Score: Sounders FC 6 vs. Chicago Fire 0
Site: Starfire Stadium
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Semifinal
Man of the Match: Kenny Cooper continued his reign in the Open Cup, scoring two late goals to go with two assists to bring his tally to six goals and two assists in four Open Cup matches for Seattle this year. He is the only player to score in all four Open Cup matches for Seattle.
Telling Stat: This was Seattle’s sixth all-time Open Cup match in which the Sounders scored at least four goals. Two of those were four-goal games against MLS clubs, but all four of the others came against lower-division opponents, a 5-1 win over the NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks in 2012, a 5-0 win over USASA’s Cal FC in 2012 and a 5-0 win over USASA’s PSA Elite this year.
What You Missed: Andy Rose made his first start in all competitions since March 22 and didn’t disappoint, scoring two goals, both coming off of balls from Marco Pappa. The third-year midfielder got his head to a Pappa corner kick in the first half for a 2-0 lead, then added another early in the second half to put the match away at 3-0.
So What: Sounders FC advances to its fifth U.S. Open Cup final in six seasons as an MLS club. Seattle will face the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 16 at PPL Park after the Union topped FC Dallas in a shootout on Tuesday night.
