If the Seattle Sounders are going to make a deep run toward their fifth U.S. Open Cup title, they’ll have to do it on the road.
A geographically weighted tournament draw Thursday sends the Sounders on to Real Salt Lake for their fifth-round match at 7 p.m. June 28 in Sandy, Utah. If they win there, they will travel again in the quarterfinal round, that time visiting the winner of the Portland Timbers-Los Angeles Galaxy match.
Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said he favors tournament draws, even though this one wasn’t kind to his team.
“U.S. Soccer has worked hard to make it more transparent than it has been in the past,” he said. “I didn’t think when I was a college coach that buying games was a good way to go, and I don’t feel that way as a pro coach. I think a draw is the fairest thing.”
The Sounders opened the tournament Wednesday with a 2-0 win over the Kitsap Pumas at Starfire Sports Stadium.
The club resumes its Major League Soccer regular season at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the New York Red Bulls.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
