MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Advances Past San Diego with Thrilling 5-4 Win in Third Round of 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

TUKWILA, WASH. – Sounders FC advanced past San Diego Loyal SC in the Third Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a thrilling 5-4 win after extra time on Wednesday evening at Starfire Stadium. Fredy Montero recorded a brace – including a game-winning penalty at the death – and Ethan Dobbelaere, Paul Rothrock and Reed Baker-Whiting added goals as the Rave Green move onto the Round of 32. A draw to determine Seattle’s next match is being held tomorrow by U.S. Soccer.

Montero opened the scoring for Seattle in the 15^th minute with his ninth career Open Cup goal, the most in club history (MLS era). After a Seattle player was fouled inside the area, the referee signaled for advantage, leaving the ball open in the box for the Colombian to stab home. Dobbelaere made it 2-0 in the 26^th minute with his first career goal for the First Team. After a looping cross deflected off the hands of the San Diego goalkeeper, Dobbelaere pounced on the loose ball and smashed it into the back of the net.

San Diego pulled one back in the 53^rd minute courtesy of a penalty kick. After a Seattle foul was called inside its own area, Joe Corona slid the ensuring spot-kick past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland.

After coming on as a substitute in the 46^th minute, Rothrock made it 3-1 in the 55^th minute of play with a low shot from distance that was mishandled by the goalkeeper. Rothrock was one of four Tacoma Defiance players who played for the First Team this evening, joining Cody Baker, Travian Sousa and Hal Uderitz.

Corona completed his own brace in the 73^rd minute, firing a free kick from distance into the top corner of the net. Kyle Adams then scored the equalizer for San Diego from outside the area in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to send the match into extra time.

Baker-Whiting made it 4-3 in the 101^st minute, cutting in from the right flank and launching a left-footed shot from outside the area into the top corner of the near post. It was Baker-Whiting’s first career goal for the First Team.

The visitors equalized in the 115^th minute courtesy of a header from Jackson Kasanzu, with Corona assisting. Montero completed his brace and found the winner in the 123^rd minute of the match, converting a penalty after Sousa drew a foul inside the 18-yard-box. Montero’s 10 Open Cup goals are the most in club history.              

Sounders FC returns to MLS action when it travels to Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 29 (6:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Sounders FC’s all-time record in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play moves to 24-6-5 dating back to 2009. The Rave Green are now 20-2-2 at home in that span.

• Wednesday’s match was Seattle’s first contest in 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, and the Rave Green’s first meeting in a competitive match against USL Championship side San Diego Loyal. The two clubs played one another in an exhibition match on April 10, 2021 (a 1-0 win for Seattle at Lumen Field).

• Seattle now advances out of its opening round in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time since 2017. Sounders FC is a four-time winner of the Open Cup (2009-2011, 2014), tied with the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City for the most titles among MLS Clubs.

• Adding to his all-time scoring lead for Sounders FC, Fredy Montero bagged his 77^th strike in all competitions for the Rave Green in the 15^th minute, followed by his 78^th overall goal with his match-sealing penalty in 123^rd minute of play. The Colombian remains the club’s all-time leading scorer, three tallies ahead of teammate Raúl Ruidíaz.

• Montero now has 10 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup goals for Seattle, the best mark in Sounders FC history and three goals ahead of former teammate Nate Jaqua in Open Cup action.

• With his goal in the 26^th minute of play, Ethan Dobbelaere recorded his first goal for Sounders FC. The Seattle native has five pro goals with Defiance dating back to 2019.

• Substitute Paul Rothrock recorded his first goal for Sounders FC in the 55^th minute of play. The Seattle native had previously scored once for Sounders FC developmental side S2 in 2017, while also adding 12 goals for Toronto FC II from 2021 through 2022.

• Reed Baker-Whiting’s goal in the 101^st minute of play was his first professional strike for Sounders FC. He had one goal for Tacoma Defiance in 2022.

• Head Coach Brian Schmetzer heavily rotated the squad that defeated Minnesota United on Saturday, with nine new starters taking the field. Only Obed Vargas and Léo Chú were holdovers from the April 22 MLS match at Lumen Field.

• Four Tacoma Defiance players were eligible for tonight’s match via short-term agreements, and all featured in the contest. Cody Baker started at leftback, while Paul Rothrock, Travian Sousa and Hal Uderitz came into the match as substitutes. Baker and midfielder Sota Kitahara each made their first career starts for the First Team.

• Between five home matches at Lumen Field in MLS play and tonight’s contest at Starfire Stadium, Sounders FC is 5-0-1 on home turf in 2023.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 5 – San Diego Loyal 4

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup – Third Round

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Venue: Starfire Stadium

Referee: Cristian Campo Hernández

Assistants: Baboucarr Jallow, Cephas Quartson

Fourth Official: Adorae Monroy

Attendance: 3,728

Weather: 65 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Fredy Montero (Ethan Dobbelaere) 15’

SEA – Ethan Dobbelaere 26’

SD – Joe Corona (penalty) 53’

SEA – Paul Rothrock (Cody Baker) 55’

SD – Joe Corona 73’

SD – Kyle Adams 90’+3’

SEA – Reed Baker-Whiting (Abdoulaye Cissoko) 101’

SD – Jackson Kasanzu (Joe Corona) 115’

SEA – Fredy Montero (penalty) 120’+3’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Xavier Arreaga (caution) 52’

SD – Joe Corona (caution) 53’

SEA – Sota Kitahara (caution) 88’

SEA – Hal Uderitz* (caution) 92’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Reed Baker-Whiting (Abdoulaye Cissoko 101’), Xavier Arreaga, Cody Baker; Sota Kitahara, Obed Vargas (Kelyn Rowe 102’), Ethan Dobbelaere (Hal Uderitz 90’), Dylan Teves (Travian Sousa* 67’), Léo Chú (Paul Rothrock* 46’); Fredy Montero

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Jackson Ragen

*Tacoma Defiance player on short-term agreement

Total shots: 18

Shots on goal: 12

Fouls: 21

Offside: 3

Corner-Kicks: 6

Saves: 6

San Diego Loyal – Koke Vegas; Camden Riley, Kyle Adams, Elijah Martin (Morgan Hackworth 76’); Adrien Perez (Grant Stoneman 46’), Joe Corona, Charlie Adams (Xavi Gnaulati 46’, Jackson Kasanzu 114’), Nick Moon (Evan Conway 46’); Tumi Moshobane, Elliot Collier (Ronaldo Damus 46’), Collin Martin

Substitutes not used: Duran Michael Ferree

Total shots: 22

Shots on goal: 10

Fouls: 15

Offside: 1

Corner-kicks: 5

Saves: 6

- SOUNDERS FC -