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Seattle Savor First Cup Win As MLS Club
The stage was set for a fantastic U.S. Open Cup Final. That’s what everyone got.
Sep 3, 2009 1:41:28 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C. In a game that was as much about the war of words between front offices as it was the teams on the field, the Seattle Sounders won their first ever trophy, defeated D.C. United 2-1 in the U.S. Open Cup Final.
Seattle was disappointed about not having the opportunity to host the final. United was offended by what Seattle said in reaction to losing out in hosting the final. That was the source of a bit of bad blood between the two teams. But that created the atmosphere seen on Wednesday night, as 17,329 fans attended the match at RFK Stadium.
Exciting soccer was almost a given. In their previous match, in league play, Seattle and D.C. played out to a 3-3 draw, one of the more exciting matches in the league this year. Although this game lacked that amount of goals, it certainly was not down to either side holding back.
In the end, the old boys of the two sides, D.C. United, lost out in a bid to win their 13th trophy in club history.
The turning point of the match happened halfway through the second half. United were dominating the proceedings in the half, but in one fell swoop, they were a goal down, and had their keeper sent off, as Josh Wicks stomped on Fredy Montero after the goal.
“I did not see it [the incident]. But some of our guys said they saw it,” said United coach Tom Soehn after the match. “A player does not come before the team, and he’s got to be smarter than that.”
On the other side of the coin, Seattle was understandably jubilant after their first triumph at the first asking in a cup final. Head coach Sigi Schmid, no stranger to success in MLS, successfully guided Seattle to an Open Cup victory in an expansion year, only the second time that has ever happened.
“Its important for our club and our team,” said Schmid after the match, already drenched in the celebratory champagne. “It’s tremendous for our fans to get this win, and be able to take this back to Seattle.”
The importance of this match was not lost on the Seattle players as well. They were well aware of the squabble between the front offices of each side, and prided themselves in being able to show that they belonged in the league.
“We really felt that this game should have been played in Seattle,” stated Seattle captain Kasey Keller after the match. “And we really wanted to make a point to come here, and win it for our fans, and for our organization, that have made this a first class experience for everybody.”
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more news from Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
Seattle was disappointed about not having the opportunity to host the final. United was offended by what Seattle said in reaction to losing out in hosting the final. That was the source of a bit of bad blood between the two teams. But that created the atmosphere seen on Wednesday night, as 17,329 fans attended the match at RFK Stadium.
Exciting soccer was almost a given. In their previous match, in league play, Seattle and D.C. played out to a 3-3 draw, one of the more exciting matches in the league this year. Although this game lacked that amount of goals, it certainly was not down to either side holding back.
In the end, the old boys of the two sides, D.C. United, lost out in a bid to win their 13th trophy in club history.
The turning point of the match happened halfway through the second half. United were dominating the proceedings in the half, but in one fell swoop, they were a goal down, and had their keeper sent off, as Josh Wicks stomped on Fredy Montero after the goal.
“I did not see it [the incident]. But some of our guys said they saw it,” said United coach Tom Soehn after the match. “A player does not come before the team, and he’s got to be smarter than that.”
On the other side of the coin, Seattle was understandably jubilant after their first triumph at the first asking in a cup final. Head coach Sigi Schmid, no stranger to success in MLS, successfully guided Seattle to an Open Cup victory in an expansion year, only the second time that has ever happened.
“Its important for our club and our team,” said Schmid after the match, already drenched in the celebratory champagne. “It’s tremendous for our fans to get this win, and be able to take this back to Seattle.”
The importance of this match was not lost on the Seattle players as well. They were well aware of the squabble between the front offices of each side, and prided themselves in being able to show that they belonged in the league.
“We really felt that this game should have been played in Seattle,” stated Seattle captain Kasey Keller after the match. “And we really wanted to make a point to come here, and win it for our fans, and for our organization, that have made this a first class experience for everybody.”
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more news from Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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