Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers battled it out at Starfire Sports tonight in the fourth round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The home team eked out the 2-1 win thanks to an early goal from Aaron Kovar, and Zach Mathers’ game-winning PK that resulted from a handball in the box.
Sounders FC top Kitsap Pumas 3-2 in 2016 US Open Cup from Starfire Sports on Vimeo.
Starfire Sports hosted round four of the U.S. Open Cup where Sounders FC faced off against PDL side, Kitsap Pumas. For much of the game, the crowd was kept wondering who would be the first to score. There were many opportunities for both squads, but nothing found the back of the net until well into the second half.
The first notable chance came from Kitsap in the 3rd minute, as Sounders keeper Tyler Miller was forced to make a diving save. Zach Scott knocked on the door a mere three minutes later when his header off an Aaron Kovar corner ricocheted off the crossbar. The near misses continued, with notable attempts from Darwin Jones in the 39th minute and Aaron Kovar in the 42nd.
After assisting Aaron Kovar’s near miss, Hercules Gomez created a number of dangerous chances for his Sounders squad in the 2nd half, as the Sounders began to take more control over the match. Two set pieces—a corner and a free kick—came painfully close, while a killer shot was blocked in the 60th minute. Despite his best efforts, the score remained at zeroes.
The first goal of the match finally came in the 71st minute off a chippy little shot from Sounders midfielder, Christian Roldan (assisted by Aaron Kovar). The second, and final goal of the match came in stoppage time as Erik Friberg played a beautiful leading ball in to Joevin Jones, securing the win for the Sounders
With the win against the Kitsap Pumas, Sounders FC will advance to the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
The Sounders U23 team has won the USL-PDL Western Conference Championship and will host the National Final Four championship this weekend at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington. As part of this great event, Sounders FC has come on board to work with the affiliate Sounders U23 PDL side in offering a joint ticket for the weekend. Sounders fans can purchase a $25 ticket to the PDL semi-finals on Friday at 6pm and 8pm at Starfire Sports Complex and this will be accompanied with a ticket into the Sounders FC game versus the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night 7 PM at Century Link Field. The Sounders FC ticket must be picked up at Friday’s PDL semi-final match. You may also purchase a $10 ticket into the games on Friday and Sunday outside of this Sounders FC special deal. Ticket purchase is available at www.soundersu23.com. The direct link to purchase the $25 ticket to both events is http://sounderschamppackage.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2139090305
The 2015 PDL Championship presented by Nike has the four conference champions converging on Starfire Stadium this weekend. Sounders FC U23, the host for the event, will be joined by K-W United FC, the New York Red Bulls U23 and the Ocala Stampede to determine the 2015 PDL Champion as the championship returns to the west coast for the first time since 2011.
The Sounders U23 claimed the Western Conference Championship on Saturday night as a goal by Jonathan Campbell earned a 2-1 victory against FC Tucson. The Sounders U23 last reached the national semifinals in 2012, when the side was led by current U.S. Men’s National Team player DeAndre Yedlin.
The Ocala Stampede return to the PDL Championship for a second consecutive season as Southern Conference champions, after taking a 2-0 win against the FC Miami City Champions to claim the conference title on Saturday. Lewis Hilton and Ricardo Diegues scored for the Stampede to send them through to the national semifinals.
K-W United FC advanced to its first PDL Championship on Saturday as it defeated defending PDL champions the Michigan Bucks. Ken Krolicki and Adam Polakiewicz each had a goal and assist for United in the victory, with K-W now aiming to claim the championship for the Great Lakes Division for the third time in four seasons (FC London 2012, Michigan Bucks 2014).
The New York Red Bulls U23 have reached the PDL Championship in their inaugural season in the league, as they dethroned defending conference champion the Jersey Express in Sunday’s Eastern Conference Championship Game. Joe Farrell scored late in extra time to give the Red Bulls U23 a 2-1 win against the Express, and a berth in the national semifinals.
2015 PDL Championship presented by Nike
At Starfire Stadium, Tukwila, Wash.
National Semifinals
Friday, July 31
Ocala Stampede vs. New York Red Bulls U23, 9 p.m. ET
Sounders FC U23 vs. K-W United FC, 11 p.m. ET
Championship Game
Sunday, August 2
Semifinal winners, 5 p.m. ET
The 2015 PDL All-Conference Teams will be announced later on Monday, as the week of build-up to the championship begins. The 2015 PDL All-League Team is set to be announced on Tuesday, with the finalists for the 2015 PDL Awards to be announced on Wednesday. The award winners will be announced at Thursday’s Championship Luncheon, part of the 2015 PDL Championship in Seattle, Wash.
Both the semifinals and the championship game at the 2015 PDL Championship presented by Nike will be streamed live on the PDL’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/USLPDL), with live updates also available through the league’s official Twitter account (@USLPDL).
Sounders fans an players are likely still reeling from tonight’s US Open Cup match. After a nineteen game winning streak at Starfire Sports, Sounders FC fell to the Portland Timbers in the 2015 US Open Cup. The fourth-round matchup saw a lot of early contact, and not a lot of action at either goal line. At the half, there were 0 shots on goal and 15 fouls in the books.
The opportunities picked up in the second half, and it felt like we might have a game on our hands. Portland took the lead in the 48th minute, and the Sounders gained momentum and created a number of solid challenge. Despite being down to 10 men after a second yellow card for Evans, the Sounders tied things up in the 79th minute when a corner kick from Lamar Neagle made its way to Obafemi Martins, who knocked it home. However, the beginning of the end for the Sounders would come shortly thereafter.
In the 87th minute, Obafemi Martins took a bad step and was escorted off the field on a stretcher. Adding insult to actual injury, the Sounders had made their final substitution of the match a mere 3 minutes earlier. This left the squad down to nine men as the final minutes of regulation time wound down. They were able to hold on to send the match into overtime, but they would be facing significant hurdles to make the comeback.
In the 100th minute, Portland would take the lead when Wallace scored the eventual game-winner off a deflection. The Sounders worked to mount a comeback, but those dreams were squashed when a questionable red card was shown to Micheal Azira in the 112th minute, causing an uproar from Clint Dempsey that resulted in two yellows for. This left the Sounders with seven men on the field. The team continued to press, but the 3rd goal from the Timbers in the 116th minute would be the final score of the match. The Sounders fall 3-1 as the Timbers advance to the 3rd round of US Open Cup Play.
S2 secured their second extra time victory in US Open Cup play to advance to the 4th round over T2. The first goal of the match came in the second half when T2’s Rennico Clark pulled one back. Andy Craven would answer for S2 shortly thereafter to end regulation 1-1. Pablo Rossi nabbed the game-winner for S2 in the 13th minute of the first period of extra time. S2 will face Real Salt Lake on the road for the next round of US Open Cup play on June 17th.
S2 faced off against the Kitsap Pumas in the 2nd round of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play. S2 started strong, ending the first half on top 2-0 with goals from Victor Mansaray and Pablo Rossi. However, Kitsap came back strong, and leveled the score thanks to a brace from Mike Ramos–one of which came in the 90th minute. The late goal would send the game into extra time.
Pablo Rossi would score his second goal of the match early into the first period of extra time, bringing the score to 3-2 in S2’s favor. Andy Craven would add one more to the scoreline with an open-net goal in the final seconds. The 4-2 win will send S2 into the 3rd round against T2 on May 27th.
Sounders FC 2 faced a strong Timbers 2 squad tonight in USL play. Heading into the match, both teams were undefeated. S2 was 2-0 after besting 2014 USL Champions Sacramento Republic, and Cascadia rivals Whitecaps 2 at home. T2 held a 2-0-1 record, with a win over Sacramento Republic, and both a win and a draw against Real Monarchs.
Tonight, T2 scored first when a free kick found the head of Harrison Delbridge and then the goal. While S2 had opportunities, including several shots that missed by inches, they found themselves unable to score, sending the game into half-time 1-o in Portland’s favor.
The 2nd half started off with some excitement, as Pablo Rossi converted on a penalty kick awarded in the 47th minute to bring the score level. T2 responded with intensity, but never converted. T2 fate was sealed in the 88th minute when S2’s Giuliano Frano scored a beautiful goal off a lofted pass from Andy Craven. Final: S2 2, T2 1.
In their second game of the regular season, S2 faced off against Cascadia rivals Whitecaps FC 2. S2 dominated the game from the first minutes, and never took their foot off the gas despite holding an early lead. With a hat trick from Darwin Jones, S2 notched a 4-0 win.
This week’s special edition Game of the Week features S2’s inaugural match in USL play. S2 faced off against the 2014 champions, Sacramento Republic FC. Despite exciting play with quick attacks, both teams remained scoreless at the half. The second half was another story entirely. Shot flew from both sides, with six goals being scored, and a final of 4-2 in S2’s favor.
The Seattle Sounders faced off against the Chicago Fire in the semifinals of the 2014 US Open Cup in the fortress that is 
Starfire Sports. The Sounders are unbeaten in Open Cup play at Starfire, and their streak continued last night as they topped the Fire 6-0 in front of a packed house. The scoring opened up early with a goal by Chad Barrett off an assist from Kenny Cooper in the 6th minute. The 2nd goal came from Andy Rose off a Marco Pappa corner kick in the 33rd minute. Rose would score again in the 58th minute to send the Sounders into halftime up 3 to nil.
The Sounders continued their domination in the 2nd half, scoring their remaining three goals within six minutes of one another after a match filled with a pretty incredible offensive showing. In the 79th minute, Obafemi Martins took advantage of a bad touch by the Fire and brought it all the way to goal from near half in a solo effort to put the Sounders up 4. In the 82nd minute, Cooper landed a beautiful cross by DeAndre Yedlin in the back of the net. Cooper continued the onslaught when Martins delivered a perfect through pass to win the game at 6-0.
This win sends the Sounders to their 5th USOC final in six years, where they will face the Philadelphia Union.
