Former D.C. United forward Ty Shipalane came off the bench to score the equalizer and set up Brian Shriver‘s 88th-minute winner and lift the Carolina RailHawks to a 2-1 victory Tuesday night over the Galaxy in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup.
Shriver, who scored four goals in the North American Soccer League club’s second-round win over Irvine’s PSA Elite last week, headed Shipalane cross at Galaxy goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who made the save as he fell backward. The ball bounced in front, then skidded slowly over the goal line and into the net.
The RailHawks, who are winless in the NASL, will be home for next Tuesday’s fourth round against the winner of Tuesday night’s Ventura County Fusion-Chivas USA clash.
The Galaxy exit America’s oldest and most prestigious knockout competition in their opener for the fourth time and the first since 2009. L.A. has lost four in a row — the last three after giving away the lead — and have dropped six of their last seven matches. Their winless streak in all competitions has reached eight games.
Pat Noonan, who wore the captain’s armband, gave L.A. a 38th-minute lead from Chad Barrett‘s feed after Hector Jimenez stole a pass from RailHawks defender Austen King.
Shipalane scored from a feed by former New England Revolution forward Zack Schilawski in the 75th minute as Carolina, playing before a record crowd of nearly 8,000 at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., took charge in the final 20 minutes.
The Galaxy, weary in their fourth game in 11 days, lost two players to injury. Jimenez departed just before halftime with a potentially serious knee injury, and left back Bryan Gaul leaving with about 20 minutes left after he was hit in the eye during an aerial battle in Carolina’s box.
Noonan could have forced overtime deep into stoppage, but he fired over the crossbar after a Rafael Garcia feed left him one-on-one with former FC Dallas/Columbus Crew goalkeeper Ray Burse.
Former Columbus Crew/Houston Dynamo forward Jason Garey fired wide right for Carolina after stripping center back David Junior Lopes and racing alone into L.A.’s box in the 85th minute.
Leonardo, back from a knee injury, made his initial first-team appearance in more than 13 months, playing the full 90 in central defense. Garcia, a rookie from Canoga Park and Cal State Northridge, made his first-team debut for the Galaxy. Top draft pick Tommy Meyer, who had appeared in just one of the past eight Galaxy games, got the start at right back, his first appearance away from central defense. L.A. played a reserve lineup, with seven players — including David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and three-fourths of the starting backline — either home in L.A. or on international duty.
U.S. OPEN CUPThird roundWakeMed Soccer Park (Cary, N.C.)Carolina RailHawks 2, Galaxy 1
LA — Pat Noonan (Chad Barrett) 38
C — Ty Shipalane (Zack Schilawski) 75
C –Brian Shriver (Ty Shipalane) 88
Carolina RailHawks: Ray Burse; Cory Elenio, Gale Agbossoumonde, Austen King, Kupono Low; Amir Lowery, Matt Zimmerman, Austin da Luz, Breiner Ortiz ((Ty Shipalane, 75); Brian Shriver, Zack Schilawski (Jason Garey, 82). Unused subs: Jamie Finch, Akira Fitzgerald, Christopher Nurse, Mike Palacio, Sam Stockley.
Galaxy: Bill Gaudette; Tommy Meyer, David Junior Lopes, Leonardo, Bryan Gaul (Rafael Garcia, 71); Hector Jimenez (Bryan Jordan, 44), Michael Stephens, Marcelo Sarvas, Kyle Nakazawa; Pat Noonan, Chad Barrett (Mike Magee, 65). Unsued subs: Edson Buddle, Brian Perk, Kenney Walker.
Yellow cards: Shipalane 72, Garcia 83.
Referee: Kevin Terry Jr. Att.: 7,939.
