TUKWILA, Wash. — An Osvaldo Alonso penalty in the 50th minute opened up the floodgates as the Seattle Sounders scored five second-half goals to end Cal FC’s Cinderella run with a 5-0 win in the fourth round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday at the Starfire Sports Complex.
Cal FC were whistled for the penalty when a Fredy Montero shot was ruled to have been handled in the box. Alonso, who has now scored in three straight Open Cup games, stepped to the spot and put it past a diving Derby Carillo.
Eight minutes later, Montero finished a well-placed Cordell Cato cross to make it 2-0.
The deluge really got started, though, in the 67th minute. That’s when Andy Rose headed home a ball that was bouncing around in the box for the 3-0 lead. Montero then scored on a free kick one minute later, and Alonso finished off the night with a spectacular volley from 30 yards out in the 70th minute.
Montero and Alonso have now combined to score eight goals in their past six Open Cup games.
Cal FC didn’t have a ton of chances in the first half, but had to be satisfied with going into halftime tied 0-0. The Sounders outshot them 11-2, but only put two shots on frame. The bulk of those shots came from outside the penalty area as the visitors mounted an effective rearguard action.
The Sounders’ most dangerous first half chance near goal came in the 42nd minute when Sammy Ochoa found a little bit of space off a Marc Burch feed from the left side. But Carillo was able to make a diving save to preserve the scoreless tie.
Cal FC did have a couple nice stretches in which they were able to control possession, but were mostly content to attempt low-percentage, high-reward through balls. None came particularly close to connecting. Their best chance came off a corner kick in which Danny Barrera found himself with space about 16 yards out. Barrera’s low shot was right at Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.
Seattle now hit the road for the quarterfinals, facing San Jose at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium on June 26.
