US Open Cup, 3rd Round:
Los Angeles Galaxy  3 - 1  Seattle Sounders Select
Titan Stadium, Fullerton, CA

Goals:
58' SEA - Reeves (Kingsley)
60' LA - Waibel (Hendrickson)
63' LA - Lalas (Elliott)
81' LA - Bardales (Ching)

Los Angeles: Kevin Hartman; Alexi Lalas, Craig Waibel, Ezra Hendrickson (Danny Califf 70'); Simon Elliott, Peter Vagenas (Alex Bengard 83'), Greg Vanney, Isaias Bardales Jr, Adam Frye; Sasha Victorine (Mauricio Cienfuegos 45'), Brian Ching.

Seattle: Carlos Castellanos; Bryn Ritchie, Aaron Heinzen, Christian van Blommestein, Scott Burcar; Billy Sleeth, Ben Somoza, Sy Reeves (James Vert 80'), Zach Kingsley; Greg Foisie (Chris Farnsworth 66'), Joe Watson (Todd Stauber 49').

Match report by Ron Stickney:

The visiting Seattle Sounders Select (PDL) played well and earned a brief lead in the second half, but ended up losing 3-1 to the heavily favored Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS). Seattle's goal came from the run of play an hour in when Sy Reeves knocked one in. Los Angeles defenders Craig Waibel and Alexi Lalas scored from corner kicks within the next five minutes to put the hosts on top, both shots cleared from on or near the goal line and ruled goals by the assistant referee. Isaias Bardales broke away for LA's final goal.

The Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders clubs have developed some overlap this year. Sounders Select players Ben Somoza and Bryn Ritchie have been training with the Galaxy for the past two weeks. Galaxy rookie Brian Ching has been loaned to the A-League Sounders (the senior club to the Sounders Select) three times this season, once for a US Open Cup qualifier (apparently that doesn't cup-tie him). Galaxy defender Waibel played the previous two seasons for the A-League Sounders.

First Half

Los Angeles had the first chance in the 4th minute on a free kick from left of the penalty area, taken by Simon Elliott and headed 2 yards wide of the far post by Adam Frye. Another free kick from the left would soon be headed well over the bar by Frye.

Seattle had a great 7-minute stretch beginning in the 6th. Greg Foisie gained space on the left and crossed from the corner for Zach Kingsley, whose 15-yard shot was blocked by a defender. Foisie crossed again from the left for Ben Somoza, whose weak 15-yarder forced the first save by Kevin Hartman. Sweeper Bryn Ritchie sprung Foisie for a 15-yarder from the left, again shot too weakly. After Kingsley's headed cross was fumbled out by Hartman, Somoza's corner kick to the spot was headed at the lower far corner by Kingsley, and Hartman made a fine dive to parry the ball wide to a teammate. The Sounders Select were ahead in shots 5-2.

Los Angeles took the momentum in the 17th when Frye was fed for a 10-yarder from the right, sent into the outside of the net with goalkeeper Carlos Castellanos guarding the near post. Greg Vanney served square for the open Bardales' 17-yarder up the middle, but he shanked it well wide.

For Seattle, Joe Watson nearly sprung Foisie from the dividing line, but Alexi Lalas earned a catuion by tripping Foisie to prevent the breakaway.

Galaxy rookie Brian Ching missed from the top of the arc, and shots were even at 5-5.

Seattle had the best chance yet in the 36th minute when Billy Sleeth's long service from the Galaxy bench to the far post was won in the air by Foisie with Hartman charging. Foisie's pressured header went over Hartman but couldn't find the empty net. Ezra Hendrickson just beat Kingsley to the sitter at the corner of the goal area, and Kingsley was cautioned for taking Hendrickson down from slightly behind.

Sasha Victorine came right back with a 15-yarder up the middle, blasted 2 yards too high. Bardales' driven cross from the left in the 41st was headed sharply from the penalty spot by Victorine, but right at Castellanos' feet and the goalkeeper made the catch.

Los Angeles outshot Seattle 11-6 in the first half, but only the last Galaxy shot forced a save.

Halftime: Los Angeles 0 - 0 Seattle

Los Angeles continued their momentum early in the second half. Ching headed from the arc at the lower far corner, but too softly. A 25-yard free kick was driven by Vanney over the wall and diving at the lower near corner, but Ritchie had dropped back as the kick was taken and made a great block with his thigh to prevent a goal.

Seattle regained the initiative in the 57th when Kingsley fed Somoza for an open 20-yard shot, blasted right at Hartman's bread basket.

58' Reeves (Kingsley). Kingsley got the ball with space on the left, entered the penalty area, juked his marker and crossed from near the end line. Foisie and a defender bothered each other 3 yards from the near post and the ball went by them, deflected by the defender and Hartman, to Reeves, 2 yards away, and he beat Hartman with a shot inside the near post. 0-1 Seattle.

60' Waibel (Hendrickson). Seattle's lead was short lived. From Vanney's corner kick, Hendrickson headed the ball in front of goal and it was deflected down by a defender, but right to Waibel. Waibel's shot to the right appeared to be kicked clear from the line by the defender at the right post, but assistant referee Reyes raised his flag and ran up the touch line, signalling a goal. Seattle players protested to referee Kevin Stott, but in vain. 1-1.

63' Lalas (Elliott). Vanney's 20-yard blast from the left was pushed over the bar with one hand by Castellanos for a great save, setting up the corner kick that would produce the match winner. Elliott's corner was headed on goal by Lalas and again cleared from around the goal line, and again the referees judged that the ball had entirely crossed the line. It was an unlucky 5 minutes for the Sounders Select. 2-1 LA.

After 12 minutes with no good chances either way, Elliott blasted a 30-yarder up the middle and a yard high.

Seattle could have leveled the score in the 80th. Kingsley's diagonal ball was just in front of Scott Burcar's try at a flying header from 10 yards, and the sliding Hartman deflected the ball squarely to the side. Substitute Chris Farnsworth was all alone to run onto the loose ball 12 yards from goal on the right with Hartman still picking himself up, but Farnsworth missed badly with his shot and fell forward, face in the grass, holding his head in dismay.

81' Bardales (Ching). From Ching's long counterattack pass from his own half, Bardales beat his marker with the first touch and was in alone with only Castellanos to beat. Castellanos came out as Bardales dribbled into the penalty area, and Bardales put a low shot past the keeper when they met 15 yards out. 3-1 LA.

Seattle managed 2 more chances in the closing minutes. Kingsley's header from Somoza's corner kick was on goal, but the man at the far post kicked it out for another corner. Somoza from the 18-yard line on the right side missed the lower near corner by a yard.

Final: Los Angeles 3 - 1 Seattle

The young Sounders Select showed plenty of poise and skill, impressing the Los Angeles crowd of 2,450, but were unlucky this evening. The Galaxy advance to the 4th round (quarterfinals) of the US Open Cup to face the San Jose Earthquake.

Post-Match Quotes

Sounders Select Head Coach Teddy Mitalas:

"I thought we played a great game. I think they were concerned, because they brought (Mauricio) Cienfuegos in at the half. I knew we had a chance to win this game after we scored the first goal. But then the Galaxy got two questionable goals that might not have a crossed the goal line. We should also give the Galaxy credit for battling back tonight.

"Our guys played strong tonight. As a team we played a lot better than in the Dallas game. Our team's hearts were in it tonight. This was a disappointing loss. We had a great showing in terms of the guys getting exposure and experience from the tournament that will help them in their soccer development."

"It's disappointing when you think you can beat a team, have a chance to win, and not do so. It's hard when you go up 1-0 and not win. I cleared their first goal off the goal line. Then the Galaxy scored again quickly. After that, we still had some chances, but we missed a wide open shot, that could have put us right back in it. I thought uor whole team played hard and with a lot of heart."

Misconduct:
27' LA - Lalas cautioned for tripping Foisie at the halfway line to prevent a breakaway.
32' LA - Frye cautioned for tripping Sleeth.
36' SEA - Kingsley cautioned for fouling Hendrickson from behind.

Referee: Kevin Stott; Asst Refs: Jorge Reyes, Brian Elliott; 4th: Steve Elliott
Attendance: 2,450