Sounders Face Dynamo in US Open Cup Semifinal Tonight
Fredy Montero scored in the last match against Houston (foto by HeraldNet)
The Dynamo are back in the 206 as the Sounders host Houston in a semifinal match of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.
Tonight’s sold out match at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila is a rematch of Seattle’s last MLS match; one that the Sounders won 2-1 (goals by Fredy Montero 32′ & Patrick Ianni 46′) at Qwest on July 11th.
Houston’s road to the Semifinals included a 1-0 win in the Third Round over the Austin Aztex, and a 4-0 victory over the Charleston Battery in the Quarterfinals.
Seattle, defeated Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids to qualify as one of the 8 MLS clubs in the USOC. They defeated the Portland Timbers in the Third Round and the Kansas City Wizards in the Quarterfinals.
The Dynamo and the Sounders have a total of 9 All Stars for the upcoming MLS All Star Game, but Houston will be without the services of Stuart Holden and Brian Ching who are competing in the Gold Cup; Seattle is still without Brad Evans, but Tyrone Marshall has returned to the team.
Sebastien LeToux, who had 5 goals each for the USL Sounders in 2007 and ’08 is currently tied for second place with DC United’s Jaime Moreno in career USOC goals of the professional era with 11.
As a reminder, US Open Cup rules only allows 5 foreign players to play. LeToux, Osvaldo Alonso, Fredy Montero, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Steve Zakuani, and Sanna Nyassi are Seattle internationals playing for those spots. It’s doubtful that Swede Freddie Ljungberg will play after he saw 73 minutes of action in Saturday’s friendly against Chelsea.
Kickoff is slated for 7p. Those who are unable to secure a ticket to the match can watch the game online at SoundersFC.com.
The other semifinal match today is between will be played today between DC United and the USL’s Rochester Rhinos (430p kickoff). If DC wins, they would host the USOC Championship. If the Rhinos win, the Seattle-Houston winner would be the host of the Championship.


