The Seattle Sounders are visiting Sacramento Republic FC of the USL Championship on Tuesday in the quarterfinal of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 8 p.m. PT at Heart Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to watch for free on Apple TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM.
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 8-7-7 (31 points, 7th MLS West), Sac Republic: 7-3-7 (28 points, 3rd USL Championship West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: WWWDW, Sacramento: LWDLW
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
Sounders: Defeated the USL Championship’s Louisville City FC 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Round of 32, defeated the USL Championship’s Phoenix Rising FC 2-1 in the Round of 16.
Sac Republic: Defeated the USL Championship’s Monterey Bay FC 2-0 in the Round of 32, defeated Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes 4-3 after extra time in the Round of 16.
WHAT’S AT STAKE: The winner of this match will host the winner of MLS side LAFC and USL Championship club New Mexico United in the semifinals.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders and Sac Republic have only met once before in a competitive match. Republic FC defeated the Sounders 2-1 after extra time at Heart Health Park in Sacramento in the 2018 U.S. Open Cup Round of 32.
ON A ROLL: Seattle enters in its best form of the season. The Sounders are coming off three consecutive wins, are unbeaten in their last five matches and have lost just twice in their last 15 contests in all competitions.
UNSUNG HEROES: The Sounders were buoyed to victory over Louisville City and Phoenix Rising by some unlikely names. First Team backup goalkeeper Andrew Thomas came up huge in the penalty shootout against Louisville, stopping three shots before taking the clinching penalty himself. Then, Tacoma Defiance short-term loanee Kalani Kossa-Rienzi played hero by scoring the winner against Phoenix in the 88th minute.
2025 Member Deposits
Place a deposit at a special rate of only $100 per seat. The earlier you place your deposit, the sooner you will gain access to secure seats for the 2025 season.
CUPSET MINDED: Sac Republic are one of three remaining USL Championship teams in the Open Cup and have already taken out a fellow MLS side in the San Jose Earthquakes. Republic FC famously made a Cinderella run to the 2022 U.S. Open Final before bowing out to MLS’ Orlando City SC.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Danny Vitiello, GK
In knockout tournaments, teams can often ride the back of a hot goalkeeper to a deep run. Vitiello is arguably the best goalkeeper in the USL Championship, coming off a 2023 Goalkeeper of the Year award and nominated again for the 2024 midseason honor. He leads the USL Championship in clean sheets, goals prevented and anchors a defense that has conceded a league-best 13 goals all season.
