By Steven Agen
The Seattle Sounders return to the pitch for the first time since June 1st tonight as they host the Kitsap Pumas in a US Open Cup 4th round fixture at Starfire Stadium. The match marks the first occasion for the club to finally vanquish the memory of a 3-1 defeat to archrivals Portland in last year’s edition of the tournament. The Sounders finished that match with seven men on the field following three red cards and an injury to Obafemi Martins. Head coach Sigi Schmid will be unable to lead his squad tonight, serving a one match suspension for their antics a year ago. Brian Schmetzer will take charge at the ground where he managed the USL Sounders before they jumped to MLS.
With the group stages of Copa America Centenario now in the books, Nelson Valdez will soon return to the club following Paraguay’s elimination. While he won’t feature this evening, he may well make his return to the pitch for Seattle against the New York Red Bulls this weekend. Clint Dempsey remains with the US national team as they prepare for a quarterfinal against Ecuador on Thursday night. After ripping up the referee’s notebook a year ago, he’ll be unavailable for the whole of this year’s Open Cup.
Tonight marks the second-ever Open Cup meeting between Seattle and Kitsap. On June 28, 2011, a Mike Fucito brace put the Sounders up 2-0 near the hour mark. But former USL Sounder Nik Besagno ensured the finish wouldn’t be a comfortable one, pulling a goal back for the Pumas midway through the second half. The late rally wasn’t enough and Seattle marched on towards their third consecutive title.
Sigi Schmid selected a young lineup that night, and can be expected to do so again. With a trip back to the East Coast looming, Seattle will need their youth to carry them through to the fifth round. It is tough to predict exactly whom among the reserves is currently in favor, but goalkeeper Tyler Miller, defenders Dylan Remick, Tony Alfaro, and Oniel Fisher, midfielders Nathan Sturgis, Michael Farfan, and Cristian Roldan, along with forwards Darwin Jones and Andy Craven are among those likely to be called upon. What mix of starters Schmid intends to sprinkle in is unpredictable.
Kitsap enter the tournament still looking for their first big scalp of an MLS club. The 2016 edition marks their first time reaching the fourth round of the tournament. The Pumas started the tournament in the second round with a win over an inexperienced Seattle Sounders U-23’s side. They next travelled to USL powerhouse Sacramento Republic and earned the most important win in club history, running out 3-1 victors. The upset gives Kitsap another shot at the big dogs in the region as they look to draw from the same magic they conjured at Bonney Field.
SCORE PREDICTION
Seattle 2, Kitsap 0
Darwin Jones (17’, 48’)
