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US Open Cup: FC Dallas & Los Angeles book places in finals [Fri Sep 16th, 2005]
FC Dallas advanced to their first US Open Cup championship since 1997, after defeating Chicago. Los Angeles, meantime, overpowered lower division Minnesota to set up an all-MLS final.
FC Dallas (MLS) 1, Chicago Fire (MLS) 0
The Chicago Fire out-shot ten-man FC Dallas 16 to 9, yet left the pick-up window of Pizza Hut Park with nothing but devastation. Irishman Ronnie O'Brien put home a rebound of his own shot in the 20th minute for the only goal, and the Texan club won for the first time ever in their new home, despite playing a man down over the final thirty-five minutes.
Carlos Ruiz actually doubled the hosts' advantage later in the first half, but the goal was called back for offside. John Thorrington and Lubos Reiter both came close to scoring for Chicago in either half. Thorrington was in alone on Scott Garlick, but the FCD goalkeeper was equal to the challenge.
Reiter then beat Garlick with a shot in the second half, but the ball struck the frame of the goal.
As if a berth in the championships was not enough, this match had an added feature: the Brimstone Cup. The winner of the season series between FC Dallas and Chicago claims the Brimstone Cup, which has heightened the rivalry between the clubs and their fans over the years.
The intensity of the contest spilled over into the referee's book. Centre official Baldomero Toledo handed out six cautions for reckless challenges. FCD's Simo Valakari was sent off after receiving his second yellow in the 55th minute.
Fire defender Gonzalo Segares also was sent off for a second bookable offense in the game's waning moments.
Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) 5, Minnesota Thunder (USL-1) 2
They came, they saw, they got whooped. Minnesota's Cinderella run through the Open Cup came to a screeching halt at the Home Depot Center. Spurred on by three previous victories over MLS sides, the Thunder's hopes for a fourth consecutive upset were extinguished over the final quarter-hour.
First half goals from Landon Donovan and Herculez Gomez gave LA a 2-0 half-time advantage. But Liberian Johnny Menyonger pulled a goal back for the visitors early in the second half, sending a glimmer of hope back to the Thunder faithful watching on closed-circuit television in Minnesota.
But the Galaxy's superior pedigree and home field eventually won out. In the span of eight minutes Los Angeles jumped out to a four-goal lead thanks to a goal from Tyrone Marshall, a second goal from Gomez, and a score from Joseph Ngwenya.
Tighe Dombrowski pulled on more goal back for Minnesota with five minutes left, but by that time the proverbial bus was fully heated.
Los Angeles will host the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final against FC Dallas on September 28.
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