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Sounders Face LA Galaxy in US Open Cup Quarterfinal

By Ben Renner

Jul 17, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder Fanendo Adi (9) and Seattle Sounders defender Chad Marshall (14) compete for control of a pass during the second half at Providence Park. The Timbers won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 17, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder Fanendo Adi (9) and Seattle Sounders defender Chad Marshall (14) compete for control of a pass during the second half at Providence Park. The Timbers won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fresh off a disappointing 3-1 loss to Portland in MLS play, the Sounders head to LA to face the Galaxy in the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.

The Sounders will play the LA Galaxy tomorrow in the US Open Cup quarterfinals at the StubHub Center’s Track Stadium in Carson, California at 7:30 p.m. The game will not be televised, but there will be a livestream available on soundersfc.com.

The match will be played in the track and field stadium located just outside of the StubHub Center because of the CrossFit Games, which begin today in the big stadium. This secondary venue has only a 2,000 permanent seating capacity, but it can be expanded to accommodate as many as 20,000 fans. There has been no indication of how much the track and field stadium will be modified to add seating.

The Sounders have been successful in US Open Cup play in their history, boasting a crucial home field advantage at Starfire Sports Complex in years past and they have been almost as good on the road in the US Open Cup. They are 6-2 in US Open Cup play away from Seattle.

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For the Sounders, this quarterfinal match against the LA Galaxy will be the fifth match in 15 games. The Galaxy are coming off a home victory over the Houston Dynamo on Friday and have had a bit more rest.

Coach Sigi Schmid said he will approach this game the same way he has approached US Open Cup games in the past, using a mix of regular starters and bench players to round out the lineup. MLS coaches at this stage in the season always have to balance the rigors of the US Open Cup tournament with regular season MLS play. For the Sounders, the month of July has been especially busy.

Expect to see young players like goalkeeper Tyler Miller, who had the game of his life in the last US Open Cup round against Real Salt Lake, central defender Tony Alfaro, and outside midfielder Oalex Anderson while the veterans rest ahead of a crucial MLS match against Sporting Kansas City this weekend.

Next: Sounders Fall in Portland

Traditionally, the US Open Cup has been a catalyst for struggling Sounders squads. Let’s see if they can turn around their season with success in the tourney this year.

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