LOS ANGELES — Advancing to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the second time in franchise history on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Football Club had little trouble dispatching New Mexico United.
Goals by Timothy Tillman, David Martínez and Mateusz Bogusz propelled the Black & Gold to a 3-1 victory over the USL Championship side at BMO Stadium, extending LAFC’s club-record unbeaten streak to 13 games across all competitions.
Beating a third consecutive second-division opponent in the 109th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in America, LAFC is set to visit the Seattle Sounders during the last week of August with a berth in the title match on the line.
“I think we jumped just as high as we needed to tonight,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “We just cleared the bar, which is OK, but we got out of the game with no injuries.”
LAFC last made it this far during the club’s inaugural season of 2018.
The hosts moved ahead of New Mexico in the sixth minute when Tillman scored for the first time since LAFC stopped Loudoun United FC in its previous Open Cup appearance back in May.
Playing in front of an announced crowd of 7,846, roughly a third of the venue’s capacity, Tillman pounced with a first-time shot in front of roughly 500 traveling New Mexico supporters known as the “Curse,” who were clad in yellow and stood for the duration of the match.
Half an hour later, Martínez delivered a two-goal advantage for LAFC with what proved to be the game-winner.
Bogusz was in the middle of the action once again, feeding the 18-year-old Venezuelan a through ball into the box that bypassed several defenders.
Slated to earn his first MLS start in Sunday’s postponed match in Houston due to Hurricane Beryl, Martínez immediately turned and drilled a hard first-time shot with his left foot before converting the rebound off New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis with his right inside the far post.
“I’m very happy to be back and be able to score…
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