Andy Rose’s stoppage-time goal to give Sounders FC a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake on Friday night had a two-fold impact for Seattle. First, it put a bigger cushion between Sounders FC and the LA Galaxy in the Supporters’ Shield chase with just seven matches left to play. Second, it gave Seattle momentum heading into the club’s fifth appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Union.
Seattle is riding a four-game winning streak that includes 4-2 road wins over Chivas USA and the Portland Timbers. With a last-gasp victory over a quality opponent like Real Salt Lake, the Sounders are riding high with a chance to lift the Open Cup trophy for the fourth time.
“We want to try to make this a very special year. We have a special opportunity on Tuesday to win another Open Cup and Philly will be feeling motivated because this is their first opportunity to do that. We are going to be equally motivated, so winning always helps build confidence,” Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid said. “Coming and winning late helps build confidence because no matter how long it goes you have the ability to come back."
Part of the key for Seattle has been the veteran mindset of approaching each game on its own without looking too far ahead on the schedule. That has helped Seattle climb to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings this year while also navigating the mid-week matches of the U.S. Open Cup along the way.
“We have always tried to have the mindset we are going to take it one game at a time. We didn't try to look ahead to next week,” midfielder and captain Brad Evans said. “Maybe if it were our first Open Cup it would be different – maybe a bit anxious to get going. But the reality is this is the fifth [final] and we've done this before.”
While Seattle is loaded with experienced players who have had success in MLS and abroad, there are also plenty of players who have not been through the successful run of three straight Open Cup titles from 2009-2011. In fact, only five players on Seattle’s current roster were in the 18-man lineup for the Open Cup final in 2011 when it topped the Chicago Fire for the third consecutive title – Leo Gonzalez, Osvaldo Alonso, Evans, Lamar Neagle and Zach Scott.
Seattle will lean on that experience and the club’s tradition of success in the Open Cup as it vies for its fourth championship on Tuesday against the Union.
“Obviously this club has a very rich tradition in Open Cup victories, and we look to continue that,” said Andy Rose, who watched from the stands when Seattle lost the 2012 Open Cup title in a shootout against Sporting Kansas City. “We are a very different team than we were last year--a lot of new faces. Guys want to win trophies. I've never won a trophy as a professional, so for all of us this is a big game.”
