LA Galaxy vs PSA Elite U.S. Open Cup Recap

The U.S. Open Cup game on Wednesday was an exciting matchup between the LA Galaxy and PSA Elite. PSA Elite were this year’s furthest advancing amatuer team in the US. Open Cup. The Galaxy came out with a mix of youth and experience featuring the normal starters Robbie Keane, Brian Rowe, Baggio Husidic, and Gyasi Zardes.

Even though the LA Galaxy came out with a pretty strong team, it was PSA who was on the attack from the start and they were able to pull ahead after only 11 minutes with a goal from Michael Salazar. The goal came after a series of strong counter attacks forcing the Galaxy to play more defense than expected. Salazar was able to drive the ball down the field, execute a textbook good give and go, and score his one on one with LA Galaxy’s keeper.

The lead was short lived however with LA Galaxy coming back strong with Sebastian Lleget headed in the equalizer from the six yard box in the 15th minute. With the score even again, the Galaxy were able to start controlling the tempo of the game and quickly turned the tables on PSA Elite. The LA Galaxy were able to pull ahead with a 19th minute Zardes tap in off of a good ball from Robbie Keane. Not even 10 minutes later, Robbie Keane put up his team 3-1 against PSA Elite after good passing from the rest of the LA squad leading to an easy tap in from the Irish international.

The second half was more of the same story with the Galaxy pulling further ahead 8 minutes into the half with Robbie Keane scoring a header from a well taken free kick by substitute and California native Jose Villareal. Keane pulled off his hat trick in the 70th minute with another well taken header and the scoring rounded off in the 77th minute with Husidic putting the ball into the net for an emphatic 6-1 victory.

With the victory against PSA Elite, the Galaxy moves onto the round of 16 where they will meet the San Jose Earthquake in San Jose on July 1st.