On the edge of endeavor and in the shadow of the newly-erected Space Shuttle Endeavour, it's Los Angeles FC and head coach Steve Cherundolo that are counting down to lift-off.
Fueled by early goals and an extraordinary dose of national speculation, Wednesday night's match at BMO Stadium gave a major lift to LAFC as they maintain their current trajectory as one of the top teams in North America. A sense of gravity was also created in the post-match interview room as Cherundolo fielded questions about the newly-vacant U.S. Men's National Team head coach position.
“I think it’s more to do with LAFC and everything that's going on here,” said Cherundolo, who flirted with the question while also deflecting it with force-field effectiveness. “Everyone at this club is working in the same direction. When that happens, and I say that about the team as well, when the group functions well, then the individuals shine.”
Timothy Tillman and David Martinez scored in the first half, and Mateusz Bogusz added a third (his ninth goal in nine games) as LAFC jettisoned New Mexico United from the tournament with a 3-1 victory in the Quarterfinal Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It was that rare kind of evening that touched local, national and international soccer in a way that once again placed the City of Angels in its own orbit.
The nearby California Science Center at Exposition Park on the USC campus, with the debut of the decommissioned 122-foot tall, 128-ton shuttle arriving shortly, stood by in a kind of affirmation. “The Open Cup is very important for us this year,” said Tillman, confirming what’s been obvious since LAFC’s tournament opener on the road in Las Vegas. “We’re trying to get to the Final. We are trying to win it.”
Tillman got LAFC, the 2022 MLS Cup Champions, on the scoreboard in the sixth minute. He cleaned up a rebound punched wide by New Mexico United goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis and tucking his shot under the crossbar for the opening goal.
“We had some issues breaking them down, to be honest,” Tillman added about New Mexico United’s impressive resistance. “It just took us a little more patience but I think we managed the game very well.”
Another rebound led to LAFC's second goal in the 37th minute, with Tambakis making the initial save only to be let down by his defenders, who allowed a second shot from 18-year-old David Martinez to trickle through the backline for a 2-0 lead.
“I think it was very important for us to go side-to-side instead of trying to play a quarterback pass,” said Tillman, who was involved in the buildup to the second goal and has been outstanding in LAFC’s Open Cup run this year.
For New Mexico United, a pre-match party at First Draft Taproom & Kitchen in the heart of downtown L.A. got the traveling supporters – two flights worth – in the mood. Spontaneous “Somos! Unidos!” chants broke out through the room and a spirited pep talk from team owner Peter Trevisani filled the traveling fans’ hearts.
“This is what it looks like when New Mexicans stand up for each other and demand to be counted!” Trevisani told the sold-out event. “I'm proud of how far we've come and so excited for where we're going next.”
There was a genuine hope among the New Mexico United faithful that their club's run would continue, and they received a brief boost in the 57th minute when Greg Hurst smashed one past LAFC's goalkeeper, former French international and World Cup winner Hugo Lloris, from the edge of the box.
“New Mexico is quite a complete squad,” said Cherundolo, a former USMNT playing legend who knows all the challenges and charms of the Division II USL Championship from his time coaching in the league. “The physicality is definitely there, and they have the discipline and the ability to threaten an opponent so that goal was no surprise.”
The next 20 minutes were a flurry before Bogusz lifted the home crowd with a decisive 40-yard dribble through the heart of the New Mexico United defense.
Stopping sharply to the left of the penalty arc, Bogusz shifted his body weight, put the ball back on to his right foot and sent a curler into the right side netting in the 77th minute to seal the win. It was LAFC's third consecutive victory over a USL Championship side in this tournament.
“I have some USL experience and all three teams we’ve faced [Las Vegas Lights FC, Loudoun United FC and New Mexico United] have their strengths,” LAFC’s current coach said. “If we beat Seattle Sounders in the Semifinals then maybe in the Final we'll play another USL team with Indy Eleven [who shocked MLS side Atlanta United in the other Semifinal].”
Cherundolo, who coached in the USL Championship with Las Vegas Lights FC before taking the LAFC job, took a sharp breath before finally addressing the U.S. Men's National Team speculation in full.
“I think it wouldn't be the right time to speak about other things [other than LAFC],” he began. “I'm the LAFC coach and I'm very proud to be LAFC's coach and we have something really good going here and we're excited to be in the Semifinals.
“I understand the question but I'm going to talk about LAFC,” he insisted about his side, who are two wins away from lifting American soccer’s oldest prize for the first time. “I am LAFC's coach right now and that is my job and what I do every single day.”
In the end, “Our objective is to advance, and we did that tonight so it's a job well done,” Cherundolo concluded. “Mission accomplished, I guess you could say.”
Dennis Pope writes about local sports for the SoCal Newspaper Group and serves in a communications role for both NISA Nation and the Southwest Premier League. Follow him at@DennisPope on X/Twitter.