SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento Republic FC’s hopes of a repeat run to the Final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came to an end on Tuesday night as a pair of first-half goals by Josh Atencio and Jordan Morris sent Seattle Sounders FC to a 2-1 victory before a sellout crowd of 11,569 fans at Heart Health Park.

Sebastian Herrera pulled a goal back for Republic FC four minutes into the second half, but the hosts were unable to find an equalizer in the closing stages as the Indomitable Club fell at home in the Open Cup for only the third time in its history.

Seattle advances to the Semifinals as it seeks a fifth Open Cup title, and will play host to the winner of Wednesday night’s Quarterfinal between Los Angeles FC and New Mexico United.

Sacramento got an early half-chance when Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas misplayed an attempted clearance, only to recover in time to smother as Republic FC’s Kieran Phillips tried to find the angle to shoot home from the right edge of the penalty area. After an even opening 15 minutes, however, the Sounders struck first. A move down the left side resulted in a cross that Sacramento’s Lee Desmond headed half-clear to Atencio at the top of the penalty area, and the United States youth international fired back a shot that deflected into the net.

Republic FC went close to hitting back seven minutes later when Cristian Parano picked up possession on the right and drifted infield, played a one-two at the top of the penalty area and continued into the left side of the box, only for his low shot to slide just wide of the right post. But Seattle doubled its lead just past the half-hour mark on a swift move upfield that saw Reed Baker-Whiting play Morris into space, and the former United States international outpaced his marker before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing into the open net.

The Sounders threatened again in first-half stoppage time as Yeimar rose to head a free kick from the right near the penalty spot, forcing a diving stop from Sacramento’s Danny Vitiello to keep it a two-goal margin at the break.