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Sounders run ends

August 12, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


(Charleston, SC) - An exciting, drama filled night ended in bitter disappointment for the Seattle Sounders, Tuesday. The Sounders were knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup in the semifinals for the second year running falling to the Charleston Battery 2-1 (4-3) in penalty kicks.

Seattle now returns home and faces a Friday night matchup with the current league leading Puerto Rico Islanders. Kick-off at Starfire is set for 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com.

After the Sounders got on the board in the 20th minute due to an own goal and the Battery equalized in the 33rd minute, the teams played out the remainder of regulation and two fifteen minute overtime periods scoreless before advancing to kicks from the spot where the Battery prevailed 4-3.

Both teams converted their first penalty attempts; Stephen Armstrong for the Battery and Danny Jackson for the Sounders. In the second round, Osvaldo Alonso hit his in but Sebastien Le Toux's effort was saved by Battery keeper and former Sounder, Dusty Hudock.

The Sounders drew level in the third round with Chris Eylander saving Mike Richardson's kick and Kevin Sakuda putting his in the back of the net. Tim Velten and Ciaran O'Brien converted their kicks and the sides were tied 3-3 heading into the fifth and final round of kicks.

Nelson Akwari stepped up for Charleston and quickly dispatched his into the left corner bringing up Sounders recent addition, Kevin Forrest for the final kick. Forrest hit the shot well but it was saved by a diving Dusty Hudock.

The Charleston Battery will play DC United in the Open Cup final on September 3 at RFK Stadium in Washington DC.

The games' only regulation goals came in what was, for the most part, a closed, strategic first half of play.

It took both sides some time to find a rhythm and the game's first shot came 19 minutes in from Battery forward Randi Patterson.

A minute later, the Sounders were on the board due to an own goal from Battery midfielder Osvaldo Alonso. The play started when Sounders midfielder Michael Rodriguez fired in a shot from 30 yards that was deflected out for a corner kick.

Josh Gardner took a short corner passing to Youssouf Kante who passed back to Gardner who whipped the ball in. Alonso went to clear the cross but instead deflected it back into the net giving Seattle the early advantage.

Charleston pressed hard for the equalizer and Seattle seemed to have weathered the storm but in the 33rd minute the Battery leveled the score at one goal a piece. The goal started with Kevin Nylen running down the right side and whipping the ball in to forward Darren Spicer who headed the ball down. Eylander did magnificently to save the effort but the rebound came right to the feet of Randi Patterson who the ball in the net.

The goal was the first that Chris Eylander has surrendered in the U.S. Open Cup this season, a stretch 453 minutes long.

The rest of the game was played, for the most part, in the center of the pitch. Over 120 minutes both sides combined for only 18 shots, half of which came in the first half.

The best chance for Seattle came in the second half from the tournament's leading scorer, Sebastien Le Toux, who got free in the 71st minute and went one on one with Hudock. Hudock dove left and saved the effort to keep the sides tied at 1-1.

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