Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Seattle Sounders MLS

2010 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Sounders back in semifinals after Nate Jaqua’s brace vs. Galaxy

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The defending US Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders returned to the semifinals with a 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday night. In front of a sold-out crowd of 4,512 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., Nate Jaqua scored a pair of second half goals and Terry Boss kept a clean sheet to preserve the win.

Miguel Montano of the Seattle Sounders battles for the ball against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Montano assisted on both goals in Seattle's 2-0 win. Photo: Seattle Sounders

While the Sounders have officially said that the USL franchise’s history is separate from the MLS team, it’s worth noting that this is the fourth year in a row that a team with the nickname of “Sounders” has reached the final four. Only the Chicago Fire (2003-2006) of Major League Soccer have accomplished that feat, winning the tournament in 2006 and 2003 and falling in the championship game in 2004.

The first goal didn’t arrive until the 50th minute when Seattle’s Miguel Montano fired a shot that hit the crossbar, and Jaqua was at the right place at the right time as he headed the loose ball into the back of the net.

About 12 minutes later, Montano created a second by sending in a cross from the left wing, finding Jaqua whose diving header gave the home team a two-goal cushion.

Boss only had to make two saves as the Sounders defense held the Galaxy to only 10 shots for the entire match.

Seattle will return to the Starfire Complex for the semifinals on September 1 as they will host Chivas USA, who are making their first-ever appearance in the final four. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. While this will be the first meeting between Seattle and Chivas in the Open Cup as MLS franchises, the USL Sounders eliminated Chivas in 2007 and 2008.

MLSSoccer.com Matchcenter

Scoring Summary:
SEA – Nate Jaqua 2 (Unassisted) 50’
SEA – Nate Jaqua 3 (Miguel Montano 1) 62’

Misconduct Summary:
LA – Alex Cazumba (Yellow Card) 45’
LA – Bryan Jordan (Yellow Card) 70’
SEA – David Estrada (Yellow Card) 89’
LA – Alan Gordon (Yellow Card) 89’

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Josh Saunders; A.J. DeLaGarza, Leonardo (Sean Franklin 71’), Omar Gonzalez, Eddie Lewis; Chris Klein© (Dema Kovalenko 69’), Bryan Jordan, Jovan Kirovski (Juninho 72’), Alex Cazumba; Clint Mathis, Alan Gordon.

Subs Not Used: Donovan Ricketts, Todd Dunivant, Michael Stephens, Tristan Bowen.

Seattle Sounders FC: Terry Boss; Zach Scott, Jeff Parke, Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl; Sanna Nyassi, Nathan Sturgis, Mike Seamon (James Riley 78’), Miguel Montano (Leo Gonzalez 71’); Roger Levesque, Nate Jaqua© (David Estrada 86’).

Subs Not Used: Kasey Keller, Steve Zakuani, Pat Noonan, Fredy Monteo.

2010 US Open Cup Third Round: Sounders outlast Timbers in PKs to move on to quarterfinals

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It took 120-plus minutes and penalty kicks, but the Seattle Sounders remained on track to defend their U.S. Open Cup.

And it was only fitting that an old Portland Timbers nemesis from back in the USL days, Sounders defender Zach Scott, was the one to seal the deal in this the greatest of Northwest derbies that will only intensify when both clubs are in MLS next year and beyond.

15,422 fans showed up for Wednesday's third round match, falling just short of last year's record-setting total. Photo: David Jacobson | Portland Timbers

Scott, the Sounders’ fifth PK shooter, converted to give the Rave Green a 2-1 win (4-3 on penalties), propelling the Sounders into the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Galaxy in Seattle next week.  The match is set for July 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Starfire Sports Complex in nearby Tukwila.

Sounders FC, last year’s Open Cup champion in its inaugural season, got a stiff challenge from the host Timbers before 15,422 at PGE Park, a season-high attendance for a game in the Rose City. But Seattle held on late though the Timbers of USSF Division 2 were more the aggressors on offense.

The Timbers failed to avenge a home loss to the Sounders on July 1, 2009, also a U.S. Open Cup third-round game, and couldn’t take advantage of a one-man advantage during the overtime periods.

Seattle scored early to take a 1-0 lead, forward Nate Jaqua heading in a centering pass from Sanna Nyassi in the 13th minute. Jaqua was playing in only his second game of the season after a short substitute stint in Sounders FC’s loss at Philadelphia Sunday.

But the Timbers went on the attack, as forwards Ryan Pore and Bright Dike put pressure on the Sounders’ defense time after time.

Pore, a former trialist with Seattle during its inaugural season, set up Dike, a former first-round pick of the Columbus Crew in this year’s MLS Superdraft, for the equalizer in the 38th minute. Pore gathered in a failed clearance from Sounders defender Tyson Wahl and fed Dike, whose shot squirted under goalkeeper Kasey Keller’s arms and into the net.

Seattle opened with only two regular starters after playing in a match just three days earlier. They were Keller and defender James Riley. But Sounders coach Sigi Schmid showed a desire to win when he inserted fleet midfielder Steve Zakuani and scoring striker Fredy Montero into the match in the second half.

The game went into extra-time periods, and Sounders defender Taylor Graham was sent off with a second yellow card in the 101st minute when he fouled Dike just outside the box.

In the penalty-kick round, Keller saved a pair of shots, one from Pore, and Nate Sturgis, Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero converted their PKs for Seattle.

Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Thompson, D Danso, D Smith, D Joy, M Nimo (Lopez, 69), M McManus, M Marcelin (Keita, 109), M Suzuki (DeMartin 85), F Pore, F Dike

SEA: GK Keller, D Riley, D Scott, D Graham, D Wahl, M Nyassi, M Sturgis, M Seamon (Ianni, 102), M Montano (Zakuani, 69), F Levesque, F Jaqua (Montero, 65)

Scoring Summary:
SEA: Jaqua (Nyassi), 13
POR: Dike (Pore), 38

PK Shootout Summary:
POR: Pore – Save (0-0)
SEA: Sturgis – Goal (0-1)
POR: DeMartin – Goal (1-1)
SEA: Zakuani – Goal (1-2)
POR: Danso – Goal (2-2)
SEA: Montero – Goal (2-3)
POR: Smith – Save (2-3)
SEA: Ianni – Miss (2-3)
POR: Lopez – Goal (3-3)
SEA: Scott – Goal (3-4)

HIGHLIGHTS / POST-GAME

Josh Wicks of DC United receives five game US Open Cup ban

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Josh Wicks played well before being sent off in the 69th minute of the U.S. Open Cup Final
Josh Wicks played well before being sent off in the 69th minute of the U.S. Open Cup Final. Photo: DCUnited.com

A little over a month after he stomped on Fredy Montero of the Seattle Sounders in the US Open Cup Final, D.C. United goalkeeper Josh Wicks has received a five-match tournament suspension. Wicks was shown a red card for the attack on Montero which took place shortly after the Colombian scored the opening goal of the game in the 67th minute. Wicks will serve an automatic one-game suspension for the red card, and will be banned an additional four games.

This was reported by Steve Goff of the Washington Post:

Wicks exchanged words with referee Alex Prus and berated fourth official Andrew Chapin, who apparently witnessed the incident and reported it to Prus.

The six-member USSF panel ruled that Wicks “intentionally stomped on a player in the field of play, refused to leave the field of play in a timely fashion and used highly inflammatory language to insult the fourth official.”

Wicks has until the end of business Tuesday to appeal.

This is the second year in a row that a player has received a multiple game Open Cup ban. In 2008, Quauhtemoc Blanco received a two-year ban for a throwing a punch during a Quarterfinal match against DC United. The suspension was increased to two years because the Mexican International attempted to head butt a team official as he was escorted off the field. Wicks’ additional suspension was also due to actions that took place after he received the red card. The goalkeeper’s suspension only applies to the Open Cup proper and does not include any qualifying games, which are not part of the actual tournament.

Does the punishment fit the crime? Too harsh? Too light? Re-live the moment below and let us know what you think.

Kasey Keller named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament, Fredy Montero MVP of Final

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The Seattle Sounders became the first Major League Soccer expansion team since the 1998 Chicago Fire to win the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup when they defeated DC United 2-1 on September 2. There were many reasons for the Sounders’ run to their first trophy, but leading the way was the play of goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who has been named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament. Keller was in goal for all four of the Sounders’ narrow victories, each of them decided by a single goal.

Montero-Keller-2009-Final-split
Freddy Montero (left) scores the opening goal in the US Open Cup Final that helped Kasey Keller (right) lift the trophy. Photo: Seattle Sounders FC

The tournament began for Seattle in the Third Round with Keller helping his team beat their bitter rivals, the Portland Timbers 2-1. It was a big road win and a bit of a homecoming for Keller as he began his career playing for the Timbers back in 1989. The Sounders played their next two Cup games at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA and once again the former US National Team star came through again. He earned a 1-0 shutout over the Kansas City Wizards on July 7 and then made three saves in the club’s 2-1 extra time win over the Houston Dynamo in the Semifinals.  Keller capped off an impressive tournament with some big saves, six in all, in the club’s championship win at RFK Stadium.

There were a number of worthy candidates for the award, including teammates Sebastien Le Toux (1 goal, 2 assists — all game-winners), Roger Levesque (2 goals including the game-winner in the Final and the game-tying assist in the Semifinals), Montero (Goal in Final, Drew the PK in 1-0 Q-Final win vs. KC), DC United’s Boyzzz Khumalo (2 goals including late game-winner vs. Rochester in Semifinals) and Kenny Bundy of the Wilmington Hammerheads (2 game-winning goals).

Montero was named TheCup.us Player of the Round for the championship game. The Colombian was dangerous throughout his time in the match, but his performance highlighted by the opening goal in the 67th minute. Montero was also the unfortunate victim of a stomping by DC United goalkeeper Josh Wicks’ shortly after scoring the go-ahead goal. Wicks was sent off for the attack on Montero, giving Seattle a man advantage for the remainder of the Final.

The Player of the Round and Player of the Tournament awards are voted on by the staff of TheCup.us and select members of the North American Soccer Reporters, a group that consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information about the NASR can be found at www.soccerreporters.com. (Note: A new website for the organization is currently in the works)

The staff at TheCup.us would like to thank the great people at SoundersFC.com who took the time to interview the two award winners for us and produced the video you see above. Congratulations to the Sounders and best of luck in the 2010/11 CONCACAF Champions League.

Seattle Sounders: 2009 Open Cup Champions video bonanza

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seattle-sounders-2009-open-cup-champs
Photo: Seattle Sounders F.C.

With the Seattle Sounders winning the 2009 US Open Cup, there is a wealth of online video coverage being put out by the Sounders’ official website, SoundersFC.com. Below you can find video highlights of the Open Cup Final, a compilation of highlights of the club’s entire run through the tournament, and some looks behind the scenes as the team celebrates their first championship.

 

The road to the 2009 US Open Cup Final

2009 U.S. Open Cup Final Highlights – Seattle Sounders 2 DC United 1

Behind the scenes at the 2009 US Open Cup Final (pre and post-game)

Open Cup Champions: The day after

Seattle Sounders honored at Seattle Seahawks game

Seattle fans get to meet defender James Riley and see the Open Cup trophy
(not the Dewar Cup, obviously) up close

Kasey Keller named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament &
Fredy Montero was the MVP of the Final

Sounders headed to the CONCACAF Champions League as Open Cup champs

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CCL-horizontalThe Seattle Sounders captured the 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title, earning themselves $100,000 in prize money and a place in the 2010/2011 CONCACAF Champions League. This was officially announced by CONCACAF after rumors had spread that the number of club teams that would compete in the 2010/11 competition from the United States could be reduced from four to three, potentially leaving the Open Cup champion on the outside looking in. Those rumors appeared to be unfounded as the Sounders, who defeated DC United 2-1 in the Open Cup Final on September 2, are the first team to qualify for the 2010/11 tournament and unless they win MLS Cup or the Supporters’ Shield (which earn a spot in the group stage), they will begin in the qualifying phase in 2010.

For the full press release, visit the CONCACAF Champions League website.

“With their average attendance this year, the Sounders will be a great addition to the Champions League,” CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer said. “We can’t wait to have them.”

Seattle, competing in its first season in Major League Soccer, has led MLS with an average crowd of 30,587 playing at Qwest Field, more than 10,000 better than the next best team: Toronto FC (20,308).

The United States submits four teams into the CONCACAF Champions League. The MLS Cup champion and the Supporters’ Shield winner both automatically qualify for the group stage, while the US Open Cup champion and the MLS Cup runner-up begin in the Preliminary Round. This is third year in a row that CONCACAF has accepted the US Open Cup champion into the competition.

2009 US Open Cup Final: Seattle Sounders become 2nd MLS expansion team to win title

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The Sounders won their first US Open Cup title in their inaugural season in 2009. Photo: Seattle Sounders

The 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final can be regarded as one of the best in recent memory as 17,329 fans at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. witnessed the Seattle Sounders defeat DC United by a score of 2-1. End-to-end action was rampant throughout the game, with both goalkeepers earning their money, plenty of controversies developing, and unlikely heroes emerging late in the match.

sounders-celebrate
Photo: Seattle Sounders FC

The turning point in the match came when DC United goalkeeper Josh Wicks was sent off for stomping on Seattle’s Fredy Montero moments after the Colombian scored the opening goal in the 67th minute. Two members of last year’s USL-1 Sounders that reached the Open Cup Semifinals scored a second when Sebastien Le Toux set up Roger Levesque to put the visitors up 2-0. Clyde Simms pulled one back for United late, but the defense, led by goalkeeper Kasey Keller, held on, making Seattle only the third road team to win an Open Cup title since 1996.

The first half featured many chances from both sides. Sounder Freddie Ljungberg took a free kick just outside the box in the 4th minute, but the ball landed in the arms of United keeper Josh Wicks. In the 12th, Ben Olsen shot from distance, but Seattle keeper Kasey Keller dove to his right to make the save. Ljungberg earned another shot on a pass from Sebastien Le Toux in the 19th minute, but Wicks was on top of it, making a great save. DC tested Keller again in the 33rd as Ben Olsen ripped a long drive from 30 yards out, but the Sounders captain parried it away for an eventually unsuccessful corner kick.

To finish off the first half, Fredy Montero headed the ball on a service from Le Toux, only to watch as Wicks made another outstanding save to keep the game scoreless at the break.

The second half started strong as well. DC United earned a free kick after Leo Gonzalez took down Santino Quaranta from about 25 yards out, earning a yellow card. However, Gomez couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity, sending the shot well over the goal. In the 59th minute, James Riley had appeared to commit a handball foul in the box on a Ben Olsen cross from the left side. However, nothing was called by referee Alex Prus.

2009 US Open Cup Final
TheCup.us coverage
Sounders headed to the CONCACAF Champions League
Seattle Sounders: 2009 Open Cup video bonanza
Keller named Player of Tournament, Montero MVP of Final

US Open Cup Final All-Time Goalscorers
US Open Cup Finals: 1914-2009

The Sounders finally broke through in the 67th minute as Steve Zakuani sent a header over to Ljungberg inside the box. He took a shot from outside the six only to see Wicks make another save. However, a streaking Fredy Montero buried home the rebound to give Seattle the first goal of the match. Montero was stomped on while lying on the ground by Wicks in disgust, and after some discussion by the officials, Wicks was given a straight red card in the 69th minute, ending what was an outstanding game for him. It was the first straight red card in an Open Cup Final since New England’s Jay Heaps was tossed for elbowing in the 2001 title game against Los Angeles.

Photo: Seattle Sounders F.C.
Photo: Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle got another opportunity in the 82nd minute on a corner as a ball was set up inside the box, only for United backup keeper Milos Kocic to punch it away. Roger Levesque would try a follow-up, only to send it over the net. With DC getting more desperate, Quaranta launched a shot a couple minutes later from just outside the box, but Keller was there to handle it. On the ensuing counter, the ball found its way into the corner, where Sebastien Le Toux took it from DC defender Dejan Jakovic and made the “French Connection,” crossing to fellow longtime Sounder Roger Levesque, who touched it home to give the Sounders the 2-0 lead in the 86th minute.

Just three minutes later, a free kick by DC United ricocheted off Rodney Wallace inside the box and landed at the feet of Clyde Simms, who gave his team life by scoring the goal to cut the deficit in half. United would continue to press the rest of the match, culminating with a shot from Jaime Moreno off a Wallace corner, only to be punched away by Keller in the 95th minute.

The final whistle blew on the ensuing goal kick, giving the Sounders their first piece of silverware in their first MLS season. With the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup win, the Sounders become the first MLS expansion team to win the Open Cup since the Chicago Fire accomplished the feat as part of a double in 1998 (they also won MLS Cup that year). Seattle also becomes the first Washington-based club to win the tournament. The only other team to reach the championship game was the Mitre Eagles in 1987 but they lost in penalty kicks to the first Washington D.C. club to ever lift the trophy, Club Espana.

As added bonuses, Seattle not only gained $100,000 in prize money, but also earned a place in the 2010-2011 edition of the CONCACAF Champions League, where they will enter in the preliminary round.

2009 US OPEN CUP FINAL: HIGHLIGHTS

JOSH WICKS SENT OFF FOR STOMPING FREDY MONTERO

2009 Quarterfinal recap: Rochester Rhinos last USL team standing

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2009 US Open Cup Quarterfinals
(Home team listed on right)
July 7
Wilmington Hammerheads 1:2 Rochester Rhinos
Harrisburg City Islanders 1:2 DC United
Houston Dynamo 4:0 Charleston Battery
Kansas City Wizards 0:1 Seattle Sounders

Player of the Round: Geoff Cameron (HOU)
Notable upsets in Quarterfinal history
Things you should know about the Quarterfinals

The Rochester Rhinos may be the only USL team left in the tournament, but they have been here before. The Rhinos will make their third appearance in the Semifinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup after a 2-1 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division. For the Rhinos, it will be their first appearance in the final four since 1999, the year they won the Open Cup.

They will travel to Boyds, Md. on July 21 to face DC United, the club that beat them in the 1996 Open Cup Final. United got past a USL Second Division club of their own, knocking off the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1.

In the other Semifinal, the Houston Dynamo will make their way to the Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila, WA on July 21 where they will face the Seattle Sounders. The Dynamo exorcized some demons on Tuesday night, eliminating the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium, something they have been unable to do in the 2007 and 2008 tournaments. The difference in Seattle’s 1-0 win over Kansas City was an 89th minute penalty kick that Sebastien Le Toux converted for the game’s only goal.

2009 US Open Cup: Semifinal recap

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2009 US Open Cup Semifinals
(Home team listed on right)
July 21
Rochester Rhinos 1:2 DC United
 Houston Dynamo 1:2 (aet) Seattle Sounders FC

Player of the Round: Sebastien Le Toux (SEA)
Notable matches in Semifinal history
Things you should know about the Semifinals

The two home teams held serve in the 2009 Semifinals with DC United advancing to their fourth Open Cup Final, while the Seattle Sounders will attempt to become the first MLS expansion team to win the title since the Chicago Fire did it in 1998.

Jamie Moreno put United up 1-0 by adding to his Open Cup goalscoring total with a penalty kick in the 41st minute, his 12th all-time goal, tying him for the most in the Professional Era (1995-present). Rochester’s Tai Atieno tied it up in the 68th minute, but it was Boyzzz Khumalo who kept United’s hopes alive for a second straight tournament championship with a goal in the 82nd minute. DC will attempt to become the first team to repeat as champions since 1983 when the New York Pancyprian Freedoms won back-to-back titles. The trip to the Final is even more impressive for the defending champs, considering they had to win two qualifying games just to get into the tournament.

The Seattle Sounders advanced to the Final in dramatic fashion. Houston’s Ade Akinbiyi put the Dynamo up in the 32nd minute, but the home team wasn’t able to equalize until the 89th minute when Nate Jaqua sent the game into extra time. With all the momentum and the home crowd behind them at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash., Stephen King scored what would prove to be the game-winner in the 95th minute on an assist from Sebastien Le Toux and the club would hold on to the 2-1 lead throughout extra time, despite defender Jhon Hurtado being sent off in the 110th minute. The Sounders become the first Seattle-based team to reach the Open Cup Final since the Mitre Eagles did it in 1987.

DC United will host the championship game on September 2 at RFK Stadium in Washington DC.

2009 Semifinals: Sounders reach 1st Final with late equalizer, OT winner; beat Houston Dynamo 2-1 (video)

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The weather was perfect for soccer in Tukwila for the Seattle Sounders’ Semifinal US Open Cup match against MLS Western Conference rivals Houston Dynamo. The two teams had met this past week in league play with Seattle coming out on top 2-1 victors and in front of a sold-out crowd of Sounders faithful at the Starfire Sports Complex, they repeated the feat but needed extra time to do it.

It was Houston who struck first with an Ade Akinbiyi strike after 32 minutes of play. Houston looked strong early despite having few regulars and tried to make the most of their goal by eating up the clock. Play was rough with Houston unwilling to go down twice in one week while the Sounders tried to breach the Open Cup Semifinal barrier.

Nate Jaqua sported a bandaged head from a collision early in the game that continued to bleed however his pain would turn to pleasure when his 89th minute goal saved his team from elimination. Sebastien Le Toux played a ball into the box and Roger Levesque one-timed it to Jaqua who’s shot deflected off a defender and into the goal.

Seattle had battled furiously into the closing minutes and their effort was rewarded as they continued forcing chances into the overtime period. It was Stephen King that brought the Sounders their go ahead goal five minutes into the overtime to the relief of the fans. Steve Zakuani took his defender one-on-one on the left wing, played a ball on the ground into the box and Le Toux got the slightest of touches to the center of the box where King was there on the doorstep to bury it into the top part of the net. Despite losing All-Star defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado to a second yellow caution, the Sounders held on to defeat Houston and advance to the Open Cup Final to face defending champions DC United on September 2.

Despite having a rich and successful history as part of the USL First Division, the Seattle Sounders’ MLS expansion team is considered a completely brand new franchise, putting them in position to become the first expansion team since the Chicago Fire in 1998 to win the tournament in their inaugural season. The Sounders become the first Seattle-based team to reach the Open Cup Final since the Mitre Eagles did it in 1987.

HIGHLIGHTS: HOUSTON DYNAMO AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS

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