California Victory News Release - www.californiavictorysoccer.com
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
ST PAUL, MN -- The California Victory will face Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids in the third round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, thanks to a dramatic -- and at times theatrical -- 1-0 extra-time win over Minnesota Tuesday night.
Both teams finished the match with just nine men, and the Victory had winning goal-scorer Ricardo Sanchez sent off for an inappropriate goal celebration.
The score was a reverse of Sunday's league result between the two United Soccer Leagues First Division clubs.
But Tuesday's win puts the Victory into the third round and a chance at top MLS team Colorado, who currently sit fourth in the Western Conference. The match will be played at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO, on July 10.
Minnesota looked to start Tuesday's game much like Sunday's -- with an early goal through Brian Farber -- but Victory 'keeper Eric Reed did well to gather the shot and spare his team another nightmare start.
The home-side had a basket full of opportunities to go ahead in the first half, but the Victory kept it simple and defended in numbers.
Farber looked most likely to score, with one shot hitting the post and another ricocheting off the crossbar.
California had first-half chances through Juan Epitié -- who returned to the fold having been on African Cup of Nations duty -- as well as Luis Aguilar and Sanchez, who somehow blasted over from mere yards.
But the drama really began to unfold in the second half. California's Cameron Dunn was ejected in the 50th minute for a second bookable offense, but the field was leveled in the 79th minute when Minnesota's Jeremiah Bass was also ejected following a second caution.
Though the Vics had the upper hand late in the second half, the match remained scoreless and went into extra time.
It was during the first period of extra-time that Sanchez struck his first goal for the Victory -- a punishing 20-yard free-kick that the Mexican midfielder had been threatening to bury all season.
But his celebration, a copy of Nigerian Finidi George's infamous "dog and fire hydrant" celebration, drew the ire of the Minnesota supporters -- and ultimately the referee -- who ejected Sanchez for his efforts.
Minnesota later had substitute Ansu Toure ejected with a straight red for tussling with Jose Retiz. In all, the game saw nine yellow cards and four red.
With both sides physically and emotionally drained deep into extra-time, Victory head coach Glenn Van Straatum had to bring on reserve goalkeeper Dominik Jakubek as an outfield player to ensure the Vics could hold on for the win.
California will be happy to return home after an eventful road trip that saw them pick up just two points in the league from three games. But Tuesday's win adds an exciting new dimension to their tough season, now that the opportunity to play giant-killer against an MLS team has become a reality.
"The Open Cup match is a big game for us for two reasons," head coach Van Straatum had said earlier in the week. "Firstly, we need to redeem ourselves following Sunday’s defeat, and secondly, it will give us an opportunity to play an MLS team. That’s something that is very important for our franchise."
The Victory returns to league action on Thursday, June 28, against the Portland Timbers at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at Kezar prior to kickoff or by visiting www.californiavictorysoccer.com.
