DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK - The Seattle Sounders exited the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32, the sixth straight year that they have failed to reach the Round of 16. A goal from Paul Rothrock was not enough to salvage the Rave Green’s effort to add to their four titles.
Much like their squad against the San Diego Loyal in the third round, Brian Schmetzer opted to select a young side, something he said: “We knew…they had an extra day of rest on both ends of this game (and) obviously their league results haven’t been great, so we knew that Greg (Vanney) was going to start a strong team”. Several players, including goalscorer Rothrock and Eythor Björgolfsson (selected from the University of Kentucky in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft) were signed on short-term deals from the Sounders’ second team, the Tacoma Defiance.
Sounders FC Communications
A struggling Galaxy organization presented something close to their starters, with Chicharito and Riqui Puig remaining in the squad, amongst others. Schmetzer said that the shift wasn’t entirely forced, and explained, “...we had lots of conversations about it…but this was a lineup that we felt most comfortable with”.
Seattle conceded an early goal for the second time in as many matches after Julian Aude hammered home a recycled corner kick in the third minute. Backup goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland got a hand to the ball, but could not keep the strike from the back of the net.
The finish resulted from sustained pressure, exacerbated by the tendency of Seattle’s midfield pivot of Josh Atencio and Sota Kitahara to get caught upfield in transition. While the Sounders were able to move up the pitch, their defensive line would be stranded, leaving space in midfield for Galaxy Designated Player Puig to pick arcing passes towards the right side.
Sounders FC Communications
Despite the disappointing concession, Schmetzer believed that Seattle “could’ve ended the half 2-1 (up)”. Dobbelare found the assist to Rothrock in the 68th minute with a cross that evaded multiple in the penalty area to be headed home by the Sounders academy graduate. His second in as many matches with the First Team, Rothrock said postmatch, “I feel really grateful…the coaching staff has put a bunch of trust in us young guys and I think a lot of us stepped up”.
Also of note was the fullback pairing, featuring Cody Baker and Reed Baker-Whiting. Both drew praise from Schmetzer, who admitted that Baker, “has definitely played his way into consideration for starting against Houston”, and earmarked Baker-Whiting as a “could-be starter in this league”.
Sounders FC Communications
Baker-Whiting appeared with the First Team in their loss to Sporting Kansas City last Sunday, while Baker is still under contract at Defiance. However, the ongoing injuries to Nouhou and Kelyn Rowe may necessitate his transition within the organization.
With their elimination from the competition comes a loss of a route to qualification for the 2024 Concacaf Champions League - Seattle can now only secure a place in the competition they won in 2022 with victory in MLS Cup or a top-two finish in the Western Conference. The Sounders remain qualified for the 2025 Club World Cup as a result of their 2022 victory.
However, they must still divide their focus, with the newly expanded Leagues Cup set to kick off this summer. Seattle, in a group with Real Salt Lake and Liga MX side Monterrey, will seek to return to the showpiece event, where they lost, 3-2, to León. A month-long break from league action in July and August will allow for another attempt at a trophy.
The squad will travel directly to Houston ahead of their match on Saturday. A reinvigorated Dynamo side poses an essential challenge to Seattle as a club: victory will ensure that they’re back on track, while a loss could drop them further from the electric start that fueled title hopes. The match kicks off at 5:30 PDT, streaming on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
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