LAFC took care of business in their first-ever U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday, holding off USL side Fresno FC 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Diego Rossi and Latif Blessing at Banc of California Stadium.
Coach Bob Bradley handed recent signing Adama Diomande his first start in Black-and-Gold as the spearhead of a starting lineup blending starters and reserves, with Lee Nguyen and Eduard Atuesta influential as the hosts racked up nearly 70 percent of possession.
The visiting Foxes held their own for long stretches, however, before Rossi came off the bench to bundle a close-range finish over the Fresno goal line on the heels of an LAFC corner kick.
Just three minutes later Blessing slotted home a loose ball after Calum Mallace’s shot was blocked inside the FFC penalty box, padding the lead and stifling Fresno’s hopes of a late comeback.
Goals
Lineups
LAFC (4-3-3): #1 Tyler Miller; #27 Tristan Blackmon, #5 Dejan Jakovic, #25 Walker Zimmerman, #2 Jordan Harvey; #11 Aaron Kovar (63’ #28 Shaft Brewer), #20 Eduard Atuesta (77' #14 Mark-Anthony Kaye), #16 Calum Mallace; #24 Lee Nguyen, #99 Adama Diomande (45’ #9 Diego Rossi), #7 Latif Blessing
Unused subs: #13 Charlie Lyon, #3 Steven Beitashour, #44 João Moutinho, #33 Benny Feilhaber
Fresno FC (4-4-2): #30 Kyle Reynish; #2 Zachary Ellis-Hayden (60’ #4 Ramon Del Campo), #5 Michael Daly, #29 Cory Brown, #3 Bradley Kamdem Fewo; #15 Danny Barrera, #10 Juan Pablo Caffa; #8 Augustin Cazarez, #11 Jemal Johnson; #21 Christian Chaney (71’ #12 Jose Cuevas), #23 Renato Bustamante (61’ #9 Pedro Ribeiro)
Unused subs: #28 Sam Howard, #6 Rony Argueta, #19 Terran Campbell, #16 Matthew Baldisimo
