US Open Cup Semifinals recap

Oh my, I finally got a US Open pick right. The only bigger surprise I have is FC Dallas's defense. Where did that come from? And what a performance by keeper Scott Garlick(pictured). When Chicago Fire's John Thorrington got him alone in the first half, I thought it was over, but Garlick took the challenge and beat him. The only goal of the night was Ronnie O'Brien's net finder in the 20th. It was a nice rebound shot.

But back to their defense. When Simo Valakari was sent off for FCD in the 55th, I thought, "now Dallas will fall apart." I mean FC has had a hard enough time playing with 11 people of late, so I can only imagine what would happen when they lose one. Well it turns out that they can be okay. Chicago out shot FC 16 to 9, but they could not get it between the posts. What an impressive victory for Dallas. Maybe Pizza Hut Park isn't haunted after all.

FCD 1 - Chicago 0

I thought LA would win but not this big. Minnesota is a good team but they were just not ready for the surging Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The Thunder did have an early chance when they got a penalty kick in the fourth minute, but Melvin Tarley (who was recently acquired by Real Salt Lake) sent it over the frame. Kind of explains the night right there. Landon Donovan got the scoring started in the 29th and Herculez Gomez got his first goal of the night in the 44th to double the lead. The Thunder came back in the second when John Menyonger put one in a few minutes after halftime. But then it all fell apart. In just five minutes, the score went from 2-1 to 5-1. Tyrone Marshall put one in the 77th; Gomez got his second of the night in the 81st; and Joseph Ngwenya pushed the dagger even further in just one minute later. Chad Dombrowski got one back for Minnesota in the 85th but it was too late to hope for anything amazing.

LA 5 - Minnesota 2

So the final has been set. On the 28th of September either FC Dallas or LA Galaxy will walk away with a nice piece of hardware.