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Sacramento Falls Late Against LAFC in Open Cup

By CHRIS HOCKMAN - chris.hockman@uslsoccer.com, 06/21/18, 12:30AM EDT

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Republic FC led twice before late goal by Blessing sent MLS side into Quarterfinals


Photo courtesy Los Angeles FC

LOS ANGELES — Sacramento Republic FC twice held the lead against Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC in the Round of 16 of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, but in the 89th minute LAFC claimed a late lead that led to a 3-2 victory that ended Sacramento’s run in this year's tournament at Banc of California Stadium.

In front of a vocal home crowd, LAFC started the match well but Josh Cohen in the Sacramento goal was at his best. The experienced goalkeeper got off his line quickly to deny early rushes from the hosts, which gave his defense time to settle in the match.

LAFC's Lee Nguyen had the first clear chance of the match in the eighth minute as he found space just outside the penalty area that allowed him to fire off the crossbar before Republic FC's defense cleared.

After absorbing plenty of pressure for the first 24 minutes Republic FC was also denied by the woodwork when Cameron Iwasa’s shot across the face of goal could only find the post. The rebound was sent back in quickly and found Villyan Bijev, whose shot was parried by LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller back to Bijev, but the Republic FC forward sent his rebound chance into the side netting.

LAFC was denied again by Cohen on a free kick by Benny Feilhaber that saw the Republic FC goalkeeper shuffle across his line before diving up at full stretch to keep the shot to the upper-left corner out moments later, but then Republic FC took the lead in the 35th minute when a run from Jure Matjasic beat the LAFC defense and allowed him to shoot. Miller saved the initial shot, but the rebound looped to Elliott Hord, who made no mistake as he volleyed into an empty net.

Ten minutes later it looked like Sacramento’s lead would evaporate when Justin Schmidt conceded a penalty kick, but Cohen again came up big to deny Feilhaber, who hit his penalty kick softly, allowing Cohen to get behind it and not only make the save but hold the ball, keeping his side in front at the break.

Sacramento's defense held firm in the face of an onslaught in the opening stages of the second half, but that pressure eventually told in the 58th minute when Feilhaber made up for his earlier penalty miss. The U.S. National Team player sailed around the defenders and cut inside, placing his shot just out of the reach of Cohen.

But Republic FC's response was swift, coming just two minutes later when second-half substitute Jaime Villarreal made an instant impact as he played in Bijev, who had enough space outside the box to hit a powerful shot which left Miller with no chance.

That goal opened the game up even more, and LAFC’s Diego Rossi threatened on an impressive run into the penalty area before finding the woodwork with his shot for the second time on the night overall for the hosts. Rossi quickly got his radar working moments later, however, as he made the same run, this time taking a little off the shot putting it perfectly between Cohen and the post to level the score again.

Rossi’s diagonal runs continued to cause trouble for Sacramento's defense, and late on he found the woodwork again, but in the 89th minute, Rossi helped seal the win as the defense struggled to get hold of him, allowing the 20-year-old Uruguayan to set up Latif Blessing, who sent home a finish from close range for the winner.

Scoring
35’ – SAC – Elliott Hord
58’ – LAFC - Benny Feilhaber (Eduard Atuesta)
60’ – SAC – Villyan Bijev (Jaime Villarreal)
67’ – LAFC – Diego Rossi (Lee Nguyen)
89’ – LAFC – Latif Blessing (Diego Rossi)

Los Angeles FC: GK Tyler Miller; D Steven Beitashour, Joao Moutinho, Tristan Blackmon, Walker Zimmerman; M Eduard Atuesta, Aaron Kovar (Callum Mallace 70’), Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen, Diego Rossi; F Latif Blessing

Substitutes not used: Charlie Lyon, Laurent Ciman, Jordan Harvey, Dejan Jakovic, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Shaft Brewer Jr.

Sacramento Republic FC: GK Josh Cohen; D Shannon Gomez, Justin Schmidt, Carlos Rodriguez (Wilson Kneeshaw 35’), Mitchell Taintor; M Jeremy Hall, Elliott Hord, Adam Moffat (Jaime Villarreal 59’), Villyan Bijev; F Jure Matjasic, Cameron Iwasa

Substitutes not used: Rafael Diaz, Josh Turnley, Luis Espino Vazquez, Hayden Partain, Christian Eissele

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