re on the road against your rival and it’s a knockout type of game. They’ve got a great crowd. And it’s a hard place to play. They don’t lose many games here. So, you’ve got to come and execute and weather a couple storms here and there. And you’ve got to take your opportunities. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side. It doesn’t matter who is playing. Anything. These types of games are always difficult. And, tonight, I’m proud of our guys coming off of a plane on a six-day trip across the country. To turn it around in two days and put out a gritty performance tonight, that’s a lot to say for our group.” _
On the rivalry, and the importance and the emotion of the rivalry and if this is the result that finally pushes his side through and gets the team going again:
“It could be. I like to say that with each win… this could be the one. With these, it keeps us in this competition. We’re three games now away from a potential trophy. In addition to that, we play home this weekend. We just need to rest, to be honest. And recover guys. Try to pick up a second win. We’ve got to start a little bit of a winning streak and try to build off of it one at a time. But, we should be further ahead of where we are, and we’re not. We need to just grit it out with each one of these games. And, one at a time, play each one like they’re a final and keep going.”
On getting to the quarterfinals again, similar to last year’s advancement, but last year falling to San Diego Loyal at this stage in the tournament and what advancing would mean, being so close to winning a trophy, after having a staggering start in the MLS Regular Season:
_“I think so. One of the things is, it doesn’t matter what the trophy is. It’s always a legacy for a group. So, for us, each of these games were important for different reasons. Some of it’s just mentality. Some of it is to work on some things inside the game. Ultimately, it’s also to win a trophy. Cement some legacy with this group as we try to get back into the league and we start to push ourselves toward hopefully a playoff spot. And then, you never know when you get to the playoffs what you can accomplish. So, all of these games matter because there’s emotion on them and there’s something you’re playing for each time.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER RIQUI PUIG
[Translated from Spanish]
On the night and being closer to winning a trophy after tonight’s win:
“It’s a trophy nonetheless, it depends how you want to face it, they faced it one way and we played it like another final. And we won tonight. I think we deserve it and I am very happy to win my first El Tráfico derby.”
On his goal and on other teammates talking about the team’s moment and how it’s more or a mental aspect than physical:
“I am very happy for the goal. I want to thank my team because I think we have been working really hard the last couple of weeks. It’s true we are a little affected on the mental aspect, especially in games where we get scored on first and then it’s really hard for us to react. But we are moving forward and we are more united than ever.”On his celebration and it being similar to Lionel Messi’s celebrations at FC Barcelona during derby matches:
“The truth is that it just happened during the game. It is a fanbase that puts a lot of pressure and sometimes can be disrespectful, but it is what it is. It just happened, I am very happy, and it’s proof the LA Galaxy can own this city and we went for it.”
On playing against LAFC and finding more spaces on the field tonight and being able to do what he knows how to do best:
“I think that at home this season we also had a great game against them, and I think we played a great game. We were unlucky and they took advantage of two mistakes, but I think we did a great first half and last year in the Playoffs when we played the Western Conference Semifinal here, we lost by a small margin. Today we played very well, I think we didn’t have a great 20 minutes of the game, but we have to continue playing with the same intensity and searching for more.”
On taking this game seriously:
“Like I said, it’s a cup, and like the league, it’s another tournament for us to win. Maybe they didn’t take it as serious and they rested players but we took it as it is, as El Tráfico, a rivalry matchup that I think is very important and we showed up and we were the superior team tonight.”
LA GALAXY MIDFIELDER TYLER BOYD
On what he saw on the play leading into his goal, his second touch on the ball after being subbed on and his thoughts:
“Just always to be ready. They started me on the bench today, but I knew that I could come on and make an impact and help the team. And I told them I’d be ready when I did come on. And, it felt good to score again against this team.” _
On being a few wins away from a trophy, and what that means to the team to be in this position, getting tonight’s win and going for it:
“It’s one of our goals. Three more wins and we lift a trophy. That’s only three games away. Now we’re focusing on the weekend.”
On the team putting in a full 90 minutes, with a shut out:
_“Yeah, and some away goals, too. Two positives. Two away goals and a clean sheet. We fought hard and hopefully this will give us good momentum going into the weekend.”
On the attack at times being stagnant, and how important tonight’s performance was to establish attacking momentum and capitalize with goals:
“It felt good. I think it was half a chance and a goal. So, it does feel good. Hopefully more to come from all of us. Hopefully now the floodgates open and we start banging them in.” LA GALAXY GOALKEEPER JONATHAN KLINSMANN
On the win tonight, the clean sheet and his performance tonight:
“Obviously a win is a win, and there’s no better flex than to get a win. Today it wasn’t perfect, but I think we covered each other’s mistakes and I think that is a huge plus that we can take from this game and then go into the next one at home.”_
On starting tonight’s game, making some key saves and how he feels personally:
“I feel good. A shutout is always welcome, and that’s what we always fight for the backline and myself. Only positives, really, and we can look at the tape and clean up what we can and then go into the next one.”
On what the team needs to build off on this result:
_“Almost like I said before, it’s kind of covering our mistakes. We weren’t perfect today, you know. We had a lot of errant passes and things like that, but they didn’t score. We got behind the ball, we covered someone else’s mistake, and say, ‘hey I got you, it’s all good, next one’ and we fight through. I think that’s the biggest positive that I’m taking from the game today because I think we were missing that thus far this season. So, I think that’s the one thing. I will take.”
