SANDY, Utah – One of Real Salt Lake’s unlikeliest goal-scorers helped them best the LA Galaxy and send them to the semifinals of the US Open Cup
Aaron Maund scored an 87th-minute header to give RSL a 1-0 victory Tuesday night over the Galaxy and a semifinals matchup against the winner of next week’s quarterfinals meeting between the Houston Dynamo and Sporting Kansas City.
Maund, a fourth-year journeyman defender who has been a steady force of late for RSL while starting in seven of their last eight matches, had not scored a goal in 33 career league appearances. He picked a perfect time for his first professional goal.
It came off a perfectly placed Luke Mulholland cross played right to the penalty spot, where Maund redirected it past Galaxy goalkeeper Brian Rowe to finally break the deadlock.
Despite the scoreless stalemate for the majority of the match, both sides displayed attack-minded soccer, keeping the home crowd plenty entertained throughout the night. RSL was on the front foot for much of the first period, but it was the Galaxy with the best chance of the first 45 minutes.
In the 29th minute, LA forward Sebastian Lletget blasted a short-range shot that seemed destined for the back of the net. RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella was equal to the task, however, and drove the shot away at the near post.
Despite a number of decent chances, both sides entered the break tied. LA searched for a spark in the second half when Steven Gerrard entered the match. One particular sequence in the 54th minute gave the Liverpool legend a golden opportunity notch his first goal with his new club.
The action started in the Galaxy’s own penalty box when RSL forward Joao Plata had a wide open shot from 12 yards out. Rowe snatched it out of the air and found a streaking Gerrard with nobody near him. Attinella, however, came up with another massive save to keep it scoreless.
After Maund’s breakthrough, there were few nervy moments for RSL, but they were able to see the result out.
RSL return to league play and will play host the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night. The Galaxy face a quick turnaround before their next match, at home Friday night against the San Jose Earthquakes.
