Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/494191
205 LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP Dating back to 1914, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest soccer cup competition in the United States and among the oldest in the world. Open to affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States, the annual U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination tournament based upon similar competitions played across the world concurrent with domestic league competition. The Galaxy have entered the competition every year since 1999, winning the Open Cup twice and reaching the final on two other occasions. In their first-ever foray to the Open Cup in 1999, the Galaxy won its inaugural game in the tournament, defeating the San Diego Flash 3-2 on a late Clint Mathis goal before seeing their Cup run ended by the Columbus Crew in the quarterfinals. The Galaxy would go one step further in the 2000 Open Cup, defeating Seattle, San Diego and San Jose before bowing out in the semifinals to Chicago. In 2001, the Galaxy would claim their first Open Cup title, doing so in dramatic fashion. After comfortable second and third round wins over the Nashville Metros and Seattle Sounders respectively, craziness ensued. A 1-1 draw after 120 minutes with San Jose saw the two sides' quarterfinal matchup go to penalties. There, the Galaxy outlasted the Earthquakes 10-9 as Kevin Hartman saved San Jose's 10th attempt after the two sides had converted 19 consecutive penalties, sending LA to the Semifinals for the second straight season and a rematch with the Chicago Fire. An Alexi Lalas extra time tally gave the Galaxy a 1-0 win over Chicago in the semifinals, booking LA a berth in their first-ever Open Cup Final. Just days after losing on a heartbreaking Golden Goal in the 2001 MLS Cup, it again looked as if a championship would elude the Galaxy. Facing New England in the Final, the Revolution's Wolde Harris gave his team a 1-0 first half advantage. That lead would remain intact until the 70th minute when Ezra Hendrickson equalized, eventually sending the game to extra time. The Galaxy's third straight extra time encounter would end in similar fashion to the first two, as Danny Califf headed home a Cobi Jones corner kick to give the Galaxy the Open Cup for the first time ever. One year later, wins over Minnesota, San Jose and Dallas put the defending Open Cup champions back in the Final where they would meet the Columbus Crew. The Open Cup Final was played just four days after LA had won its first MLS Cup Championship in New England, but there would not be a similar result this time as the Crew got a first half goal from Freddy Garcia and held on for a 1-0 win. A year later, the Galaxy made it back to the semifinals with wins over the Fresno Fuego and Seattle Sounders, but dreams of a berth in the Final were ended by a wild 3-2 loss to the eventual champion Chicago Fire at Cardinal Stadium. The Galaxy's appearance in 2004 was short-lived, bowing out in their first game of the tournament, a 1-0 Fourth Round loss to the Minnesota Thunder, for the first time ever. The pain of the Galaxy's early exit in 2004 carried over to 2005 and the club showed a determination to get back to the Open Cup Final for a third time. Steve Sampson's team was able to do just that and won their second Open Cup championship, defeating FC Dallas 1-0 in the Open Cup Final at The Home Depot Center. Galaxy forward Herculez Gomez was the hero in the Final, driving home a spectacular first half scissor kick goal to give his team a 1-0 lead that goalkeeper Kevin Hartman would make stand up, giving LA the first piece in the eventual "Double". On their way to their second Open Cup title, the Galaxy exacted some revenge for their 2004 elimination, knocking off the Minnesota Thunder, 5-2 in the semifinals after edging San Jose, 2-1 in the quarterfinals and opening the tournament with a 5-2 victory over inter-city rival Chivas USA in the Fourth Round. The Galaxy began their defense of the 2005 title by facing a USASA (adult amateur) team for the first time ever. Goals from Quavas Kirk and Alan Gordon saw the Galaxy end Roma FC's Cinderella run, winning 2-0 at The Home Depot Center to advance to the quarterfinals. There, the Galaxy continued its quest to become the first repeat winner of the tournament since 1982-83, with a 3-1 extra time win over Colorado. After falling behind early in the match, Quavas Kirk tied the game late in the first half. The score stayed 1-1 until extra time where Landon Donovan provided the game-winner in the 93rd minute before putting the game away with a second goal five minutes from time. LA advanced to the Open Cup Final for the fourth time in five years, beating the Houston Dynamo 3-1 in the Semifinals. Landon Donovan and Alan Gordon each had a goal and an assist in the match, giving the Galaxy a berth in the Open Cup Final for the fourth time in club history. However, the Galaxy were unable to repeat as champions as they fell 3-1 to the Chicago Fire at TOYOTA Park. The Galaxy were trying to match the Fire's record for Open Cup titles by an MLS team with three, but Nate Jaqua and Andy Herron scored within six minutes of one another early on en route to the victory. Alan Gordon pulled a goal back for the Galaxy early in the second half to make a game of it. However, any thoughts of an LA comeback were ended in the 88th minute when Thiago assured a win, and the Open Cup, for the home side with a late goal. As a result of not making the 2006 MLS Playoffs, the Galaxy had to win a pair of Play-In Games in 2007, defeating Columbus 1-0 on the road and edging New York 3-1 in extra time behind a sensational performance from goalkeeper Steve Cronin, to join seven other MLS clubs in the Third Round draw. There, the Galaxy were eliminated by USL Second Division side Richmond Kickers 1-0, marking just the second time in club history that the Galaxy had been knocked out of the Open Cup by a