Run In U.S. Open Cup Comes To An End In Third Round

ST. LOUIS, MO (June 29, 2010) – AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy of the MLS 2-0 on Tuesday night at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California in a third round game of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

St. Louis and LA traded punches in the games opening minutes. The Galaxy forced Alec Dufty to make a save from a corner kick, Dufty then sprang AC St. Louis down field on a quick counter attack which resulted in Gauchinho forcing a save from the Galaxy goalkeeper. St. Louis got back on the attack in the 8th minute when Luke Kreamalmeyer won a ball in midfield and played Mike Ambersley through. Ambersley’s left-footed shot went just wide of the Galaxy’s right post as St. Louis established their presence against the MLS side.

The Galaxy generated the best early chance in the 28th minute when Alan Gordon rose to meet a header that flashed just wide of the post. Jovan Kirovski tried a long range shot in the 39th minute that looked goal bound, but the St. Louis defense was on the spot again to block it. A Dillon Barna handball gave the Galaxy a late first-half free kick, but once again St. Louis defended and countered with an attack that ended in a Troy Cole shot from 25 yards that went wide as the first half closed with no score. The first half shutout gave St. Louis a streak of nine consecutive halves without allowing a goal.

AC St. Louis opened the second half with Jeff Cosgriff attempting a chipped shot that forced the Galaxy’s Saunders into a save, palming it over the bar. St. Louis dodged a major bullet just before the hour mark when a corner taken by St. Louis native Chris Klein was blocked right back to him. Klein’s second attempt found Clint Mathis whose header hit the base of the goalpost. Minutes later Alec Dufty saved again on a low shot from Tristan Bowen.

But the Galaxy found the shot they were looking for midway through the second half as Chris Klein converted a Tristan Bowen pass for a 1-0 lead. The St. Louis product beat Alec Dufty to the far post on a shot that may have taken a deflection on the way to the back of the net. LA added their second 10 minutes from time as substitute Junihno found the back of the net. St. Louis had cleared two consecutive shots off the line before allowing the goal that would kill off the game. Juninho’s shot took a deflection off defender Jack Traynor, giving LA a 2-0 lead despite a fine showing from the expansion St. Louis side.

AC St. Louis returns home next Saturday night for a July 3 match against the Carolina Railhawks. Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling 1-888-STL-GOAL, or by visiting www.ac-stlouis.com.

AC St. Louis at Los Angeles Galaxy – Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
June 29, 2010 – The Home Depot Center, Carson, California

SCORING SUMMARY:
LA 70th minute Klein (assisted by Bowen)
LA 80th minute Juninho

LINEUPS:
STL: Dufty; Traynor, Barna, Bloom, Velten; Cole, Cosgriff, Kreamalmeyer, Stisser, Gauchinho; Ambersley

LA: Saunders; Cazumba, Leonardo, DeLaGarza, Jordan; Kirovski, Lewis, Mathis, Klein: Bowen, Gordon

SUBSTITUTES:
STL 72nd minute Salvaggione for Stisser
LA 73rd minute Juninho for Bowen
STL 76th minute Kafedzic for Cole
LA 81st minute Birchall for Mathis
STL 85th minute Moore for Cosgriff

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LA 55th minute Yellowcard – Kirovski
STL 72nd minute Yellowcard – Salvaggione