skip navigation

Open Cup Roundup – SD Loyal suffers extra time heartbreak against Sounders

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 04/27/23, 2:58AM EDT

Share

Lights FC takes RSL to extra time before falling late; San Antonio, Orange County see cup runs conclude


San Diego Loyal SC players and fans after the club's remarkable clash with Seattle Sounders FC at Starfire Stadium on Wednesday night in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. | Photo courtesy San Diego Loyal SC

TUKWILA, Wash. – San Diego Loyal SC suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat in extra time against Seattle Sounders FC as the club’s run in this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to a close in the Third Round despite rallying from deficits in regulation and extra time before a stoppage-time penalty kick in the 123rd minute by Fredy Montero sent the Sounders through at Starfire Stadium.

The dramatic contest appeared to be heading to a penalty shootout when Jackson Simba tied the match 4-4 in the 116th minute on his first touch of the game after coming on as substitute via a header off a Joe Corona free kick, another remarkable moment in a night that saw SD Loyal fight back throughout. A foul in the penalty area on Seattle’s Travian Sousa proved decisive, however, as Montero’s shot went just out of the reach of SD Loyal goalkeeper Koke Vegas and into the right corner of the net.

Seattle had taken a 2-0 lead at halftime through goals by Montero in the 15th minute and Ethan Dobbelaere 11 minutes later, but the visitors hit back on Corona’s first goal of the night eight minutes into the second half as he converted from the penalty spot with a shot to the bottom-left corner. The Sounders restored their two-goal lead soon after as Paul Rothrock found the net, but then SD Loyal began its first comeback to send the game to extra time.

Former United States international Joe Corona scored his second of the night on a bending free kick with 17 minutes to go in regulation that picked out the top-left corner to give the visitors hope. Then in second-half stoppage time New Zealand international Kyle Adams scored his first goal of 2023 with an exceptional left-footed blast to tie the match and force extra time.

The Sounders responded with a brilliant strike of their own in the first period of extra time as Reed Baker-Whiting cut in from the left and fired a shot to the top-right corner from 20 yards. Simba leveled again for SD Loyal, however, appearing to send the game to a shootout only for Montero’s later winner to grab victory for the four-time Open Cup champions.

REAL SALT LAKE 3, LAS VEGAS LIGHTS FC 1 (AET): Las Vegas Lights FC battled impressively to take Real Salt Lake to extra time at Cashman Field as Luke Stauffer scored his third goal in as many games, but a pair of late goals by Demir Kreilach – his second of the contest – and Nevada native Danny Musovski saw the visitors through.

Las Vegas held their own throughout the 90 minutes, holding an edge in shots in the first half as the game remained scoreless before both sides had opportunities to break through in the second half. RSL went ahead late in the first period of extra time as Kreilach got free for a back-post header off a corner kick, but Lights FC responded as Stauffer equalized in the 112th minute off an assist from Pato Botello Faz.

RSL found a go-ahead goal four minutes later, however, as Kreilach put home a first-time finish from a low cross from the right, and Musovski then sealed the result in the first minute of stoppage time.

NASHVILLE SC 1, SAN ANTONIO FC 0: Ethan Zubak scored the only goal as Nashville SC ended San Antonio FC’s hopes of a second consecutive year with a victory against a top-flight opponent at Geodis Park.

San Antonio applied pressure well in the first half and Nashville goalkeeper Elliot Panicco had to make a handful of key saves to keep out Igacio Bailone and a great effort by Zico Bailey in the second half as the visitors looked to go ahead. NSC found the goal it needed with 19 minutes to go, though, as Fafa Picault stole possession in the attacking third and quickly passed to Zubak for a simple finish, and that proved enough for the hosts.

PORTLAND TIMBERS FC 3, ORANGE COUNTY SC 1: Milan Iloski found the net for Orange County SC at Providence Park but a pair of goals either side of halftime proved enough for Portland Timbers FC to advance past the visitors and deny OCSC its first win against an MLS opponent in the tournament.

Portland took the lead eight minutes before halftime when Marvin Loria fired home a low shot from the top of the penalty area to the bottom-right corner. The hosts doubled their lead early in the second half as Tyler Clegg headed home from close range, but Orange County consistently proved a threat in attack recording six shots on target to five for the hosts.

OCSC gave itself a chance nine minutes into the second half when a good piece of interplay between Iloski and Thomas Amang set up the 2022 Championship Golden Boot winner for a sharp finish from the left side of the penalty area. The visitors continued to create good moments, and Iloski and Korede Osundina had back-to-back chances saved by Portland goalkeeper Hunter Sulte with 21 minutes to go. The Timbers iced the game in stoppage time, however, as Jaroslaw Niezgoda found the net to complete the scoring.

Follow the USL Championship

Most Recent News

Most Read News

Latest Videos