Sounders 2 : 1 Houston Dynamo (After Extra Time) – US Open Cup

Seattle Advance to Cup Final on Night of Passion

July 21

Seattle advanced to the US Open Cup final with a hard earned win on a barnstorming night at Tukwila. An extra time goal from Stephen King separated the sides after they had finished 1-1 after the regulation 90 minutes.

But although you could begin to explain the game with statistics, they could never do justice to the night of passion and entertainment that this cup tie was. Both sides contributed immensely, and the bravery of Brian Mullan and Tally Hall was a credit to footballers everywhere. 4895 roared Seattle onto victory and plans to travel to DC on September 1st are sure to occupy the discussion around the cyber water cooler that has become the Sounders fan grapevine.

But to briefly use statistics to augment what the crowd witnessed, Sounders outshot their visitors by 26 to 7, with the figures for the second half of regulation being 12-0. Shots on goal finished 12-4 and Tally Hall made ten saves. “He’s a good keeper. I’m not surprised at all,” understated Dominic Kinnear after the game. Brian Mullan played much of the game on one leg having ripped his ankle in the field turf. “You know exactly what you get with Mulls. He was hurt came off, we asked how he felt. We tried to talk him into sitting it on the bench and taking it easy. But he wanted to continue playing, so he occupied and made some decent runs. It’s not surprising. The guy is an absolute battler.”

Nine yellow cards were shown, two of them to Jhon Hurtado who became the sixth Sounder to be ejected this season.

Dom Kinnear surprised a few observers by dropping Pat Onstad and giving the nod to Tally Hall. Cam Weaver and Craig Waibel started on the bench, but Bobby Boswell made his first appearance against the Sounders. Sanna Nyassi and Peter Vagenas got starts from Sigi Schmid, partnering Seb Le Toux and Stephen King in midfield.

95 degree heat at 7pm was more reminiscent of Houston than Seattle, as 4895 packed into Starfire Sports Centre in Tukwila. DC United had beaten Rochester 2-1 so the winners faced a trip to the capital, as is perhaps fitting for a cup final.

The first chance fell to Dominic Oduro in the 6th minute but he fired wide with just Keller to beat after Danny Cruz fed him a clear chance. The finish was very poor and Keller really should have been tested at his right post. This did not disguise that Houston had made the better start and dominated the first ten minutes. Inside that period, Jaqua had received treatment for a head wound from his former colleagues and was now bandaged up, but continued to bleed profusely despite that.

Just after the 10th minute, it was right back James Riley who gave Hall his first test, forcing him to tip the defender’s drive over the bar. Houston came back a little into it with Nyassi causing a few problems with his pace as he had done against Chelsea.

Fredy Montero won a free kick turning Cruz after the quarter hour, and from it, Tyson Wahl met Le Toux’s free kick at the far post but could only head into Hall’s arms. Montero then missed Seattle’s best chance by trying to turn Julius James far too many turns before shooting, after a speculative through ball had found him clean through. James couldn’t believe his luck as he eventually cleared.

Dynamo bounced back, forcing a corner which Keller had to come for, but both sides seemed relieved to have made it to the 20th minute mark unscathed. Unscathed wasn’t the word for Jaqua who continued to bleed, and was off the pitch when Montero won a free kick on the right. When the former Houston forward came back on, he had a numberless shirt to hide the blood that had draped onto his original shirt.

Houston Draw First and Second Blood

James received the first yellow for tugging Montero’s shirt as the Colombian turned him just before the half hour, although the defender seemed aggrieved by the degree of embellishment. Le Toux blasted the free kick just over, but the game was becoming competitive to say the least, although to both sides’ credit, it never turned nasty.

Shortly after Le Toux’s effort came the opening goal. Akinbiyi put the visitors 1-0 up just before 32 pulsating minutes had elapsed, seemingly from nothing. The defence allowed the ball to bobble and no-one went for it. Akinbiyi looked as surprised as anyone when the ball fell to his feet, but he was ready when it did, scoring emphatically.

Returning Canadian international Andrew Hainault brought Jaqua down as the match became increasingly fractious. From the free kick, Vagenas could only fire over again, as Seattle struggled to get chances on target. There was no further action before half time and Houston had good reason to be pleased by both score and their performance at the interval, although twelve first half fouls had been fortunate to only earn one yellow card.

Sounders started the second half well. Bobby Boswell saved Houston’s lead just three minutes in when he headed a Jhon Hurtado header off the line. He and Andrew Hainault were becoming increasingly pressed, but up to the task.

13 minutes into the second period and Julius James threw himself bravely at a Nyassi volley after the Gambian had controlled neatly with his first touch. Both players were removed within a minute with Mike Chabala and Steve Zakuani being their replacements. Hurtado headed another clear chance over from the corner. Jaqua picked up a booking and persistent infringement seemed to have been the likeliest reason, as he had been a frequent thorn in the sides of the visitors.

Cruz hacked down Montero who was clearly beginning to feel he hadn’t received enough protection from the referees. Jaqua brilliantly found Zakuani in the box and he turned a defender once but shot so tamely that Hall had an eternity to fall on it, as it became clear Sounders’ finishing was lacking in quality. Hurtado was booked for what seemed like a clean tackle on Akinbiyi just after the halfway point. Davis’ subsequent free kick was headed over.

Mullan came on and his first act was to join the list of players fouling Montero for which he was booked. Le Toux’s delivery at least tested Hall which was more than many others had done.

After 72, Steve Zakuani completely skinned Brian Mullan. His shot beat Hall but not the right hand post. Alonso hit the rebound wide, and it seemed, with just 15 minutes to go, Houston were in sight of their first ever open cup final.

Jaqua nearly put Montero through, but a defender did enough to put him off. Boswell blocked a Zakuani slide pass into the box and another shoving match ensued in the Houston box, while Mullan sat down trying to attract the physio’s attention. A combination of the pitch and a collision with a teammate had combined to damage his ankle and it was a pivotal moment as Houston had to reorganise to put Mullan out front rather than further back where he could cost a goal.

Tyson Wahl fired in a cross which Boswell headed out, and shortly after Jaqua seriously tested the referee’s patience when he flattened Kei Kamara in the Houston box.

Zakuani fed Montero whose shot was cleared off the line with seven minutes to go, and Stephen King had a blast which was deflected for a corner.

King scooped one forward to Jaqua who set up Hurtado perfectly. Amazingly he blasted over with a clear shot just eight yards out, and half as many minutes left. Alonso tested Hall from long range – still nothing to show for an increasingly desperate Seattle attack. Just 80 seconds were left though when Seattle finally broke through. Jaqua fired one in from close range and Kamara just deflected it further in, despite a valiant effort to block. It was tough on Houston who had been playing with a wounded Mullan up front, but Seattle’s efforts did merit an equaliser.

Despite a Bout of Yellow Fever, Stephen Becomes King of Tukwila

Extra time began with seven players on yellows. Sounders had had a less tiring schedule lately and Mullan was at half speed, so should have started favourites. But Davis found Mullan’s head with an early free kick and the invalid headed over. Jaqua got involved again, this time with Davis, and referee Edvin Jurisevic gave him what had to be his final warning.

Alonso found the effervescent Zakuani on the left, and Hayden missed his cut back completely. It fell to Stephen King who fired home to give Seattle the lead in the 95th minute.

Tyrone Marshall had another lapse of concentration which luckily only led to a corner. Even from that Davis found Kamara's header which flew just over, as Sounders seemed to be conspiring to throw their lead away. Half time of extra time came and Sounders were 15 minutes from DC.

Levesque should have shot when King found him with a cross field pass but he passed to Jaqua in a worse position. Hurtado picked up the eighth yellow, but unfortunately his second of the night, which led to a red, and suddenly Houston saw a chance. The free kick was poor and broke to Zakuani who raced up the pitch. He found Montero whose shot was blocked by a tracking defender.

Zakuani soon after raced down the left and decided to go it alone, Hall making the save. Le Toux crossed from a short corner and found Montero. His header elicited the save of the night from Hall. It became a coconut shy in the Dynamo defence as Levesque had two shots bravely blocked. Houston hit back and Akinbiyi misdirected a header but Keller was still not tested.

“It was nice to see Nate Jaqua once more clad in an orange jersey, given to him by Bobby Boswell. A class act from a clearly devastated opponent, but an act the night deserved.”

John Michael Hayden then lost the ball to Nate Jaqua who found King. KIng looked up to see Zakuani free and once more Tally Hall rescued Houston from albeit a weak finish. Zakuani cleverly chipped a corner over two defenders to Le Toux. He found Jaqua whose outstretched foot could only direct the ball wide, as Seattle dominated without closing the deal.

Three minutes left and Keller was finally tested by Kamara with a long range effort. He was equal to it. Marshall was ridiculously penalised for a clean tackle on Mullan in the 119th, and Houston were drinking at the last chance saloon. Marshall got to Brad Davis’ free kick first and the ball broke to Stephen King who headed down to the opposite corner flag to eat up some time, although Zakuani was free inside.

Seconds later the referee ended the match with Seattle progressing to the final against a plucky Texan side. Mullan had to be carried off the pitch by medics.

The on pitch celebrations were well deserved and it was nice to see, despite everything, Nate Jaqua once more clad in an orange jersey, given to him by Bobby Boswell. A class act from a clearly devastated opponent, but an act the night deserved all the same.

Seattle Sounders: Kasey Keller; James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Hurtado, Tyson Wahl (Roger Levesque 83′); Sanna Nyassi (Steve Zakuani 60′), Peter Vagenas (Osvaldo Alonso 65′), Stephen King, Seb Le Toux; Nate Jaqua, Fredy Montero

Substitutes: Terry Boss, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Lamar Neagle

Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall; Julius James (Michael Chalaba 59′), Danny Cruz, Bobby Boswell, Adrian Hainault; Erik Ustruck, John Michael Hayden, Brad Davis, Corey Ashe (Brian Mullan 69′), Dominic Oduro (Kei Kamara 65′), Ade Akinbiyi,

Substitutes: Pat Onstad, Chad Barrett, Craig Waibel, Cam Weaver,

Attendance: 4895

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