Sounders devastate MLS' Rapids 5-0 in record defeat
Published on August 8, 2007 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL - The Seattle Sounders made history Tuesday night in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in a dominant performance that saw the USL First Division side hand the Colorado Rapids the worst defeat in the history of the tournament for any Major League Soccer team against any opposition as they fell 5-0. Also moving onto the semifinals were USL-1 Carolina RailHawks and MLS' FC Dallas.
Games available for free viewing On Demand at www.USLlive.com
The historic victory gave USL two semifinalists for only the second time in the history of the tournament as the Carolina RailHawks escaped a close fought affair at home against the defending USL Second Division champion Richmond Kickers with a 1-0 decision that saw the home side need two goal line clearances by field players.
The Charleston Battery were nearly the second team from USL to move on with their game needing overtime to decide a victory, but the hosts were unable to sweep the two Texas MLS clubs as they fell 2-1 to Dallas after knocking off the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo in the last round. Dallas needed penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw against the Battery in last year's tournament to advance.
The Battery and the Rochester Rhinos were the last USL duo to reach the semifinals of the US Open Cup in the same year, accomplishing the feat in 1999 when the Rhinos went on to capture the title.
Richmond's loss leaves the Harrisburg City Islanders, set to meet the New England Revolution in Gillette Stadium Wednesday, as the lone USL Second Division club remaining. The 1997 San Francisco Bay Seals are the only previous US third division level club to advance to the semifinals in the history of the tournament during the MLS era. Harrisburg upset DC United of MLS in the previous round 1-0.
The RailHawks and Sounders became the fifth and sixth teams in USL history to reach the semifinal round of the tournament in the MLS era beginning in 1996. It is the seventh and eighth occurrence, respectively, as Charleston and Rochester have both advanced this far twice previously.
USL First Division Stories from August 8, 2007
- RailHawks Continue Quest for the US Open Cup in New England - North Carolina FC
- US Open Cup Semi-Final Tickets on Sale Monday - Seattle Sounders
- Timbers Host Thunder And Whitecaps At PGE Park This Week - Portland Timbers
- Sounders devastate MLS' Rapids 5-0 in record defeat - USL-1
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
