The Seattle Sounders made it five USL clubs in the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, defeating Chivas USA 3-1 Wednesday night at Qwest Field.
Laurent Merlin gave the Red-and-White the lead in the 16th minute, but Sebastien Le Toux scored once in each half, and Roger Levesque added some late insurance to send Chivas USA packing in the third round for the second consecutive year.
The five USL teams are the most that the lower divisions have sent to the quarterfinals of the nation's oldest soccer tournament since MLS teams joined the fray in 1996. At least one and as many as four USL teams will take part in the tournament's semifinal round.
Merlin got the visitors on the board just after the quarter hour, using a pair of defensive miscues to his advantage. Former New York Red Bulls defender Taylor Graham slipped, allowing Merlin to get behind the defense, and the Frenchman's shot caromed off the foot of defender Danny Jackson and in.
Chivas carried the play for much of the first half, but just before the break, the Sounders drew level through a pair of former MLS role players. Leighton O'Brien, who played for Real Salt Lake in 2005, won the ball and passed to former San Jose Earthquakes forward Levesque. Levesque then laid the ball off for Le Toux, who hammered home the equalizer.
Just six minutes into the second half, the home side took the lead, and it was Le Toux again who found the back of the net.
O'Brien started the play by sending Levesque in behind the defense with a ball over the top. Levesque played a one-time pass across to Le Toux, who ripped the go-ahead goal past Chivas USA 'keeper Preston Burpo.
Searching for more offense, Chivas brought on John Cunliffe for Orlando Perez just before the hour mark and replaced Alex Zotinca with Rodrigo Lopez in the 68th. The move backfired, though, as Levesque stamped his side's ticket to the quarterfinals in the 82nd minute.
Former Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Josh Gardner broke down the left side and crossed into the area, where Le Toux dummied the ball and Levesque slipped it past Burpo.
The Sounders will now host the Colorado Rapids in the quarterfinals on Aug. 7.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
