The Colorado Rapids' attack has been off kilter in league play recently, but the Burgundy and Blue were on target Tuesday, defeating the California Victory (USL 1) 3-1 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Jose Cancela and Herculez Gomez each had a goal and an assist, and Omar Cummings also tallied as the Rapids won for the first time in nine games in all competitions. The Rapids move on to face the winner of the Chivas USA-Seattle Sounders match, which takes place on July 18; the Rapids will be the visitor.
The Rapids ran out a starting 11 that featured only a handful of regular starters. The expansion Victory, meanwhile, used a few former MLS players, including former Dallas Burn, Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA defender Ryan Suarez.
Gomez hit the woodwork in the fourth minute after Roberto Brown headed the ball to Cancela, who flicked it on to Gomez. Cancela proved troublesome again in the ninth minute, forcing a one-handed save out of Victory 'keeper Eric Reed on a 20-yard free kick.
Cancela stepped up to another free kick in the 22nd minute, and this time he converted, curling a right-footer into the net.
Gomez made it a two-goal lead for the home side in the 50th minute. The Las Vegas native headed home a Cancela cross, continuing his fine form in the Open Cup. He scored six goals in 2005 to lead the Los Angeles Galaxy to the title.
Juan Epitie pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 79th minute, firing a shot off the post, then off Rapids goalkeeper Zach Thornton and in, but Cummings made it academic a minute from full time. The Jamaican took a ball over the top from Gomez and fired quickly past Reed.
The Rapids move on the quarterfinals looking to advance to the semifinals for the first time since they finished as runners-up to the Rochester Rhinos in 1999.
Scoring Summary:
COL - Cancela 22
COL - Gomez (Cancela) 50
CAL - Epitie 79
COL - Cummings (Gomez) 89
Lineups:
Colorado Rapids - Zach Thornton, Kosuke Kimura, Ugo Ihemelu, Stephen Keel, Jordan Harvey, Kyle Beckerman (Nico Colaluca 71), Daniel Wasson, Jose Cancela (Jovan Kirovski 75), Nick LaBrocca (Nicolas Hernandez 87), Herculez Gomez, Roberto Brown (Omar Cummings 46)
Substitutes Not Used: Justin Hughes, Terry Cooke, Brandon Prideaux
California Victory - Eric Reed, Luis Aguilar, Chris Schwarze, Ryan Suarez, Jose Reitz, Omar Aguayo (Yuri Morales 46), Federico Bianchi, Mike Munoz (Hugo Casillas 59), Matt Fitzgerald (Chuck Kim 75), Juan Epitie, Josh Hansen (Aaron Chandler 64)
Substitutes Not Used: Dominik Jakubek, Luis Mira
Misconduct Summary:
COL - Beckerman (caution) 11
CAL - Schwarze (caution) 21
Referee: Ramon Hernandez
Referees Assts.: Matt Grove, Scott McCaslin
Fourth Official: Eric Bryan
All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial
