The Sounders have persevered against all odds, despite being in the midst of a seven game winless run in league play and facing what is perhaps the best team in the league, and have topped the San Jose Earthquakes to move on to their sixth straight semi-final appearance in the US Open Cup. All they needed was a lone goal in the eighteenth minute from the speedy Cordell Cato, who put the ball through the keepers legs from an incredibly difficult angle. Each side had their opportunities in the remainder of the half, but the Sounders lone goal held up. In the second half San Jose really poured it on, subbing on Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart and repeatedly lobbing the ball in to the box and creating chances for their big and dangerous strikers, but the Sounders defense stood strong and ultimately kept the clean sheet.
The Sounders next face Chivas USA in the semi-finals at Starfire July 10th.
Showing posts with label US Open Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Open Cup. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Changes Coming This Year For USOC Format
After outcry about the formatting of the competition was voiced in last years tournament, most notably by FC Dallas' head coach Schellas Hyndeman, changing are coming in 2012 for the country's oldest sports competition. The changes include:
- The expanding of the field of teams competing in the tournament from 40 to 64, the largest field of the modern era.
- All 16 MLS teams will take part in the competition for the first time ever, throwing out the old format of entry being determined by last season's performance along with a play-in process to determine the last participant.
- The bidding process is getting scrapped, up until the semi-finals at least. This was the most highly contested element of the competition, as clubs who actually care about the tournament like the Sounders and the Chicago Fire can claim home advantage throughout the entire tournament. Which actually makes sense, because the clubs that do care are more likely to advertise the competition and draw in fans for those matches.
- The tournament starts earlier and ends earlier, to help relieve schedule congestion for MLS clubs, especially those competing in the CONCACAF Champions League as well. The first round plays out on April 15th and the final will be played on either August 7th or 8th
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Sounders Make It Three
Both teams entered this match looking to make history, the Sounders looking to be the first team in over forty years to win three in a row and Chicago looking to be just the third team in the tournament's history to claim five cups (Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles the other two). Despite the two being deadlocked for the majority of the match, two of the Sounders key players came through in the end and brought yet another US Open Cup to the Emerald City.
Though the match was deadlocked until the seventy seventh minute, there was plenty of action to be seen. The most notable chances came for the Sounders, both involving woodwork. First, Montero hammered a shot from long range off of the left post in the dying minutes of the first half. Then, early in the second half Mike Fuctio was able to pop the ball over Chicago GK Sean Johnson but the ball only managed to strike the right post. In fact, most of the fight was in Chicago's defensive third of the field. The Sounders finished the match with a whopping twenty seven total shots to Chicago's paltry six.
The Sounders finally broke through both the deadlock and Chicago's tight defense in the seventy seventh minute. Jeff Parke made the initial attempt on goal off of a corner kick taken by Erik Friberg, Sean Johnson saving the header. Montero was waiting for the rebound, however, smashing the ball into the back of the net. The Sounders finally broke through after maintaining enormous amounts of pressure on Chicago, and as the match entered it's closing stages the Sounders kept up that pressure ultimately leading to their second. In the last minute of stoppage time Osvaldo Alonso got the ball right above the penalty area, and made a fantastic run into the box running past and shaking off all of Chicago's defense before easily and cooly slip the ball home.
Not only did the Sounders make history with their performance on the field, the fans filling Century Link Field made their own history as well. Last year the Sounders smashed the attendance record for a USOC final, setting it 31,311. They've done it once again, drawing just over four thousand more fans, setting the record at 35,615.
Notes
Though the match was deadlocked until the seventy seventh minute, there was plenty of action to be seen. The most notable chances came for the Sounders, both involving woodwork. First, Montero hammered a shot from long range off of the left post in the dying minutes of the first half. Then, early in the second half Mike Fuctio was able to pop the ball over Chicago GK Sean Johnson but the ball only managed to strike the right post. In fact, most of the fight was in Chicago's defensive third of the field. The Sounders finished the match with a whopping twenty seven total shots to Chicago's paltry six.
The Sounders finally broke through both the deadlock and Chicago's tight defense in the seventy seventh minute. Jeff Parke made the initial attempt on goal off of a corner kick taken by Erik Friberg, Sean Johnson saving the header. Montero was waiting for the rebound, however, smashing the ball into the back of the net. The Sounders finally broke through after maintaining enormous amounts of pressure on Chicago, and as the match entered it's closing stages the Sounders kept up that pressure ultimately leading to their second. In the last minute of stoppage time Osvaldo Alonso got the ball right above the penalty area, and made a fantastic run into the box running past and shaking off all of Chicago's defense before easily and cooly slip the ball home.
Not only did the Sounders make history with their performance on the field, the fans filling Century Link Field made their own history as well. Last year the Sounders smashed the attendance record for a USOC final, setting it 31,311. They've done it once again, drawing just over four thousand more fans, setting the record at 35,615.
Notes
- Another marquee match for the league took place tonight, the LA Galaxy visiting the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls pulled off a shocking upset topping the Galaxy 2-0 on goals by Luke Rodgers and Thierry Henry.
Match Prediction: US Open Cup Final
Up until recent weeks I would have said that the Sounders would have little trouble in winning their third consecutive Open Cup, but the Fire's current form and the boost from their recent victory over RSL at Rio Tinto could complicate matters for the Sounders.
The Fire is definitely not the same team that the Sounders encountered both back in April and early June, that saw the Sounders win 2-1 and both teams settling for a nil-nil draw. The mid-season acquisitions of Pavel Pardo and Sebastien Grazzini have breathed new life into Fire, having only experienced one loss since mid-August. Not only have new signings helped, but improved performance from pre-existing players (primarily Dominic Oduro) has played a major part in their recent success. Where previously Oduro had been squandering excellent chances and opportunities, now he seems to be consistently put them away.
While Chicago has added two vital pieces to their team, the Sounders have lost two of their key pieces. First came the loss of Steve Zakuani to a broken leg and then O'Brian White to blood clot issues, both of whom accounted for both goals in the Sounders first encounter with Fire. Fortunately, with the loss of those two came the advent of Mauro Rosales and Alvaro Fernandez, who combined account for thirteen of the Sounders fifty one goals and twelve assists. One problem, however, is the recent injury of Rosales. He looks to be set for a return in the Open Cup, but nothing is guaranteed. Whether or not Roslaes returns or not, the Sounders have proven time and again that they can continue to grind out victories despite the loss of key players. Also questionable for the Final is James Riley, who has missed the last few matches due to a concussion. From the way things sound, he should be ready to go for this match. Past the injuries, the real focus for the Sounders is the red-hot form of Fredy Montero. In his last five matches he has recorded either a goal or an assist, even going so far as to netting a brace in two consecutive league matches. Another important factor is the resting of key players such as Jeff Parke and Ozzie Alonso during last weekend's match against New England. Having key players like that completely rested and ready to go further increases the Sounders chances.
Considering the resting of multiple key players, Montero's current form, and the possible return of Rosales, despite Chicago's recent form the Sounders should have little trouble winning their third consecutive Open Cup.
The Fire is definitely not the same team that the Sounders encountered both back in April and early June, that saw the Sounders win 2-1 and both teams settling for a nil-nil draw. The mid-season acquisitions of Pavel Pardo and Sebastien Grazzini have breathed new life into Fire, having only experienced one loss since mid-August. Not only have new signings helped, but improved performance from pre-existing players (primarily Dominic Oduro) has played a major part in their recent success. Where previously Oduro had been squandering excellent chances and opportunities, now he seems to be consistently put them away.
While Chicago has added two vital pieces to their team, the Sounders have lost two of their key pieces. First came the loss of Steve Zakuani to a broken leg and then O'Brian White to blood clot issues, both of whom accounted for both goals in the Sounders first encounter with Fire. Fortunately, with the loss of those two came the advent of Mauro Rosales and Alvaro Fernandez, who combined account for thirteen of the Sounders fifty one goals and twelve assists. One problem, however, is the recent injury of Rosales. He looks to be set for a return in the Open Cup, but nothing is guaranteed. Whether or not Roslaes returns or not, the Sounders have proven time and again that they can continue to grind out victories despite the loss of key players. Also questionable for the Final is James Riley, who has missed the last few matches due to a concussion. From the way things sound, he should be ready to go for this match. Past the injuries, the real focus for the Sounders is the red-hot form of Fredy Montero. In his last five matches he has recorded either a goal or an assist, even going so far as to netting a brace in two consecutive league matches. Another important factor is the resting of key players such as Jeff Parke and Ozzie Alonso during last weekend's match against New England. Having key players like that completely rested and ready to go further increases the Sounders chances.
Considering the resting of multiple key players, Montero's current form, and the possible return of Rosales, despite Chicago's recent form the Sounders should have little trouble winning their third consecutive Open Cup.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sounders advance to USOC final
Riding on a first half goal by Fredy Montero, the Sounders managed to hold off FC Dallas and book their spot in a third consecutive US Open Cup final. Both clubs fielded full strength squads, but the Sounders had the best of the play in the first half. The Sounders kept pushing on FC Dallas, creating chance after chance and finally in the fortieth minute they broke through. Fredy Montero faked a shot to shake off Ugo Ihemulu, switched the ball to his left foot and unleashed a curling shot that found it's way neatly inside Kevin Hartman's near post.
FC Dallas brought on George John to bolster their defense at the half, and while they did apply early pressure to the Sounders (culminating in a Marvin Chavez shot ringing off of the post) they ultimately couldn't find a way through the Sounders' stingy defense. The Sounders face the Chicago Fire October fourth at Century Link in the final.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sounders Advance to Quarter Finals
Tonight the Sounders once again embarked on their defense of the US Open Cup, this time they met the Kitsap Pumas at Starfire rather than the Timbers at PGE Park as they have in their past two seasons. Michael Fucito got the scoring started and pushed the Sounders ahead of Pumas in the thirty ninth minute, unleashing a left-footed volley past former Sounder Bryan Meredith from a cross diverted by a Nate Jaqua header. Fucito then doubled the advantage fairly early into the second in the sixty second minute, receiving the ball in the box and giving a valiant individual effort to get past a defender to blast the ball past Meredith and into the net. The Pumas were not content just to sit and give the Sounders the victory, however. In the seventy first minute they fought their way back and lowered the deficit to just one goal on a goal by Nik Basagno. They weren't to complete the comeback, however, as the Sounders won 2-1.
Notes
Notes
- Next up the Sounders will once again face the LA Galaxy at Starfire in quarter finals
- There was Open Cup action around the country tonight, and it will not be purely Major League Soccer teams in the quarter finals, as the Richmond Kickers bested the Columbus Crew 2-1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
