Sounders advance to Round of 16 in U.S. Open Cup Cup after a dramatic 2-2 penalty shootout win.
Sounders netminder Andrew Thomas added another historic chapter to the Seattle Sounders Open Cup lore. After putting pen to paper on a three-year deal Thomas saved three penalty shots and then kicked the game-winning penalty that saw the Sounders dispatch of a rugged and gutty performance by Louisville City FC.
A RICH HISTORY
Thomas’s heroics gives the Sounders a chance to add to their rich history of success in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Rave Green won four Cups from 2009 to 2014. The club’s first Cup title was a 2-1 win over DC United on September 2nd, 2009 which was followed by another 2-1 victory this one over the Columbus Crew. A 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire the following year completed the trifecta. After a three-year hiatus the Sounders earned their fourth cup in 2016 with a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Union. With said rich history it is no surprise Thomas picked the intimate setting of Star Fire to etch his name in the Sounders U.S Open Cup history book.
STRONG START DRAMATIC FINISH
The Sounders took the lead four minutes before halftime on Paul Rothrock’s goal. Danny Musovski’s goal in the 63rd minute saw the Rave Green double their lead. A determined Louisville City FC club scored in the 67th and 89th minute to send the match into extra time. Sheer gritty, determination and full-out effort fueled by pure will sent the game into the penalty shootout after a goalless 30 minutes. It was in the penalty shoot-out period that Thomas took matters into his own hands. He stopped three of Louisville’s spot kicks before he booted home the game-winner.
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MATCH NOTES
- With the result, Sounders FC advances to the Round of 16 and will host Phoenix Rising FC, who defeated North Carolina FC 2-1 this evening.
- Sounders FC is now 24-7-6 all-time in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, including a 20-2-3 mark at home.
- Andrew Thomas made five saves in the first 120 minutes of action then added three more in the penalty shootout, before sealing the victory with a match-clinching penalty kick. The performance caps a big week for Thomas, who signed a contract extension on Wednesday.
- Paul Rothrock has now scored in three consecutive U.S. Open Cup matches with Sounders FC, dating back to last season, one shy of matching Kenny Cooper’s four-game scoring streak in 2014.
- Danny Musovski scored his second Sounders FC goal with a second-half strike. He previously scored in MLS regular-season play against San Jose on March 23. Musovski now has seven career goals in Open Cup play, previously scoring two goals apiece in the tournament for Real Salt Lake, LAFC and Reno 1868 FC.
- Tacoma Defiance midfielder Georgi Minoungou, making his first start for Sounders FC via a short-term loan, tallied his first assist with the First Team on Rothrock’s goal. Minoungou has three assists with Defiance in MLS NEXT Pro action.
- Danny Leyva recorded his first career U.S. Open Cup assist on Musovski’s goal in the second half.
- Defender Stuart Hawkins made his first career start for Sounders FC. Signed to the First Team last season, the 17-year-old has started all seven of his appearances for Defiance this season in MLS NEXT Pro play.
- In addition to Minoungou, four additional Tacoma Defiance made their First Team debut via Short-Term Loans tonight: Antino Lopez, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Snyder Brunell and Osaze De Rosario.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2(5) – Louisville City FC 2(4)
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Cristian Campo Hernandez
Assistants: Cameron Siler, Christopher Turner
Fourth Official: Justin St. Pierre
Attendance: 3,207
Weather: 60 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Paul Rothrock (Georgi Minoungou) 41’
SEA – Danny Musovski (Danny Leyva) 63’
LOU – Sean Totsch (penalty) 67’
LOU – Wilson Harris 89’
SHOOTOUT SUMMARY
LOU – Sean Totsch (missed)
SEA – Danny Musovski (saved)
LOU – Elijah Wynder (saved)
SEA – Danny Leyva (scored)
LOU – Arturo Ordonez (scored)
SEA – Léo Chú (saved)
LOU – Taylor Davila (scored)
SEA – Snyder Brunell (scored)
LOU – Niall McCabe (scored)
SEA – Osaze De Rosario (saved)
LOU – Sam Gleadle (saved)
SEA – Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (scored)
LOU – Kyle Adams (saved)
SEA – Andrew Thomas (scored)
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
LOU – Wes Charpie (caution) 61’
LOU – Amadou Dia (caution) 78’
LOU – Kyle Adams (caution) 90’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Alex Roldan (Léo Chú 90’), Stuart Hawkins, Jonathan Bell (Antino Lopez* 90’), Cody Baker; Danny Leyva, Josh Atencio (Sota Kitahara 87’), Georgi Minoungou* (Osaze De Rosario* 116’), Dylan Teves (Snyder Brunell* 86’), Paul Rothrock (Kalani Kossa-Rienzi* 81’), Danny Musovski
Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro
*Tacoma Defiance player on short-term loan
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 11
Offside: 2
Corner-Kicks: 8
Saves: 5
Louisville City FC – Danny Faundez; Wes Charpie (Arturo Ordonez 113’), Jake Morris (Amadou Dia 77’), Sean Totsch, Aiden McFadden (Jansen Wilson 77’), Kyle Adams; Elijah Wynder, Taylor Davila, Adrien Perez (Niall McCabe 104’), Ray Serrano (Jorge Gonzalez 46’); Wilson Harris (Sam Gleadle 90’)
Substitutes not used: Damian Las
Total shots: 18
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 16
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 3
– SOUNDERS FC
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