Tukwila, WA – The 2023 US Open Cup began in bizarre, thrilling fashion for the Seattle Sounders, as they advanced to the round of 32 after a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Loyal. Club legend Fredy Montero recorded a brace in the win, bookending the match with goals to begin and end the match. Seattle ended up with a two-goal lead heading into the final third of the match, but a late comeback attempt saw this match headed to extra time. Again, the Sounders struck first but were answered by San Diego, before a Fredy Montero penalty sealed the deal and sent Seattle onto the next round of the US Open Cup.
Seattle Sounders fans celebrate the win after the final whistle ends extra time (Photo by Nate Koppelman)
A club legend begins things, and ends them
Sounders forward Fredy Montero has a history for scoring goals at Starfire Stadium, particularly in the US Open Cup, including in last year’s edition of the tournament when the club hosted the San Jose Earthquakes. That match unfortunately ended in a long, bitter cold bout of penalty kicks that San Jose took, and it seemed like this match just might get to that sort of level as Seattle choked away a late lead to send us into extra time. No matter, Montero (a top goal scorer in club history) remained cool and was able to deliver the final blow to San Diego after scoring the first of the match in interesting fashion. After all, it’s just the magic of the US Open Cup.
Seattle Sounders forward Fredy Montero reacts to San Diego’s match tying goal in regulation, ahead of the match heading into extra time (Photo by Nate Koppelman)
Montero’s first goal of the match, and the score that opened the game, was a bit of an odd sequence. Seattle had been applying great pressure to San Diego early on but couldn’t seem to find the right ball into the box. Finally, Obed Vargas brought the attack up through the middle of the field as he looped a ball up in the air and ahead of Ethan Dobbelaere who streaked into the box. A clean tackle was applied by San Diego’s Nick Moon, taking Dobbelaere down in the process. All play seemed to stop as both sides appeared to believe a penalty kick was going to be given, but the whistle was never blown. Play continued, a rebounded ball bounced right to Montero, who hammered home a shot that clipped Loyal keeper Koke Vegas and before finding the back of the net.
Seattle Sounders forward Fredy Montero hammers home the match winning penalty kick (Photo by Nate Koppelman)
Local contribution
With the US Open Cup, it was obvious that Seattle wasn’t going to send out a first team starting lineup. The club often speaks on how much it wants to in every tournament that it takes part in and continue to add to their trophy case, and they’ll do their best, but won’t jeopardize the health of their stars doing so. Like last season when the club hosted San Jose, the Sounders rolled out a lineup of mostly Tacoma Defiance stars with a few Sounders second team names to boot. This year’s crop of talent was highlighted by local players, as the club had ten players who either attended high school or college in the area in this match, as well as eleven who came through their academy or the Defiance.
Seattle Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock celebrates his goal to give the club their third goal of the match (Photo by Nate Koppelman)
Seattle native’s Ethan Dobbelaere, Paul Rothrock, and Reed Baker-Whiting were all able to find the back of the net against San Diego to help a lead that Seattle failed to hold on to, not at their fault, though. Dobbelaere and Rothrock both helped push the Sounders lead higher, before the Loyal were able to march their way right back into the contest to force the extra time in the “cozy” confines of Starfire stadium. It was Reed Baker-Whiting who opened up the scoring in that first half of extra time, firing away a missile into the top right corner of the goal to regain the Sounders lead at the 101st minute of the match.
The Seattle Sounders celebrate Reed Baker-Whiting’s goal in the 101st minute (Photo by Nate Koppelman)
What’s next?
There are two ways to look at what’s next for the Sounders, where they head next in general and when/ who they may face in their next US Open Cup competition. For the latter, the round of 32 draw took place immediately following the end of all matches that night, and Seattle ended up in group three. That group of four includes all MLS clubs, as Seattle is joined by the LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, and Real Salt Lake. It’s a bit of an odd draw for the Sounders, who are guaranteed to deal with MLS level talent and could possibly face off against their next regular season opponent. The next club that Seattle will face in MLS play is Real Salt Lake, on the road, on April 29th with a kickoff time of 6:30PM PST.
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