Goalkeeper Tyler Miller hugs Erik Friberg after Seattle down RSL on penalties.
By Steven Agen
Jeff Cassar rested his starters in their 2-0 loss to Dallas on Saturday in MLS action in preparation for Tuesday’s US Open Cup Fifth Round clash with Seattle, but it ultimately wasn’t enough as Sigi Schmid’s reserve squad took RSL down 1-1 (4-1) on penalties. Goalkeeper Tyler Miller made eight saves in regulation and two more in the shootout to lead Seattle to the victory.
Schmid made ten changes from the side that lost 2-0 to NYCFC over the weekend, opting to only carry over Dylan Remick in his starting lineup. Six Seattle starters were 24 years old or younger — Oniel Fisher and Tony Alfaro on the back line, Cristian Roldan and Zach Mathers in midfield, and Oalex Anderson up top. Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis and Herculez Gomez comprised the more experienced contingent of players in the eleven.
It looked like advantage-RSL when Cassar put out his team sheet. RSL followed suit by only playing two starters from the weekend, but that’s where the similarities ended. In reality RSL only made two changes from the last time they played their best eleven, including goalkeeper Jeff Attinella replacing Nick Rimando. That match, a 2-1 win for RSL over New York Red Bulls on 6/22, was played while the United States were still involved in Copa America Centenario. Their other change from the New York match, therefore, was the return of Kyle Beckerman to the midfield. Juan Martinez, Joao Plata and Yura Movsisyan led the RSL attack along with Javier Morales. Beckerman and Luke Mulholland absorbed pressure behind them. A first-choice back line of Beltran, Glad, Maund and Phillips protected Attinella. The quality from the hosts appeared to be overwhelming in comparison to the B-squad Sigi Schmid fielded.
Joao Plata opened the scoring for the hosts on 43 minutes after a slick free kick routine put Yura Movsisyan through on goal. Beckerman touched the ball into play from near the halfway line on the left side short to Morales. He found Juan Martinez down the pitch, who back-heeled the ball for Movsisyan. Tony Alfaro dragged the striker down and the referee pointed to the spot. Plata stepped up and converted to his left.
The goal was a just reward for RSL, who were the better side in the first half. Beckerman and Mulholland snuffed out most everything that came their way. Martinez and Morales had plenty of space. Truth be told, the night turned out to be story of wasted chances for the hosts.
Seattle equalized early in the second half, against the run of play. On 51 minutes Tony Alfaro blasted a clearance down the field and Nelson Valdez gave chase. Defender Justin Glad and onrushing goalkeeper Jeff Attinella failed to deal with the ball, and it squirted to Valdez who tapped into an empty net. Jordan Morris subbed on for Oalex Anderson on 79 minutes and had one great look cleared off the doorstep five minutes later, but the run of play decidedly favored the hosts throughout the second half. One more fingertip save from Miller deep into stoppage time took the game to extra time.
Thanks to a series of fantastic saves from Tyler Miller and vital clearances from veteran center back Zach Scott, Seattle hung on for penalty kicks through the additional half hour. Herculez Gomez, Juan Martinez and Jordan Morris all stepped up and converted in that order. Then Joao Plata, scorer of RSL’s first half penalty kick, saw his spotkick saved by Miller. Zach Scott sent the Attinella the wrong way to make it 3-1, and then Miller all but sealed it by saving Beckerman’s pacey penalty down the center of the goal. Erik Friberg finished the job with the next kick, and Seattle were through.
Seattle’s youngsters deserve tremendous credit for helping to earn the result, putting Seattle into the last eight of the competition. While they have struggled to impact their team’s league form so far this year, they worked extremely hard to keep up with an RSL side that generated 17 corners on the night. Next up for Seattle in Open Cup play is the winner of LA Galaxy v Portland Timbers. Regardless of the result, Seattle will play away. That match will take place on July 19 or 20.
RSL next face DC United at home on Friday in a quick turnaround after the frustrating penalty kick loss.
