LOS ANGELES --Midfielder Timothy Tillman's first-half goal paved the way for LAFC to defeat New Mexico United 3-1 on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium in the quarterfinals of U.S. Open Cup.
Their Open Cup semifinal match is Aug. 27 at the Seattle Sounders and they are two victories from a berth in the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.The last time they got this far was 2018, when they lost to Houston Dynamo in the semifinals.
LAFC was one of eight MLS clubs to be in this year’s tournament after a restructuring by MLS. There are one three MLS teams remaining.
“There are small teams fighting for a trophy. There are big teams fighting for a trophy,” Tillman said. “It’s a good opportunity, a nice opportunity for them to show ‘we are also a good team even if we play in a lower division.’
"Or a chance for us to say, ‘okay, we just have to prove that we are a better team than them and have to show ourselves.’”
Tillman was first to score, on a rebound after his teammate Mateusz Bogusz fired a shot that was deflected by the New Mexico goalkeeper in the sixth minute.
Timothy Tillman opens the scoring just 6 minutes in 😮💨
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 11, 2024
📺 Free on @AppleTV: https://t.co/Uhiffhr1WJ pic.twitter.com/OIzkRhhjai
LAFC extended their lead in the first half on a goal by18-year-old David Martínez, who was in his first start after spending most of the season recovering from a back injury. He received a through ball from midfielder Mateusz Bogusz and scored on his own rebounded ball in the 37th minute, his second LAFC goal this season.
Try Once, Try Twice ✌️ @LAFC #USOC2024 | @OpenCup pic.twitter.com/A8x3bRrerG
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 11, 2024
New Mexico United scored in the 57th minute when Greg Hurst dribbled his way around LAFC’s defenses, evaded Eduard Atuesta and fired a shot that Hugo Lloris was helpless to stop.
Bogusz returned the two-goal cushion when he outmaneuver New Mexico’s defense from midfield, ran through to the box and blasted a scoring shot in the 77th minute. He has six goals and two assists in his last four matches across all competitions and has had at least one goal contribution in each of his last nine matches.
Bend it like Bogusz 💥
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 11, 2024
What a run and finish from Mati Bogusz 🇵🇱#LAFCvNMU 3-1 pic.twitter.com/EhF3TL7Udm
"The Cup is important in every single country," Tillman said. "It’s an opportunity to win a trophy in just a couple games.
"If you focus on the right things, in the right moments, I think there’s a chance of winning a trophy in just six or seven games," Tillman said. "They are just two matches away.
LAFC next host Eastern Conference powerhouse Columbus Crew at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. It's in their first meeting since the last season's MLS Cup, which the Crew won, 2-1.