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USL Tacoma Defiance

Sounders FC 2 Earns 4-2 Extra Time Win over Kitsap Pumas SC

May 21, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Tacoma Defiance News Release


TUKWILA, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC 2 overcame an audacious second-half effort from visiting Kitsap Pumas SC to earn a 4-2 win Wednesday night in the Second Round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Starfire Stadium. Pablo Rossi scored two goals, including the extra time game-winner, as S2 advances to the Third Round to face Portland Timbers 2 at home on Wednesday, May 27 at 1:00 p.m. PT.

S2 opened the match with a pair of first-half goals before Kitsap leveled in the second half with goals in the 66th and 90th minute. Rossi's game-winner came via a curling free kick in the third minute of extra time, and Andy Craven added an insurance goal with an empty-net tally just before the final whistle. The frenzied match featured seven yellow cards, including one Kitsap ejection, with five coming from Kitsap and two from the host side.

Seattle began the scoring in the 26th minute on a goal by Victor Mansaray. Nate Tongovula sent in a cross from the right side into the box, where Qudus Lawal received the pass and directed the ball to Mansaray. The Sounders FC Homegrown Player was able to beat the keeper to his left for the close-range finish for his first goal across all competitions in 2015.

Rossi added another goal just before halftime in the 45th minute. From the midfield, Tongovula sent a through-ball to open space that found a streaking Rossi, who burst into the box and netted the low-strike to the far post for the 2-0 lead.

Kitsap Pumas pulled even in the second half from a pair of goals by Mike Ramos. In the 66th minute, Ramos struck the underside of the crossbar on a volley, then completed the brace on a long shot from outside the scoring area to even the score at 2-2 in second-half stoppage time.

Three minutes into the first period extra frame, Rossi finished his brace and gave S2 a 3-2 lead on a free kick into the right side of the net from 20 yards out. S2 then secured the victory with a goal by Craven in the fixture's waning seconds. After being pursued by Kitsap goalkeeper Matt Grosey near midfield, Craven lofted a backwards flick towards the goal, then out-chased Grosey for the empty-net goal. Craven and Rossi are tied for a team-high five goals across all competitions.

Tonight's match marked the club debut for three members of the Sounders FC starting lineup: goalkeeper Saif Kerewala, defender Tosh Samkange and Tongovula.

S2 is back in action on May 22 on the road against Portland Timbers 2 at University of Portland's Merlo Field (7:00 p.m. PT / SoundersFC.com).

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