Complete U.S. Open Cup Coverage

Sebastien Le Toux

New York Red Bulls edge Philadelphia Union 2-1 to move on in US Open Cup qualifying

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Philadelphia Union
1:2
New York Red Bulls
Red Bull Arena
(Harrison, NJ)
Recaps: NYR | PHI
Photos by Scott Marsh

NEXT ROUND
New York hosts New England at Red Bull Arena on May 12, 8 p.m.

On Saturday, April 24, the New York Red Bulls and the Philadelphia Union kicked off what many expect to be one of the best regional rivalries in Major League Soccer. Their league match, played at Red Bull Arena, finished with the Red Bulls winning 2-1. Three days later, they would meet again in a US Open Cup qualifying match at Red Bull Arena and New York would emerge victorious by the same score to move on to the next round.

Conor Chinn scored his first two professional goals for New York to lead the way, but the story of the match was the goal and, more importantly, the injury to Sebastien Le Toux. The Frenchman, who is one of the Professional Era’s leading goalscorers, made the score 2-1 in the 68th minute, but was stretchered off the field in the 82nd minute.

New York will host the New England Revolution on May 12 at Red Bull Arena in the next round of qualifying. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. The winner of that match will play the Colorado Rapids in a “Win & You’re In” match at a date to be determined.

Conor Chinn, who scored two goals for New York, battles for the ball with Philadelphia Union's Shea Salinas. Photo: Scott Marsh | ASN

Chinn, who was a third-round draft pick out of the University of San Francisco, opened the scoring in the 16th minute. It started when Brian Nielson crossed a ball from the left wing which was cleared back up the center of the pitch to Seth Stammler who fired a low driving shot toward goal. The ball was stopped by Union goalkeeper Chris Seitz, but he was unable to control the ball and it got behind him and Chinn tapped it home uncontested to give the home side a 1-0 lead.

He would add a second before the halftime break when Sinisa Ubiparipovic sent Luke Sassano free down the right wing, who crossed the ball to the front of the goal where Chinn crashed the net, and re-directed the ball into the net before colliding with Seitz.

Le Toux, Philadelphia’s leading scorer, would come on as a second half sub in an effort to tie the game. He would get the job half-done after Christian Arrieta controlled the ball and crossed to Le Toux who got a touch on the ball and sent it past Greg Sutton to make it 2-1.

14 minutes later, Le Toux would go down with an MCL strain, leaving Philadelphia shorthanded for the remainder of the match because they used their fourth and final substitution already.

Scoring Summary:
NY – Conor Chinn (Unassisted) 16th
NY – Conor Chinn (Luke Sassano) 41st
PHI – Sebastien Le Toux (Cristian Arrieta) 68th

Philadelphia Union — Chris Seitz; Shea Salinas, Michael Orozco, Danny Califf (C), Toni Stahl (Cristian Arrieta 45); Roger Torres (Alejandro Moreno 45), Andrew Jacobson, Amobi Okugo, Nick Zimmerman (Stefani Miglioranzi 45); Danny Mwanga, Jack McInerney (Sebastien Le Toux) 64

New York Red Bulls –- Greg Sutton; Luke Sassano, Carlos Mendes (Chris Albright 45), Andrew Boyens, Danleigh Borman; Siniso Ubiparipovic (Irving Garcia 83), Seth Stammler (C), Tony Tchani, Brian Nielsen (Austin da Luz 58); Juan Agudelo, Conor Chinn

2009 Semifinals: Sounders’ Le Toux lauded as Player of the Round

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Sebastien Le Toux of the Seattle Sounders dribbles against the Portland Timbers in the Third Round.Seattle Sounders FC forward Sebastien Le Toux is the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Semifinal round of the tournament.

Le Toux, who was the leading scorer in the US Open Cup in 2007 and 2008, was involved in both Sounders goals in their 2-1 extra-time victory over the Houston Dynamo on July 21 in Tukwila, Wash.

The Frenchman took the time to answer some questions from TheCup.us senior editor Josh Hakala via e-mail.

You assisted on both goals in Seattle’s 2-1 win over Houston in the semifinals. Can you describe those goals that you helped create?
On the first goal I received a pass from Steve Zakuani and I found Roger Levesque in the box, who passed in one touch to Nate Jaqua and he scored. On the second goal, I didn’t really touch the ball, rather I just made a fake on a cross from Steve Zakuani and Stephen King was just behind me and scored.

How much did the goal by Nate Jaqua help create momentum going into extra time?
It was two minutes before the end of the game. We were pushing very hard to equalize with all our fans behind us. So after we scored, we had the momentum and continued to attack. And we quickly scored the second goal in extra time.

A lot has changed from last year, except the name of the team. Can you describe how different it has been from last year to this year in terms of the team, the fans and the league?
It’s been more professional for the team because of our new facilities, new practices fields, new owners, new coaches, etc. … And we still have the same fans from the years before who have been absolutely amazing. Not to mention the great marketing of the team has attracted an even broader fan base.

How has your role changed from the USL-1 Sounders last year to the MLS Sounders this year?
This is my first year at the MLS level, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can from new coach Sigi Schmid, and my teamates like (midfielder Freddie) Ljungberg and (goalkeeper Kasey) Keller who have great experience.

You seem to thrive in this tournament. In just three years, you are already among the top goalscorers in the Professional Era, having led the tournament in goals the last two years. What is it about this competition that helps you to perform so well?
I don’t know. Maybe the Open Cup likes me! I for sure like playing in the Open Cup. I am just lucky to score lots of goals in this competition. And I hope it’s going to continue.

You were the first player signed by the Sounders MLS club. How did that feel, to be the first player signed by the new club? Was it a huge relief to be signed so early and to know that not only would you be guaranteed a club to play for, but that it would be in the same city?
I am very proud and honored to be the first player signed by the Sounders FC. This was the city I wanted to play in at the MLS level. I love Seattle and all the people here and I am very happy to play for this city.

This is your third year playing professionally in the United States. Players who come from other countries to play here often say that it takes time to adapt to a new league and a new country. How has your transition been and do you feel like you’re completely comfortable playing here in the US?
It takes time to adapt. My English is not perfect, so it takes time for my teamates to fully understand me and for me to understand them. Also playing on turf is different than in Europe, so that took some time to adapt. The time difference between Seattle and any city on the East Coast is tough. But after a fews trips, I’m comfortable with the travel schedule and day-to-day rhythm. Having quality people around me has helped.

What are your expectations for the Open Cup final against D.C. United and for the remainder of the MLS season?
Of course, it’s to win this competition. D.C. is a very good opponent, so we have to be ready for this game. And for the MLS season, I hope first that we qualify for the playoffs and second to do the best we can to go as far as possible; perhaps winning the Cup.

Thanks to Zac Kaplan of the Sounders media relations department for his assistance, and to the team for the use of the image of Le Toux above.

The Player of the Round is selected by the staff of USOpenCup.com and 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.

2009 Quarterfinals: Late penalty helps Sounders overcome Kansas City (again)

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Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, Wash.
Match Reports: Seattle | Kansas City | Seattle Times | Kansas City Star

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FT
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Sebastien Le Toux (PK) 89’
      
90’ Santiago Hirsig – SENT OFF

It took a penalty kick once again for the Seattle Sounders to eliminate the Kansas City Wizards in the Quarterfinals, but this year, instead of settling the game after extra time like in 2008, it was taken at the end of regulation. Sebastien Le Toux scored on an 89th minute spot kick to give the Sounders a 1-0 win, which booked them a spot in the Semifinals. It marks the third year in a row that a Sounders team has advanced to the final four, the last two years it was the USL First Division version of the Seattle-based club.

Both clubs came out with their heavy hitters for this matchup. Kansas City’s lineup included Kevin Hartman, Santiago Hirsig, and Josh Wolff, while Seattle countered with Kasey Keller, Steve Zakuani, and Fredy Montero. The Sounders came out the stronger side, creating many chances in the first half. However, nothing would come of it, and the teams would enter the break scoreless.

The teams would continue their battle with plenty of opportunities for both sides in the second half. As it had appeared that nothing would come to Seattle without some fresh legs, they brought in the familiar Sounder tandem that has been around since 2007: the French Connection. With Sebastien Le Toux coming on in the 70th minute, and Roger Levesque entering in the 78th, the Sounders had new life.

It all culminated in the 89th minute as Kevin Hartman took down Montero in the box, earning a penalty for Seattle. Le Toux stepped up to the spot to take the kick and delivered for the home team. The goal was his 11th career Open Cup goal, putting him in a tie for second place with DC United’s Jamie Moreno in the Professional Era’s goalscoring leaders. He only trails Rochester’s Johnny Menyongar, who has 12. Impressively enough, Le Toux has reached the 11-goal mark in less than three tournaments, while becoming the first Professional Era player to lead the tournament in scoring in two consecutive years (2007, 2008).

The Sounders will return to the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. for their Semifinal date with the Houston Dynamo on July 21.

2009 US Open Cup Round 3: Rivalry thrives across league lines; record crowd watches Sounders edge Timbers

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Nate Jaqua celebrates Roger Levesque's goal with Sebastien Le Toux
Nate Jaqua celebrates Roger Levesque’s goal with Sebastien Le Toux | Photo: Seattle Sounders F.C.

In the most anticipated US Open Cup non-Final game in years, the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers met at PGE Park in front of 16,382 fans, the largest non-doubleheader, non-final game in the Modern Era (1995-present) of Open Cup history; many of them were traveling from Seattle to watch their team play their longtime Cascadia rivals. Those traveling fans were treated to a 2-1 Sounders win in the Rose City, giving them a 2-1 edge all-time in the Open Cup.

The Sounders started right out of the gate only 48 seconds in as Roger Levesque, who could be considered the most hated player on the team by Timbers fans, put home a diving header from Sanna Nyassi to give Seattle the early lead. Later, in the 27th minute, Stephen King receives a pass from Nate Jaqua and makes the most of it, blasting it inside the far post to give the Sounders a 2-0 lead.

The Timbers, however, wouldn’t go down without a fight. Mere minutes before half, in the 43rd, Mandjou Keita finds a pass from David Hayes in the box and volleys it past Sounders keeper (and former Timber) Kasey Keller to pull Portland within one.

Portland had plenty of chances in the second half to try and equalize, but it wasn’t to be. Seattle one-ups its rival 2-1 at PGE Park to move on to the Quarterfinals, where they will take on the Kansas City Wizards next Tuesday at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: SEATTLE SOUNDERS VS. PORTLAND TIMBERS

2008 Third Round: Deja-vu all over again as Sounders oust Chivas USA

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Chivas USA will be one MLS club that will be happy to see the Sounders, at least this version, move to Major League Soccer.

For the second year in a row, the USL First Division’s Seattle Sounders ousted Chivas USA from the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-0 victory at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

It all started to go downhill for Chivas just before halftime. Seattle defender Taylor Graham nodded home the opening goal from a Josh Gardner corner kick, which was gained when Chivas goalkeeper Brad Guzan made a slide save on a shot from Kenji Treschuk.

With ten minutes remaining, Seattle sealed the win. Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander punted the ball downfield to Sebastien Le Toux, who then beat an onrushing Guzan to place the ball in the empty net. The goal was Le Toux’s tournament-leading fifth.

In 2007, the Sounders defeated Chivas USA in the Third Round, by a score of 3-1. Seattle will host the Kansas City Wizards next Tuesday at Qwest Field for a spot in the Semifinals.

2008 Second Round: Seattle Sounders dominate, end United’s Hollywood story

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Zach Scott scored off a corner kick in the 3rd minute to set the tone, and Sebastien Le Toux scored four straight goals as the Seattle Sounders routed amateur side Hollywood United 6-0 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

Hollywood United was the only one of the eight USASA teams to win in the First Round, seeing off the Portland Timbers 3-2, but they were never in this match.

After Scott’s early opener, Josh Gardner scored in the 15th minute and Le Toux scored his first two goals in a six-minute stretch as Seattle held a commanding 4-0 lead after just 28 minutes.

Le Toux scored his final two goals in consecutive minutes in the second half, and could’ve had another a few minutes later — with the goal open, he shot wide.

Still, the four-goal outburst moved Le Toux — the leading scorer in last year’s tournament as the Sounders advanced to the Semifinals — into a tie with Charleston’s Darrin Spicer atop this year’s US Open Cup goal-scoring chart.

Both goalkeepers made several fine saves, the Sounders’ Chris Eylander to preserve the clean sheet and Hollywood United’s Javier Barragan to keep Seattle from putting even more goals on the scoreboard.

The Sounders advance to play host to Chivas USA next Tuesday night at Starfire — Seattle beat the MLS team 3-1 in the Third Round last year. Hollywood United, meanwhile, receives $10,000 for advancing the farthest out of the amateur entries.

2007 Quarterfinals: Sounders hand Rapids worst-ever loss by MLS team

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The Seattle Sounders rolled past another Major League Soccer side Tuesday night, throttling the Colorado Rapids 5-0 at Qwest Field to return to the US Open Cup Semifinals for the first time since 1995.

Defenders Taylor Graham and Zach Scott scored on headers off set pieces in a two-minute span midway through the first half to set the tone for the Sounders, who earned a home match against FC Dallas in a Sept. 4 Semifinal.

The five-goal deficit is the worst defeat suffered by an MLS team in Open Cup history. The league’s worst loss to USL opponents prior to Tuesday night was three goals, which has happened four times since 1996. Of those four games, two of them involved the Rapids.

Josh Gardner and Sebastien Le Toux also found the back of the net for Seattle, both connecting after the Rapids were down to 10 men following defender Facundo Erpen’s second yellow card in the 49th minute. The goal for Le Toux was his fifth of the tournament, putting him alone atop this year’s scoring chart.

The Sounders had little trouble extending their overall unbeaten streak to 11 matches (10-0-1), posting their third convincing victory in four US Open Cup matches this year – Seattle has outscored its foes 14-3 in the competition, with a 2-1 win over USL First Division rival Portland in the Second Round the only close call.

Worst losses by MLS since 1996
2007 Quarterfinals: Seattle (USL-1) 5:0 Colorado
2005 Fourth Round: Minnesota (USL-1) 4:1 Colorado
2003 Fourth Round: Wilmington (USL-2) 4:1 Dallas
2001 Second Round: Charleston (USL-1) 4:1 Metrostars
2000 Second Round: Richmond (USL-1) 3:0 Colorado

Colorado, meanwhile, lost for the eighth time in its past 12 games overall (1-8-3).

The Rapids fell behind in the 23rd minute when the 6-foot-4 Graham was alone on the back post to knock a corner kick by Gardner past Colorado goalkeeper Zach Thornton for his first goal of the season.

Just 120 seconds later, Leighton O’Brien’s free kick from 30 yards out on the left side found Scott streaking in alone on the back post. Thornton had no chance on the wide-open header, as Scott’s second goal of the year quickly made it 2-0.

Thornton did well to save Roger Levesque’s shot in the 41st minute, but the ball bounced out and deflected off Rapids defender Ugo Ihemelu, who was rushing back to help, and into the net for an own goal and a 3-0 lead for the Sounders.

If the outcome wasn’t already decided, Erpen’s second booking in the the 49th ensured it. The Argentine was sent off after a harsh challenge on Levesque that saw his cleats planted into the back of the forward’s thigh, leaving Colorado a man down for the final 41 minutes.

Given more space with which to operate, Le Toux excelled.

The Frenchman picked up a poor back pass by Colorado’s Nico Hernandez and carried the ball forward before finding Gardner streaking down the left side. Gardner pounded a shot that Thornton got a hand on, but he couldn’t keep it from becoming Gardner’s second goal of the season and a 4-0 advantage in the 56th minute.

12 minutes later, Le Toux – the TheCup.us Player of the Round after scoring twice and setting up the other goal in a 3-1 win over Chivas USA in the third round – got one for himself. He dribbled around Ihemelu and beat Thornton for his 11th goal of the year to complete the rout.

Chris Eylander posted the shutout for the Sounders, including a top-notch stop on Herculez Gomez in first half stoppage time. That was one of two quality scoring chances for Colorado on the night, the other coming in the 20th minute when Jose Cancela’s cross was flicked on by Conor Casey and looked like it would bounce into the net before Seattle defender Danny Jackson cleared it off the line.

Scoring Summary:
SEA – Taylor Graham (Gardner) 23
SEA – Zach Scott (O’Brien) 25
SEA – Own Goal (Ihemelu) 43
SEA – Josh Gardner (Le Toux) 56
SEA – Sebastien Le Toux (unassisted) 68

Lineups:

Colorado Rapids – Zach Thornton, Brandon Prideaux, Ugo Ihemelu, Facundo Erpen, Colin Clark (Niko Hernandez 45), Jacob Peterson, Pablo Mastroeni (Jovan Kirovski 60), Jose Cancela (Dan Gargan 51), Mehdi Ballouchy, Conor Casey, Herculez Gomez (Daniel Osorno 64)
Substitutes Not Used: Bouna Coundoul, Terry Cooke, Nick LaBrocca

Seattle Sounders – Chris Eylander, Kevin Sakuda, Danny Jackson, Taylor Graham, Zach Scott, Kenji Treschuk (Nate Knox 79), Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Leighton O’Brien (Greg Howes 45), Josh Gardner, Sebastien Le Toux (Andre Schmid 71), Roger Levesque (Noah Merl 56)
Substitutes Not Used: Ben Dragavon, Adam West, Santa Maria Rivera

Misconduct Summary:
COL – Gomez (Caution) 29
SEA – Treschuk (Caution) 29
COL – Erpen (Caution) 38
COL – Cancela (Caution) 43
SEA – O’Brien (Caution) 43
COL – Erpen (Ejection, second caution) 49
SEA – Le Toux (Caution) 69

Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referees Assts.: Jeff Hosking, Mike Rottersman
Fourth Official: Shahram Pourazari
Attendance: 6,619

2007 Third Round: French connection helps Sounders knock out Chivas USA

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A bad bounce put the Seattle Sounders behind early in Wednesday night’s US Open Cup Third Round match, but the duo of Sebastien Le Toux and Roger Levesque made sure the USL First Division team still bounced Chivas USA from the tournament. It was the second year in a row that Chivas had been eliminated in the opening round, and their third straight Open Cup loss.

Le Toux converted passes from Levesque into goals in the 44th and 52nd minutes, then let Levesque score a goal of his own in the final minutes as host Seattle posted a 3-1 victory over the MLS team in front of 3,589 fans at Qwest Field.

The Sounders advanced to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2003. They will play host to the Colorado Rapids, one of just three MLS sides remaining in the competition, on Aug. 7.

Frenchman Laurent Merlin scored his first goal for Chivas USA, opening the scoring on a strange play in the 16th minute. His shot deflected off Sounders defender Danny Jackson, bounding up and over Seattle goalkeeper Chris Eylander. Jackson suffered a bruised left heel on the play and had to leave the match 10 minutes later.

The combination of Levesque, an American from Maine with a French name, and Le Toux, a Frenchman, hooked up for the equalizer in the 44th. Levesque received the ball from Leighton O’Brien, passing up a potential shot and leaving it for Le Toux, who beat Chivas USA goalkeeper Preston Burpo.

Burpo, who starred for the Sounders for nine years before signing with Chivas USA last year, was victimized by his former team again in the 52nd, with O’Brien again starting the sequence. Levesque got a long ball from O’Brien, then touched it over to Le Toux, and the Frenchman finished for his fourth goal of this year’s Open Cup.

Twice, Levesque nearly tallied a third goal for Seattle. First, his blast from the right side was deflected out by Francisco Mendoza for a corner kick in the 66th. Three minutes later, Levesque’s header off a cross from second-half sub Greg Howes sailed over the crossbar.

Levesque finally got his goal in the 82nd, thanks to Le Toux. Josh Gardner blazed down the left side, beating his defender, and played a cross into the box. Le Toux, sitting on a hat trick, let the ball roll between his legs to Levesque, behind him all alone on the back side, and he had an easy finish for his first goal of this year’s competition.

Chivas USA ended up with the advantage in shots (14-8), but had few dangerous scoring chances. Eylander turned in a nice save on a header by Maykel Galindo, another former Sounders player, in the 34th minute, and made a diving stop on a shot in the 75th. Eylander and Burpo each finished with four saves on the night.

2007 First Round: Sounders, Le Toux overpower USASA’s Banat Arsenal

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Sebastien Le Toux paced the Seattle Sounders to a 4-1 victory over the USASA’s Banat Arsenal. Nathan Knox opened the scoring for Seattle with a goal nine minutes in, after a pass from Leighton O’Brien. Knox looked like he scored in the opening minute, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul on Seattle. Banat came right back and tied the game at one in the 18th minute. Maurice Hughes scored from a cross by Ty Hibbert to give the Phoenix amateurs hope early on.

After the goal, it was all Sounders, as Banat were not allowed a shot the rest of the half. Sebastien Le Toux then struck twice in four minutes. In the 32nd minute, Le Toux took a diagonal pass from Roger Levesque at the right end of the goal arc, and beat Banat goalkeeper Chris Rehfuss for a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later, when Greg Howes sent a short cross to Le Toux from inside the penalty area, who buried it for a 3-1 Sounders lead. Howes himself finished the scoring in the match just before half time, taking a cross from Knox to put the game out of reach.

Seattle move on to face Northwest rivals Portland on June 26 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash.

Scoring Summary

Seattle:
(SEA) Nathan Knox (Leighton O’Brien) 9’
(BAN) Maurice Hughes (Ty Hibbert) 18’
(SEA) Sebastien Le Toux (Roger Levesque) 32
(SEA) Sebastien Le Toux (Gregory Howes) 36’
(SEA) Gregory Howes (Nathan Knox) 44’

Seattle Sounders: Chris Eylander; Danny Jackson, Jake Besagno, Zach Scott (Santa Maria Rivera 71’); Kevin Sakuda, Leighton O’Brien (Kenji Treschuk 35’), Greg Howes, Roger Levesque (Andre Schmid 56’), Josh Gardner; Sebastien Le Toux (Craig Tomlinson 45’), Nathan Knox.

Banat Arsenal: Chris Rehfuss; Cory Norris (Brad Moore 75’), Frank Clay, Nick Tiggs, Elliot Weber; Ryan Lockhart (Imad Id-Deen 53’), Jaimie Miranda (Alan Watson 45’), Maurice Hughes, David Hopkinson (Brett Parry 45’); Esteban Bayona, Ty Hibbert.

Shots: SEA 21, BAN 6
Saves: SEA 3, BAN 5
Corners: SEA 6, BAN 0
Fouls:  SEA 23, BAN 21
Offsides: SEA 5, BAN 1
Cautions: (BAN) Lockhart 19’, (SEA) Scott 34’, (BAN) Id-Deen 88’

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