SANDY, UTAH – Seattle Sounders FC advanced to the Quarterfinal Round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup after defeating Real Salt Lake in a penalty-kick shootout on Tuesday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Rave Green improved to 22-2-4 all-time in the tournament, with three of the club’s four draws resulting in advancement via penalty-kick shootout. Nelson Valdez scored his first goal across all competitions in 2016 with a 51st-minute equalizer to force a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes of action, while goalkeeper Tyler Miller matched the club’s tournament record with eight saves in regulation. In the shootout, Sounders FC converted on all four attempts, while Miller made two crucial stops for the 4-1 victory. The Rave Green are set to face the winner of tomorrow night’s LA Galaxy – Portland Timbers match in the Quarterfinal Round with a road fixture on July 20.
RSL struck first late in the first half courtesy of a penalty-kick from Joao Plata after Tony Alfaro was whistled for a foul on Yura Movsisyan in the area. Plata fired the ensuing spot-kick into the upper left corner, just out of Miller’s reach.
Seattle equalized in the 51st minute with Valdez’s first career goal in U.S. Open Cup play. The Paraguayan international beat the on-rushing goalkeeper near the edge of the 18-yard-box, absorbed contact from a Real Salt Lake defender and poked a 15-yard-strike into the open net.
Miller made eight saves in his third career appearance with the First Team. He came off his line to thwart a one-on-one with Movsisyan in the 18th minute, then dove to make a save at the far post in the 47th minute when Movsisyan cut inside to his left for a clean attempt in the 18-yard-box. Miller kept the match level in the waning moments of regulation with a diving save in the top corner of his net to stop a dangerous Juan Manuel Martinez attempt from distance. Miller’s first appearance with the First Team was also against RSL in a 2-1 loss at Rio Tinto Stadium back on March 12.
After a scoreless extra-time period, Seattle forwards Jordan Morris and Herculez Gomez began the shootout with successful shots into the right side of the net. RSL’s Martinez scored the first attempt for the host side, but Plata’s ensuing shot was thwarted by Miller. After Seattle’s Zach Scott coolly gave Seattle a 3-1 advantage, Miller made another stop – this time from the feet of U.S. Men’s National Team veteran Kyle Beckerman. Moments later, Erik Friberg converted his attempt to give Seattle the clinching 4-1 margin.
Sounders FC continues its road swing this Sunday with a return to MLS play against Toronto FC. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m PT at BMO Field, with local television coverage on JOEtv beginning at 4:00 p.m. PT and regional coverage on ROOT SPORTS.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 (4) – Real Salt Lake 1 (1)
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistants: Eduardo Mariscal, Brad Jensen
Fourth Official: TJ Zablocki
Attendance: 17,087
Weather: Cloudy and 82 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL – Joao Plata (penalty) 43’
SEA – Nelson Valdez 51’
SHOOTOUT RESULTS
SEA – Herculez Gomez – Scored
RSL – Juan Manuel Martinez - Scored
SEA – Jordan Morris – Scored
RSL – Joao Plata – Saved
SEA – Zach Scott – Scored
RSL – Kyle Beckerman – Saved
SEA – Erik Friberg - Scored
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Herculez Gomez (caution) 42’
RSL – Javier Morales (caution) 93’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Tyler Miller; Oniel Fisher, Zach Scott, Tony Alfaro, Dylan Remick; Nathan Sturgis, Cristian Roldan, Zach Mathers (Erik Friberg 64’); Herculez Gomez, Nelson Valdez (Joevin Jones 100’), Oalex Anderson (Jordan Morris 79’)
Substitutes not used: Charlie Lyon, Tyrone Mears, Michael Farfan, Aaron Kovar
Total shots: 16 (Valdez, 5)
Shots on goal: 5 (Anderson/Gomez, 2)
Fouls: 16 (Fisher, 4)
Offside: 5 (Valdez, 2)
Corner-kicks: 5 (Friberg, 3)
Saves: 8 (Miller, 8)
Real Salt Lake – Jeff Attinella; Tony Beltran, Justen Glad (Chris Wingert 119’), Aaron Maund, Demar Phillips; Luke Mulholland (Jordan Allen 72’), Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman; Juan Manuel Martinez, Yura Movsisyan, Joao Plata
Substitutes not used: Jamison Olave, John Stertzer, Omar Holness, Nick Rimando, Olmes Garcia
Total shots: 30 (Morales/Martinez, 6)
Shots on goal: 9 (3 players, 2)
Fouls: 10 (Phillips, 3)
Offside: 1 (Phillips, 1)
Corner-kicks: 17 (Morales, 10)
Saves: 3 (Attinella, 3)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is now 22-2-4 in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, including a 4-1-3 mark on the road.
- Nelson Valdez has now scored in the regular season (August 16, 2015 vs. Orlando City SC), postseason (October 28, 2015 vs. LA Galaxy in Western Conference Knockout Round), Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (September 23, 2015 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC) and in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He becomes the sixth player in club history to score in all four rounds of competition, joining Osvaldo Alonso, Lamar Neagle, Eddie Johnson, Brad Evans and Clint Dempsey.
- Goalkeeper Tyler Miller recorded eight saves in 120 minutes of action for the Rave Green, which tied the club’s record in the tournament. The second-year Northwestern product made his MLS debut at Rio Tinto Stadium on March 12, when RSL topped Seattle 2-1.
- Sounders FC has competed in a penalty-kick shootout on four occasions in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, with three advancements. The last occurrence was in 2014 against the San Jose Earthquakes in the Fifth Round, in which Seattle won 4-1 in the shootout.
- RSL’s 30 shot attempts are the most-ever by an opposing side across all competitions in Sounders FC history.
