Chivas USA crashes out of U.S. Open Cup & more
Seattle Sounders 3 Chivas USA 1
A valiant effort by Chivas USA to give more meaning to their season fell short Wednesday, with the Goats unable to parlay a 68th minute goal from substitute Jesus Padilla that brought them within a goal of Seattle into an equalizer.
They eventually bowed out of the U.S. Open Cup semifinal when former Galaxy striker Nate Jaqua scored his second of the game to seal the victory for the Sounders in second half stoppage time.
Coach Martin Vasquez reportedly called this the biggest game in franchise history, so by extension this must be the biggest loss in club history, too.
It was a result that maintained the status quo; it was the third Chivas USA loss in Seattle to the Sounders in the cup in four years.
An enjoyable game to watch though in what was one of resilient Chivas USA's most disciplined performances of the season, albeit falling short in the end to the defending U.S. Open Cup champions.
A great atmosphere in front of a capacity crowd with excellent play by play on the webcast, BTW.
Quotable: "I'm disappointed, because we really wanted to go to our first final," said Chivas USA Coach Martin Vasquez. "In a game like today, a semifinal of a knockout competition, you need to take your chances well, and I thought that was the difference."
Also Wednesday:
*The Cal State Northridge men lost its home opener 2-0 to San Diego.
*LMU rallied from a goal down with two goals in the final four minutes for a 2-1 victory over San Diego State in the season opener for both teams at Sullivan Field.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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