Carlos Vela’s goal got his team off to a quick start Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah, and LAFC eased to a 3-0 victory over MLS foe Real Salt Lake in the U.S. Open Cup.
The round of 16 is scheduled for June19, with the pairings to be drawn Thursday. Competing MLS teams had byes through the first three rounds.
Vela took a pass from Eduard Atuesta down the right side and beat Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando with a shot inside the far post, adding a U.S. Open Cup goal to his MLS-best regular-season total of 16.