Coming into this game, the average Sounders fan never gave thought that San Diego would score four goals, the game would go into overtime and end with a last minute penalty that club legend Fredy Montero would bury to move Seattle onto the next round of the US Open Cup. Who knew he was 120 minutes fit? That’s what happened on a nice spring evening in Tukwila, Wash., the site of many intense games and Sounders’ victories.
“… this game was a great game,” said Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer. “I’ve seen a lot of games on this field and it was a pretty freaking great game… Reed played well, Sota was good, Obed was good, Cody Baker played Sunday in Houston and had to fly all day, so his recovery I mean that kid put it in… we got some talented kids between the two franchises.”
One for the history books. #SEAvSD | @opencup pic.twitter.com/DHY9wjDAMU
— San Diego Loyal (@SanDiegoLoyal) April 28, 2023
Late substitute and senior team debutant Travian Sousa found himself with the ball in the box in the last minute of extra time with his feet tangled by a San Diego defender. When the ref whistled for a penalty the crowd erupted and a few minutes later when club Montero stepped up, it was dead silent. Would this be a repeat of last year when Seattle and San Jose went 11 penalties each before Leo Chu skied his effort and gave Seattle their first loss at Star Fire? The keeper guessed the right way but it slid under him and sent Seattle onto the next round.
Montero also had the first goal of the game which was a scrappy effort after some confusion in the box from San Diego. About 10 minutes later, Leo Chu found himself some freedom down the left and put in a cross that the keeper just tipped to the feet of Ethan Dobbelaere who tapped in his first goal as a sounder to put them up 2-0.
A couple players were using this game to show not just the coaching staff but the supporters that they were deserving of more playing time. Reed Baker-Whiting, Cody Baker and AB Cisssoko put in stellar shifts in defense and the Sounders went into halftime up with a clean sheet. On the offensive side, Chu was Seattle’s most dangerous threat, continuously finding space and freedom on the left side.
He was subbed off at half for Paul Rothrock who also made his first team debut. Rothrock was able to get his first goal just a few minutes after Joe Corona had converted a dubious penalty because of an Arreaga handball. He had a night to forget with some confusing passing and poor positioning. It was 3-1 in the 55th minute.
Steven Cleveland was making his first appearance of the season in goal. After failing to save the penalty kick he also didn’t get close to a Joe Corona free kick in the 73rd and in the last minute of regulation got surprised by an absolute laser from San Diego defender Kyle Adams that ripped through the top right corner to send the game into extra time.
Youth and age played a big part of the second half of extra time as Reed Baker-Whiting, not to be outdone by San Diego’s goal from a defender, took a few dribbles to his left to find room to unleash a left footed rocket that made it 4-3.
“Well, I kinda saw the space and kept going and saw where I wanted to hit and hit it there. I didn’t know what to do after that,” Reed said.
In the 23rd minute of extra time, San Diego was awarded a free kick. It looped off of substitute defender Jackson Kasanzu into the left corner. He was unmarked and was just able to freely jump and direct the free kick. Luckily the game was over for Seattle. Just a few minutes later the previously mentioned penalty was called and Montero iced the game.
For Montero, it was his 10th career US Open Cup goal, which breaks the club’s record as an MLS franchise, but is one shy of the all-time club record of 11 held by Sebastien Le Toux.
It was also a rare game in that it was just the fourth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that a team has given up four goals and still came away with a win.
