Louisville City FC battled back from a two-goal deficit behind goals from Sean Totsch and a late equalizer by Jorge Gonzalez but were unable to close the deal in a penalty shootout as Seattle Sounders FC advanced 5-4 in a shootout after the sides had played to a 2-2 draw though regulation and extra time at the Starfire Sports Complex in the Round of 32 of the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

The Sounders opened the game positively before LouCity began to find its rhythm in possession and the game evened out. The hosts caught out Louisville four minutes before the halftime break, however, as Paul Rothrock tucked home a cross by Georgi Minoungou unmarked in the left side of the penalty area.

Seattle doubled its lead just past the hour-mark when Danny Musovski headed home an angled free kick by Danny Leyva from 10 yards out, but in the 67th minute LouCity was thrown a lifeline as the Sounders’ Alex Roldan was whistled for a handball in his penalty area. Sean Totsch stepped up and converted from the spot to halve the deficit.

Louisville pushed for an equalizer in the final 20 minutes, and it arrived with a minute to go. A long throw-in from the left by Amadou Dia into the penalty area fell for Gonzalez, who fired home an instinctive finish into the right side of the net to send the game to extra time. LouCity then had the better of the first 15-minute period as substitute Sam Gleadle was denied in the opening minute by a good save from Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas. Wesley Charpie was also turned away at close range four minutes later as Seattle held on before a more balanced second 15-minute period also remained scoreless.

Thomas and LouCity goalkeeper Danny Faundez then shone in the shootout as each made key saves in the opening five shots. After Gleadle was denied to open the sixth round, Faundez responded with a save on Seattle’s Osaze De Rosario to keep the shootout going. Louisville’s Jansen Wilson and Seattle’s  Kalani Kossa-Rienzi each then converted in the seventh round, but after Thomas saved from LouCity’s Kyle Adams to open the eighth round the goalkeeper then took it upon himself to close the show and shot low past Faundez to send the Sounders through.

Scoring Summary
SEA – Paul Rothrock (Georgi Minoungou) 41’
SEA – Danny Musovski (Danny Leyva) 63’
LOU – Sean Totsch (penalty kick) 67’
LOU – Jorge Gonzalez 89’

Penalty Shootout

Seattle Sounders FC – Danny Musovski, saved; Danny Leyva, scored; Antino Lopez, scored; Leo Chu, saved; Snyder Brunner, scored; Osaze De Rosario, saved; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, scored; Andrew Thomas, scored

Louisville City FC – Sean Totsch, missed; Elijah Wynder, saved; Arturo Ordonez, scored; Taylor Davila, scored; Niall McCabe, scored; Sam Gleadle, saved; Jansen Wilson, scored; Kyle Adams, saved