LA Galaxy Escapes With Win Over Arizona United

 

LA Galaxy's Gyasi Zardes, Rob Friend and Juninho prepare to kick off against Arizona United on June 18.

Arizona United Soccer Club’s opportunity to extend it’s history-making run came to an end Wednesday evening after a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy in a game played at Peoria Sports Complex.

  Arizona United hosted LA in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a national tournament open to varying levels American soccer teams with the winner claiming the right to a national championship.

  LA came out fast and Arizona was on its heels for the first several minutes of the game, but United found their bearings and countered and attacked against the Galaxy and keeping possession a fair amount of time during the first half.

  Arizona’s persistent attacks paid off in the 36th minute of the game when forward Kadeem Dacres was able to strike a ball to the feet of Arizona captain and midfielder Matt Kassel who was able to deflect the ball past LA goalkeeper Jaime Penedo and into the net.

  “It was a decent buildup in the midfield,” Kassel said following the game. “(Danny) Antunez swung the ball out to Kadeem and I saw him pick his head up and made run to the middle of the goal. The ball got by and it was just and easy tap in for me”

  Arizona kept LA scoreless for the first half, but, as has been an issue this year the team came out a little slow in the second half.

  Early in the second half the Galaxy scored twice on goals by Gyasi Zardes. In each case, Zardes was able to drift into space between the Arizona defense and deflected headers into the net during the 51st and 53rd minutes.

  “That’s what a big-time striker does,” Arizona head coach Michael Dellorusso said following the game. “It makes you pay when you’re not on.”

  Dellorusso went on to say Arizona United “had a couple of mental lapses and they now it.”

  Nevertheless, consider the fact that Arizona United did not exist 100 days ago, Dellorusso was extremely happy with his team’s performance.

  Arizona United’s game against the LA Galaxy drew the largest crowd of the year to see the game with an announced attendance of 4,016.

  “I was extremely happy with the crowd-their support,” Dellorusso said. “They’re there to the last minute. I can ‘t express how I feel about the fans. They’re great. 

  “Hopefully we keep moving in the fright direction so they’ll have something to cheer for.”