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US Open Cup Quarterfinal match, Kansas City Wizards at Seattle Sounders FC, Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, WA, 7:00 PM. (Audio Internet broadcast will stream live from SoundersFC.com)
Seattle Sounders FC have come a long way since July of 2007. Instead of playing in the USL before crowds of 2,000, as an example, they now play in Major League Soccer before crowds of 32,000. Some things tend to repeat themselves, though. Recently Seattle continued in its new form to beat up on little brother Portland. Tonight almost exactly one year to the day the Sounders will again host the Kansas City Wizards in a US Open Cup quarterfinal match.
In a reversal of sorts the match will not be at Qwest Field like it was on July 8, 2008, but at Starfire Sports Complex. Seattle will be hoping for the same kind of result though. Last year the Sounders advanced past the Wizards, thought it did take overtime and penalty kicks to do so (see video below of winning pk and celebration). The one time the clubs have met in the reguar 2009 MLS season Kasey Keller was red-carded for a hand ball and KC won 1-0 at Qwest Field.
Sounders FC continue to do things 'their way' in this latest cup march, playing a mix of starters and reserves, scheduling the matches at Starfire where they can be easily managed and quickly sell out, and where so many Open Cup wins have come for clubs with the name "Sounders" on their jerseys.
If Seattle can advance past Kansas City then they'll either rematch in the semifinals against Charleston (whom they played at the same stage last year) or face the Houston Dynamo (whom they play this Saturday at Qwest in a MLS regular season tilt.) Either way the Sounders keep bidding, and winning to host. The next round would also be at Starfire.
The club are now three wins away from a US Open Cup championship and with it, an automatic spot in the 2010 Concacaf "Champions League."
USOpenCup.com: Live match blog
Sounders FC.com: Players who won't play
MLSnet.com: Wizards, Sounders fight for a semis spot
Seattle Times: Sounders host Wizards in quarters
Olympian: Sounders three wins from Cup
Everett Herald: No rest for Sounders tonight
SoundersFC.com: Two big matches this weeks
Sounders-Wizards, July 8, 2008.
Comments
David,
I sat next to Adrian H. on the train down to Portland last week and he informed me that the winner of the cup does'nt get a bid to the Champions League. He said, last year they did, but it changed this year. I was very dissapointed to hear that. He said this year it is the top four teams in the league. We just need to have one of the top four records in the league and we are in. I explained to him that I don't think that is clear to people and he told me that alot of information is kept confidential, but that is something he is going to go back and make sure people are aware. I was a little taken back when he said that, because part of the reason we traveled down to Portland was the magnitude of winning the Cup. Still was a great experience and we will be at Starfire tonight.
Thanks for the reply, TL. I'll see what I can find out.
Here is the latest straight from Hanauer himself...
"I had been getting conflicting information about the qualification for Champion's League from various sources.
Since then, I have had several conversations with US Soccer and Major League Soccer. Although not 100%, it appears that there is a relatively high likelihood that the Open Cup winner WILL advance to the qualification round of Champion's League... similar to this year.
Once we know for certain, we will communicate that information.
Sorry for any confusion that may have been caused."
---Adrian
Sounders FC will be in this year's CONCACAF Champions League. The draw is in June
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