TUKWILA, Wash. - Chivas USA continued its string of disappointing performances in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, falling 2-0 Tuesday to the reigning USL-1 champion Seattle Sounders in a Third Round match played at Starfire Sports Complex. The loss - on goals from Seattle's Taylor Graham and Sebastien Le Toux - marked Chivas USA's second straight elimination from the prestigious knockout tournament at the hands of the USL Sounders, having fallen 3-1 at Seattle also in the Third Round on July 18, 2007. Chivas joined the Houston Dynamo and New York Red Bulls as the three MLS teams to fall victim to USL opponents at this stage of the 2008 Open Cup.
For Tuesday's match, Chivas USA head coach Preki presented a lineup with a number of changes from Sunday's 1-1 league draw against the New York Red Bulls. Veteran first-teamers Claudio Suárez, Jesse Marsch, Carey Talley and Francisco Mendoza all began the game on the bench, while Ante Razov and Bobby Burling were left behind in Southern California as precautionary measures after picking up minor knocks over the weekend.
From the outset, Chivas and the Sounders played at an intense rhythm, with neither team able to create a clear scoring opportunity. Seattle created the game's first half-chance at the 15-minute mark, as Josh Gardner's fired left-footed bid from 20 yards, but the former LA Galaxy player's shot flashed several feet wide of Brad Guzan's left post. Chivas USA's Justin Braun countered Garner's attempt with an individual bid from just outside the penalty area in the 24th, but his shot was also a wide of the mark.
Seattle would take the lead just minutes before halftime. In the 42nd, a Sacha Kljestan lost the ball at midfield to the Sounders' Kenji Treschuk., who played a deft through pass to forward Sebastien Le Toux. The 2007 USL-1 MVP's shot forced a kick save from Brad Guzan and enlivened the Starfire Sports Complex crowd of 2,997. On the ensuing corner kick, Josh Gardner played a precise cross to the near post, and Taylor Graham lost his mark and rose above a pack of Chivas USA defenders to head the ball past Guzan from eight yards out.
After the break, Chivas USA upped the tempo and increased the pressure, challenging goalkeeper Chris Eylander to make a number of saves. Atiba Harris (54') and Kraig Chiles (57') each had good looks at goal in the early going, but their shots were hit directly at the Sounders goalkeeper. At the hour mark, Preki inserted Francisco Mendoza for Justin Braun (the first of four substitutions allowed by U.S. Open Cup rules), as Jonathan Bornstein was sent up top to pair with Atiba Harris. Jesse Marsch (65') and Anthony Hamilton (73') would make their way into the game in the following minutes.
But it was not enough. In the 78th, substitute Danny Jackson nearly but the nail in Chivas' coffin when he fired a shot from 25 yards off the crossbar.
Then, a minute later, goalkeeper Eylander, after saving a deflected Sacha Kljestan freekick, punted the ball downfield. Guzan, Jim Curtin and right back Daniel Paladini appeared to get their lines crossed in the penalty area and, after Curtin headed the ball backwards at the top of the area, Le Toux pounced its chance and chipped a shot over Guzan and into the empty net to give Seattle a 2-0 lead.
Although Atiba Harris and Anthony Hamilton would each have late-game chances for the Red-and-White, and Le Toux would miss two clear chances breakaways, the game ended 2-0 and Chivas USA was sent home after another disappointing U.S. Open Cup performance.
In four attempts, the Red-and-White have never advanced to the Quarterfinals of the tournament, having been eliminated in the Third Round by Seattle Sounders (2008, 2007) and amateur side Roma FC of Dallas (2006), as well as the LA Galaxy in the Fourth Round in 2005. Chivas USA's only win in five U.S. Open Cup matches came on July 13, 2005 against USL-2 side Charlotte Eagles in the tournament's Third Round.
Chivas USA returns tomorrow to The Home Depot Center, where it will train Thursday and Friday mornings before hosting the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. PT. The Red-and-White presents a Double Dose of Independence Day for soccer fans, with a special postgame Fireworks Fiesta following the match. For tickets, starting at just $14, call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 2:0 Chivas USA (MLS)
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Third Round - Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Starfire Sports Complex - Tukwila, Washington - 7:00 p.m. PT
Goals:
SEA - Taylor Graham (Josh Gardner) 43
SEA - Sebastien Le Toux (unassisted) 80
Lineups:
Seattle Sounders (4-4-2): Chris Eylander; Taylor Graham[C], Kevin Sakuda, Zach Scott, Michael Rodriguez; Kenji Treschuk, Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, Leighton O'Brien (Nik Besagno 81), Josh Gardner (Danny Jackson 62); Andre Schmid (Noah Merl 70), Sebastien Le Toux (Craig Tomlinson 93).
Subs not used: Ben Dragavon, Youssouf Kante, Jason Cascio.
Seattle Sounders Head Coach: Brian Schmetzer
Chivas USA (4-3-3): Brad Guzan; Jonathan Bornstein, Jim Curtin, Shavar Thomas, Daniel Paladini; Sacha Kljestan (Keith Savage 83), Paulo Nagamura[C], Kraig Chiles (Jesse Marsch 65); Jorge Flores (Anthony Hamilton 73), Justin Braun (Francisco Mendoza 60), Atiba Harris.
Subs not used: Dan Kennedy, Claudio Suarez, Carey Talley.
Chivas USA Head Coach: Preki Radosavljevic.
Cautions:
SEA - Andre Schmid 64
CHV - Sacha Kljestan 69
SEA - Leighton O'Brien 80
Ejections:
None.
Referee: Yader Reyes
Assistants: Jeff Hosking, Josh Wilkens
Fourth Official: Will Niccolls
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 75º F.
