CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano provides the Three Things We Learned from the Galaxy’s 4-1 extra time win over La Máquina in the U.S. Open Cup fourth round.
RESOURCEFULNESS HELPS GALAXY OVERCOME AMATEUR SIDE
It wasn’t pretty, but at the end of the day, the LA Galaxy got the job done in their fourth round clash with amateur side La Máquina.
The Galaxy relied on a bit of quick thinking to get past a gutsy La Máquina squad that pushed the two-time U.S. Open Cup winners to the brink. Tied 1-1 after 90 minutes, the Galaxy pulled ahead in the 96th minute when Baggio Husidic took a quick free kick and played the ball to Dave Romney with La Máquina players standing idly out of position. With an empty net to aim at, Romney slotted his chance home to give the Galaxy their winner.
La Máquina understandably protested the goal, which was ultimately allowed by referee Ramon Hernandez. Despite all the confusion surrounding the free kick, the heads-up play of Husidic and Romney was ultimately the difference for the Galaxy.
THE MAGIC OR MADNESS OF THE U.S. OPEN CUP?
Make no doubt about it; Wednesday’s game was bonkers.
La Máquina pushed the Galaxy to the brink of elimination after Los Angeles went down to 10-men after Rafael Garcia was red carded for a two-footed challenge on Rolando Pinedo. The amateur side from Santa Ana equalized shortly thereafter on Edwin Borboa’s opportunistic goal in the 28th minute. The craziness did not subside in the following 90 minutes, as the 10-men Galaxy pushed hard against a determined visiting side. Tempers flared throughout as referee Ramon Hernandez showed seven cards and also ejected La Máquina head coach Alejandro Uribe in the second half. Throw in a pitch invader and an unlikely winner and this might be the craziest Galaxy game in years.
The Galaxy will find out their opponents for the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16 on June 16 and will hope for considerably less insanity next time around.
JACK McBEAN IMPRESSES IN HIS FIRST TEAM RETURN
Jack McBean didn’t score any goals, but the 21-year-old striker impressed in his return to the first team ion Wednesday.
Immediately after coming onto the pitch in the 61st minute, the USL’s leading goal scorer proved to be a threat nearly pulling the Galaxy ahead numerous times in the closing minutes of the second half. McBean came closest in the 83rd minute when his right-footed effort from 10 yards out sailed just wide of the La Máquina net. As the game continued into extra time, McBean remained a handful for La Máquina defenders, who struggled to deal with the striker’s physicality.
The match was McBean's first game for the Galaxy first team since Oct. 2013. McBean’s performance will potentially earn him more minutes in the Galaxy’s next Open Cup contest and could lead to him being considered for additional first team minutes in the future.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog atLAGalaxy.com/Insiderand contact him atLAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com
