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US Open Cup: LA Galaxy 5, Minnesota Thunder 2 [Fri Sep 16th, 2005]
Carson, California (AP) -- Herculez Gomez scored twice, and Landon Donovan had a goal and an assist to lead Los Angeles Galaxy to a 5-2 rout of the Minnesota Thunder in the semifinals of the US Open Cup tournament.
The Galaxy will play host to FC Dallas for the championship on September 28, when Los Angeles have a chance to win their first US Open Cup since 2001. FC Dallas advanced with a 1-0 victory earlier on, over the Chicago Fire.
Minnesota had a chance to take an early lead, but Melvin Tarley chipped his penalty kick over the goal in the fourth minute.
Donovan broke the deadlock in the 29th minute by converting Cobi Jones' crossing pass from the left side of the penalty area into an 11-yard shot inside the right post.
In the 44th minute, Gomez took Donovan's pass and chipped a 19-yard shot over onrushing Thunder goalkeeper Joe Warren to make it 2-0.
John Menyongar put the Thunder on the board in the 54th with a 15-yard shot, but the Galaxy came back with three goals in five minutes to secure the victory.
Tyrone Marshall beat three defenders to score in the 77th minute. Gomez added his second goal in the 81st and Joseph Ngwenya scored on a 5-yard header in the 82nd.
Chad Dombrowski ended the scoring in the 85th minute with an 8-yard header.
The Thunder, who play in the United Soccer League's Division I, had beaten three Major League Soccer teams in their quest to become the first non-MLS team to win the Cup since the A-League's Rochester Raging Rhinos in 1999.
The US Open Cup competition, which started in 1914, is an invitational tournament for amateur and professional clubs to compete for the national championship.
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