By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

In form, Sounders advance to US Open Cup Semi-Final Round

  First-half goals from  Josh Atencio and Jordan Morris saw the  Sounders defeat USL side Sacramento Republic 2-1  and book their place into the semi-final round of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup tournament.     Sounders bolted to a 2-0 halftime lead and it looked like the match would be a stroll in the park for the visiting Sounders.  Atencio opened the scoring for the visiting Sounders  16 minutes into the game. The goal was Atencio’s first in U.S. Open Cup Play and second as a  Sounder.  The goal capped a banner week for Atencio who was selected as an alternate for the U.S. men’s Olympic team that will participate in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

MORRIS CONTINUES SCORING SPREE

The inform Morris doubled the Sounder’s lead in the 31st   scoring his eighth in ten games across all competition. Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer was able to roll out a strong lineup with his club taking care of its league play.

“We had three home games and we needed to make sure we took care of our league stuff first, but we are serious about this competition,” said Schmetzer after the game  “We understand the history of it, we can get ourselves in the Champions League again. We are going to try and do both”.

The Sounders were unbeaten in their last seven games going into the quarterfinal match with the Republic.

A STUBBORN OPPONENT

Despite being in third in the West  Group of the USL standings with a 7-7-3 record  Sacramento has a rich history in the U.S. Open Cup. In 2022 the club made it to the final lost 3-0 to MLS side Orlando City SC. In this year’s competition, Sacrament ousted the San Jose Earthquakes in a penalty shootout to reach the quarterfinal round with the Sounders. As a result the  Qualis never gave up against the Rave Green and made a game of it when they halved the Sounder’s lead in the 56th minute on a goal by Jack Gurr.

SOUNDERS EXPERIENCE LEAD TO VICTORY

 Despite some clear-cut chances late in the second half, the Sounders were unable to find a third goal. The Sounder’s superior talent saw them play cohesive soccer between all three blocks shut down Sacramento’s attack and the home side failed to find the equalizer.

POSTGAME NOTES

  • Sounders FC advances to the Semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2014 and is set to host the winner of tomorrow night’s matchup between LAFC and New Mexico United, with exact date, kickoff time and broadcast details forthcoming.
  • Seattle is now 26-7-6 all-time in U.S. Open Cup play, including a 5-5-3 record on the road.
  • Josh Atencio’s goal marked his first career U.S. Open Cup goal and just his second career goal for Sounders FC across all competitions since signing with the First Team in 2020. Earlier this week, Atencio was selected as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team that is headed to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
  • Jordan Morris scored his first career U.S. Open Cup goal with his first-half strike. The Mercer Island native has now scored eight goals in his last 10 games across all competitions.
  • Reed Baker-Whiting recorded his first career assist in Open Cup action on Morris’ goal.
  • Andrew Thomas started in goal this evening, continuing his run in 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Thomas started each of Seattle’s previous two matches in the tournament against Louisville City SC and Phoenix Rising FC.
  • This marked the second all-time matchup between Sounders FC and Sacramento Republic FC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play. Sacramento eliminated Seattle in the Fourth Round of the 2018 tournament with a 2-1 win after extra time.
  • Sounders FC is one of three MLS teams (Chicago Fire, Sporting Kansas City) to have won the U.S. Open Cup four times (2009-2011, 2014). Los Maccabi Los Angeles and Bethlehem Steel hold the all-time record with five titles, although both teams are no longer operational.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Sacramento Republic FC 1

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Venue: Heart Health Park

Referee: Ted Unkel

Assistants: Fernando Fierro, Stephen McGonagle

Fourth Official: Robert Vincze

Attendance: 11,569

Weather: 83 degrees and sunny

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Josh Atencio 16’

SEA – Jordan Morris (Reed Baker-Whiting) 31’

SAC – Sebastián Herrera (Jack Gurr) 49’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SAC – Nick Ross (caution) 5’

SAC – Cristian Parano (caution) 51’

SAC – Jack Gurr (caution) 56’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Cristian Roldan – Captain, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jonathan Bell, Nouhou; Josh Atencio (Danny Musovski 90’), João Paulo (Alex Roldan 62’); Paul Rothrock (Raúl Ruidíaz 62’), Albert Rusnák (Jackson Ragen 89’), Reed Baker-Whiting (Obed Vargas 81’); Jordan Morris

Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro, Pedro De La Vega

Total shots: 9

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 13

Offside: 5

Corner-Kicks: 4

Saves: 1

Sacramento Republic FC – Danny Vitiello; Shane Wiedt (Jonathan Ricketts 84’), Lee Desmond, Jared Timmer; Damià Viader (Sebastián Herrera 46’), Luis Felipe, Nick Ross, Jack Gurr; Aldair Sanchez (Blake Willey 90’+5’), Kieran Phillips (Trevor Amann 69’), Cristian Parano (Conor Donovan 90’+3’)

Substitutes not used: Rafael Jauregui, Jared Mazzola

Total shots: 11

Shots on goal: 2

Fouls: 20

Offside: 3

Corner-kicks: 2

Saves: 2

– SOUNDERS FC –

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