STARFIRE SPORTS COMPLEX - The Seattle Sounders opened their 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign with a riveting, roller-coaster matchup against visiting USL side San Diego Loyal. A packed atmosphere at the Sounders’ infamous secondary ground led to a cloudy night as the two sides went to war in a tournament known for its “cupsets”. Despite a valiant effort from a Loyal side buoyed by a strong performance from Liga MX and MLS veteran Joe Corona, Seattle prevailed in a 5-4 thriller after extra time.
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s words in the wake of last weekend’s victory over Minnesota United at Lumen Field, promising a fiery return to the tournament after a disappointing elimination in their first match against the San Jose Earthquakes last year, took the form of a youth-heavy lineup featuring starts for Ethan Dobbelare, Dylan Teves, Reed Baker-Whiting, and Tacoma Defiance signee Cody Baker. The four had a promising first half, combining to play a part in both goals.
Nathan Berg / Berg Media
After Seattle’s performance, a win in the midweek, Schmetzer reflected on what the match meant to the community, saying, “...for the entire organization, this was a great game…I’ve seen a lot of games on this field and this was a pretty freaking great game.”
Dobbelare and Baker-Whiting formed a formidable partnership on the right, raining down fire upon a backpedaling San Diego backline. The two, attack-minded midfielders by trade, made the most of a San Diego midfield that struggled to expand and compress with speed, something that was quickly picked up by Teves and Fredy Montero.
The second goal came as a result of exceptional movement by Dobbelare, who tracked Léo Chú’s foray down the left and ghosted away from San Diego fullback Elijah Martin before returning to tuck home a mishandled cross that fell on the edge of the six-yard box. Dobbelare’s work displays a level of intelligence that will be vital as his career develops - the vision and intelligence to drift away from a defender there is something that can bag him many goals on the break.
Nathan Berg / Berg Media
Of particular interest was the fullback pairing - two Defiance stalwarts selected by Schmetzer in Baker-Whiting and Baker - who seemed to be licensed to step into the attack. Both acquitted themselves well, with Baker grabbing a second-half assist for First Team debutant Paul Rothrock. Rothrock has featured with Defiance in 2023, grabbing five assists in the new season, but Wednesday saw him snatch his first goal for either side.
The fifteen players who appeared for Seattle throughout the 120 minutes all had an impressive level of tactical familiarity with Schmetzer’s system, which remained largely unchanged from what has been on display at Lumen Field throughout the season. Schmetzer’s work with Defiance manager Wade Webber was evident: his decision to play Baker at left back was helped by his knowledge that, “Wade has played him there a couple of times”.
The ability to bring youth players into the fold is a tactic that Schmetzer and Seattle have exploited several times. Last year’s injury crisis saw the Sounders sign several players to short-term contracts, and the rule was once again used for the developmental benefit of academy and youth players. Baker-Whiting said that performances like these, “(are) really important to see…it helps show them that there’s a path (and) it can be really motivating.”, and the connection is obvious in matches like these.
Nathan Berg / Berg Media
San Diego’s mentality was near-infallible, as they fought back from repeated deficits to take the match to extra time where they would equalize once again. While the performance ultimately fell short of what sides like Memphis 901 would achieve the same night, they traveled back to SoCal with their heads held high. Rumors of their candidacy as an MLS expansion club spiked once again on social media, and the match certainly displayed their ability to be competitive against one of the league’s premier sides.
Seattle returns to competition in Sandy, Utah in their second matchup of the season against Real Salt Lake, who visited the Sounders in March, losing 2-0. A homecoming for Albert Rusnák and Freddy Juarez, the match will be streamed on MLS Season Pass. The Sounders were also drawn on Thursday against the LA Galaxy in the Open Cup fourth round, where they’ll travel for a match on May 9.
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