DENVER – Fountain Valley’s Sam Bermingham retreated to the sideline with an open gash on his forehead in the opening minutes of the first half.

The blood never completely stopped, and neither did he.

The Danes senior set up goals for Ian Strine and Will Graney less than three minutes apart in the second half as sixth-seeded Fountain Valley rallied to beat No. 18 Coal Ridge 2-1 in the Class 3A state semifinals at All City Stadium.

Afterward, a large contingent of red-clad fans, who came to Denver by the busloads on Thursday, chanted “BERMINGHAM, BERMINGHAM” as he left the stadium to get stitches.

His name and his performance won’t soon be forgotten.

“Whenever we’ve needed a little spark, Sam has been that player for us,” Danes coach Byron Dacy said. “He’s out biggest creator on the field and he’s just been big time for us this year.”

He didn’t have to score to be that on Thursday.

Only three minutes after the Titans scored the first goal of the game, Bermingham – with a white bandage taped just above his right eye – powered between two defenders in the box and drew a penalty kick in the 57th minute. Strine buried a shot in the top left corner of the net.

“We were just looking for a way to tie it up,” Bermingham said. “I went into the striking position and I went by two defenders and one of them tripped me.”

A little later, he helped give the Danes the lead. His cross landed in the box at the feet of Graney, who hit a slow-rolling chance under the keeper’s grasp for the game-winner in the 60th minute.

“I wish I could say I got a lot on the shot but I didn’t,” Graney said. “It was a great ball by Sam. I just got a toe on it.”

Coal Ridge and Fountain Valley traded momentum before that.

First it was with the Danes as Bermingham barely missed on a series of opportunities in the 29th minute. A point-blank chance and a rebound try were denied by the keeper inside the box. And another, a few moments later, hooked just left of the net.

Then it was with the Titans as Sergio Valentin broke the scoreless bout with a breakaway goal under the reach of Phillip Huxel in the 54th minute.

Fountain Valley (15-2-2) will now face Kent Denver on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in its first state title appearance since 2007.

The Sun Devils are 18-0-1 this season. Their one tie was against the Danes.

“We proved all year that we can play with these top schools, the Kents the CAs,” Dacy said. “We’re going to be confident going in.”