FC Arizona Exits U.S. Open Cup after Loss to LAFC2

By Aaron Heisen/NPSL.com

FC Arizona lost 7-1 to LAFC2 on Wednesday night at Titan Stadium, ending its run in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup.  Despite the defeat, head coach Alejandro Aguilar expressed satisfaction for how his team earned its spot in the tournament, and also put forth a respectable effort.

“I’m so proud about my boys, about the club,” Aguilar said. “We have been working hard for this game for the last couple of years.  I’m a firm believer that we have a very talented group.”

For some of FC Arizona’s players, this was their first match in the Open Cup as the club hadn’t made an appearance in seven years.  That goes for midfielder Gabriel Waters, who scored the lone goal on Wednesday night, knocking a shot past LAFC2 goalkeeper Abaraham Romero in the 58th minute, off an assist from fellow midfielder Marco Alfonso.

Waters’ goal made the score 5-1 and came well after the match was in hand, but coach Aguilar felt there was a chance early on for FC Arizona to put LAFC2 on the ropes. 

After LAFC2 struck in the second minute to go up 1-0, FC Arizona countered with an attack of its own.  Jesse Maldonado and Justin Provenzano connected on a give-and-go, leading to a one-on-one with Maldonado and Romero.  Maldonado, though, rushed the opportunity as his shot flew wide of the left goal-post. 

“As a player, if I had that chance, and I missed it, I’m not going to sleep,” Aguilar said. “As a coach, it’s gonna be the same.”

Aguilar felt that if Maldonado had finished that opportunity it would have scared LAFC2 into desperation and given FC Arizona a chance to stick with them.  Instead, they went down 2-0 just before halftime and the margin ballooned from there. 

In fact, it was the importance of a finishing touch that Aguilar thought his team could take from this game and improve upon the most.  They created a number of quality chances and had five shots on goal, but converted just one. 

Alfonso had a free kick from just outside of the box in the 28th minute that Romero pushed over the crossbar.  In the 55th minute, Maldonado stole the ball in LAFC2’s half and passed it off to Bryan Acevez, but he couldn’t capitalize on the turnover.  Maldonado had another run into the box 15 minutes later, but unfortunately nothing came of it.

Those moments made LAFC2 sweat, which is a positive as FC Arizona is an amateur team and was able to put pressure on an experienced opponent, which just happens to be a professional side. 

“We’re playing a higher level team so, for us, it’s a good experience,” Waters said. “Being a part of FC Arizona — it’s my boyhood club — so to grow up and then come play in the U.S. Open Cup, it’s a great experience.” 

Waters’ goal was the product of balance and sacrifice because he plays a defensive-oriented role, and had to defend for long stretches on Wednesday night.  In recent practices, though, Aguilar had allowed Waters to push forward when he saw openings, and he directly applied that to the game.

While FC Arizona won’t advance in the U.S. Open Cup, Waters felt he and his teammates made the most of this moment and that they could learn from the faster-paced game. 

“I think this is a great tournament for all of us,” he said. “And, to play in it, I’m happy to do that.”

Photo Credit: LAFC