LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman celebrates after scoring a goal past New Mexico United goalkeeper Alexandros Tabakis, back, during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Kei Kamara, right, chases the ball during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Maxime Chanot, right, vies for the ball with New Mexico United forward Greg Hurst during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kicks the ball up the field during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Sergi Palencia, left, defends against New Mexico United forward Jacobo Reyes during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Los Angeles FC defender Eddie Segura kicks the ball during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Maxime Chanot, right, recovers the ball in front of New Mexico United defender Zico Bailey, left, during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, front, moves the ball up the field during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward David Martínez (30) kicks the ball for a goal during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward David Martínez celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward David Martínez, right, recovers the ball while defended by New Mexico United defender Zico Bailey, left, and forward Jacobo Reyes during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Omar Campos moves the ball up the field during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Eddie Segura, top right, heads the ball during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC defender Omar Campos, center, moves the ball past New Mexico United midfielder Avionne Flanagan during the first half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC head coach Steve Chreundolo signals to his platers from the sideline during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Ilie Sánchez, back left, kicks the ball while defended by New Mexico United defender Zico Bailey during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz controls the ball during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz, not pictured, kicks the ball past New Mexico United goalkeeper Alexandros Tabakis, right, for a goal during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Denis Bouanga, left, moves the ball as New Mexico United forward Jacobo Reyes defends during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC forward Tomás Ángel, bottom left, dives for the ball against New Mexico United defender Jon-Talen Maples, right, during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz recovers the ball during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, top center, catches the ball during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Eduard Atuesta, right, dives for the ball in front of New Mexico United defender Zico Bailey during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman, left, fends off New Mexico United defender Zico Bailey during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. LAFC won, 3-1. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LAFC midfielder Ryan Hollingshead heads the ball during the second half of their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against New Mexico United on Wednesday night at BMO Stadium. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)
LOS ANGELES — Advancing to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the second time in franchise history on Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Football Club had little trouble dispatching New Mexico United.
Goals by Timothy Tillman, David Martínez and Mateusz Bogusz propelled the Black & Gold to a 3-1 victory over the USL Championship side at BMO Stadium, extending LAFC’s club-record unbeaten streak to 13 games across all competitions.
Beating a third consecutive second-division opponent in the 109th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in America, LAFC is set to visit the Seattle Sounders during the last week of August with a berth in the title match on the line.
“I think we jumped just as high as we needed to tonight,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “We just cleared the bar, which is OK, but we got out of the game with no injuries.”
LAFC last made it this far during the club’s inaugural season of 2018.
The hosts moved ahead of New Mexico in the sixth minute when Tillman scored for the first time since LAFC stopped Loudoun United FC in its previous Open Cup appearance back in May.
Playing in front of an announced crowd of 7,846, roughly a third of the venue’s capacity, Tillman pounced with a first-time shot in front of roughly 500 traveling New Mexico supporters known as the “Curse,” who were clad in yellow and stood for the duration of the match.
Half an hour later, Martínez delivered a two-goal advantage for LAFC with what proved to be the game-winner.
Bogusz was in the middle of the action once again, feeding the 18-year-old Venezuelan a through ball into the box that bypassed several defenders.
Slated to earn his first MLS start in Sunday’s postponed match in Houston due to Hurricane Beryl, Martínez immediately turned and drilled a hard first-time shot with his left foot before converting the rebound off New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis with his right inside the far post.
“I’m very happy to be back and be able to score tonight,” Martínez said.
The story of the match remained unchanged until New Mexico’s hopes were lifted around 1-hour mark with one of its few chances in the match.
Greg Hurst, the leading scorer for the first-place team in the USL Championship’s Western Conference, made a move outside the box that gave him space to beat Lloris with a dipping shot to the far post.
Doubling New Mexico in shots (20/10) and shots on goal (8/4), however, LAFC tacked on an insurance goal in the 77th minute when Bogusz made a determined run from the midfield line.
The Polish attacker darted past a handful of New Mexico players, drove across the box and cut back for a clean strike into the side netting his career-high 13th goal of the year.
After taking over the position in 2022 from former U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley, Cherundolo quickly established his bona fides in MLS.
By winning both the club’s first MLS Cup and second Supporters’ Shield in his debut season, Cherundolo became the only head coach to accomplish that feat in his inaugural season in the league, leading his name to be bandied about as a potential candidate for the national team job.
“I think it wouldn’t be the right time to speak about other things,” Cherundolo said after the match. “I’m an LAFC coach and I’m very proud to be LAFC’s coach. We have something really good going here and we’re excited to be in the semifinals.”
Last year Cherundolo established the best MLS regular-season record through 50 games, and later secured his team’s second straight trip to the MLS Cup title match. Another strong performance this season – LAFC leads the Western Conference and sits third in the Supporters’ Shield race – has only enhanced the perception that the 45-year-old American could be next in line to lead the national team.
Inducted into the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021, Cherundolo is one of 11 players to be named to three U.S. World Cup rosters.
“I am LAFC’s head coach right now,” reiterated Cherundolo, who described national team interest in him, such that it exists, as a byproduct of his success in Los Angeles. “That is my job, what I do every single day. Tomorrow morning, training is at 11:15 and I will be there for that.”
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