For the second time in three years, FC Dallas will return to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final after a 2-1 overtime win against the USL First Division’s Seattle Sounders. In front of over 10,000 fans at Qwest Field in Seattle, the second-biggest crowd in modern Sounders history, the two teams battled to a scoreless draw at the end of regulation. The best scoring chance of the evening came in the second half when Seattle defender Taylor Graham nodded a corner kick delivery toward goal, and had it rattle off the crossbar.
In extra time, Carlos Ruiz broke the deadlock with a goal less than two minutes int on an assist by Arturo Alvarez. Both teams continued to push for another goal, but failed to produce until the 119th minute when Dallas forward Abe Thompson was brought down in the penalty area by Zach Scott. After Seattle’s Noah Merl was shown a red card for something that happened away from the play, Thompson converted the penalty kick to give the visitors a two-goal cushion heading into the final minutes.
The Sounders were able to pull one back during stoppage time, on a goal by Leighton O’Brien, but the clock would eventually run out on them.
FC Dallas will host the New England Revolution in the Open Cup Final at Pizza Hut Park on October 3 at 8 p.m. EST.
Scoring Summary:
DAL – Carlos Ruiz (Arturo Alvarez) 91
DAL – Abe Thompson (penalty kick) 119
SEA – Leighton O’Brien (Andre Schmid) 120+
FC Dallas: Dario Sala, David Wagenfuhr, Alex Yi (Aaron Pitchkolan 56), Clarence Goodson (Adrian Serioux 46), Drew Moor, Denilson (Dax McCarty 94), Juan Toja, Pablo Ricchetti, Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Ruiz (Bobby Rhine 109), Abe Thompson.
Subs not used: Ray Burse (GK), Chris Gbandi, Anthony Wallace.
Seattle Sounders: Chris Eylander, Kevin Sakuda, Danny Jackson (Craig Tomlinson 106), Taylor Graham, Zach Scott, Kenji Treschuk (Greg Howed 100), Leighton O’Brien, Josh Gardner (Noah Merl 78), Hugo Alcaraz, Sebastian LeToux, Roger Levesque (Andre Schmid 100).
Subs not used: Ben Dragavon (GK), Jake Besagno, Santa Maria Rivera.
Disciplinary Summary:
DAL – Pablo Ricchetti (Caution) 88
DAL – Carlos Ruiz (Caution) 113
SEA – Noah Merl (Ejection)
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Assistant Referees: Will Niccolls, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Cory Dean
Attendance: 10,385