Seattle Sounders Win 2011 US Open Cup Final
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJaCi4FOOXE
On Tuesday night at Century Link Field in front of a record crowd of 35,615, history was made when Seattle Sounders won their third US Open Cup in a row and showed why they have dominated this tournament since their promotion to MLS from their days down in the USL 1st Division (formerly Division 2 of US Club Soccer).
It was a scoreless first half as both sides gave their opposing keepers tons of problems in the penalty areas, but somehow both Sean Johnson and Kasey Keller were able to shine. The real scare for the Fire came in the second minute of first half stoppage time as Fredy Montero ripped a hard shot that nailed the post and sailed away.
Second half got off to a flying start and both sides looking hungry to get that elusive first goal of the match. In the 53rd minute Michael Fucito had an excellent chance to be cheeky, as he chipped Johnson who came off his line, but the ball hit the near post and away.
But finally the goal came for the Sounders as they continued to pepper Sean Johnson every single time they had possession. In the 77th minute the Fire’s defense helped out their keeper after all the saves he made and finally cleared the ball away.
But in the back end of that minute the goal came from a rebound off a set piece. Seattle sent a corner from the far side into the Chicago area and a great header from Fucito forced a save by Johnson, but lurking for the rebound was Montero and he put the Sounders ahead.
The Fire never gave up after allowing that goal. They continued to put on pressure trying to find a way to get that equalizer and somehow get into extra time. Sadly for Chicago the final nail in their coffin would be in sixth minute of second half stoppage time.
The man who has scored clutch goals time after time for the Sounders is Osvaldo (Ozzie) Alonso and when he faked out his defender along with the keeper, he was able to convert his tally into an open net and that was the end of the 2011 US Open Cup season.
Give a lot of credit to Frank Klopas and the Chicago Fire for having a fantastic run that started in US Open Cup Qualifying and got them into their sixth final, but sadly not equaling the five cup championship level with Bethlehem Steel or Los Angeles Maccabi SC.
For the Seattle Sounders they have won their third consecutive US Open Cup championship that matches the same feat made by Stix, Baer and Fuller/St. Louis Central Breweries (same club, different name) from 1933 thru 1935 and the New York Greek American Atlas from 1967 thru 1969.
This being Kasey Keller’s last season in MLS, it looks like his swan song has started very well for him and let’s see what this side can do in the MLS Cup Playoffs. But for the US Open Cup that has played in its 98th tournament, this was a historical one as two great sides played their hearts out and made it proud.
52 Responses to Seattle Sounders Win 2011 US Open Cup Final
First of all, the Sounders did fine while they were in USL too.
Making the semis of the US Open Cup the two years before they
played in MLS. This was Alonso’s 4th straight final, so if the
Sounders had him instead of Charleston we would be talking about 4
in a row. Second, how great is it that I made the front page of
MLSTalk ! Thanks for getting my better side. The rest of the
Brougham End looks great too. Lastly, This really shows just how
deep the Sounders are. To be able to win the US Open Cup with two
starters missing during the whole season, playing in CCL and still
playing well in MLS at the same time. They are the only team that
CAN do it, and they are the only team that did do it. MLS Playoffs,
and two different CCL seasons to look forward to. Good times.
Congrats to the Sounders and Seattle.
Charles , How deep are the Sounders? How many players are signed
with the Sounders?
Ssfc have a 30 man roster. About 24 have significant minutes this
year and about 18 have gotten significant starts. The trick has
been getting good minutes from lower wage guys like Scott Wahl
Carrasco Neagle And Rosales.
all of those on the 30 man roster are signed with MLS. NOT THE
SOUNDERS! it is all a lie guys . Open up your eyes! it is Make
Believe Soccer! It is all fake!
Then why does Seattle have a GM?
a franchise is a “simulated” club. Remember when Garber mentioned
“simulated” Pro/Rel? The whole thing is a simulation! Do you know
what argument they used in order not to be charged with antitrust
law?! …………………..”- it should not apply to us, we DO
NOT compete against each other!”……….and you are soccer fans
exited about this league?!?!?!………………If they do not
compete against each other, wich is the essence of sports, does it
really matter if Seattle or Chicago won the USOC?
Actually Roger, they are using the same exemption the NFL, NHL,
NBA, MLB, use, which is perfectly legal.
Legal for now, but totally in tune with the philosophy that those
sports practice, not ours! That is the point that I have been
trying to make. International soccer is guided by principles that
are VERY DIFFERENT than american sports are. Therefore, I repeat my
fundamental statement: “Single entity ignores the fundamental
values of our game” ……..there is a disconnection!………our
soccer system reflects the mentality of leaders that have more
links to american sports than they have to soccer.
SSFC has a 30 man roster plus a couple on the disabled list
(Zakuani, Seamon and Boss). The difference has been the number of
guys that have contributed. At least 23 guys have made at least 4
starts in all competitions and 8 have at least 3 goals. I’d say
there are at about 20 MLS starting quality players on the team.
Some of those contributors are on pretty low salaries, Neagle,
Wahl, Scott, and Rosales all come to mind.
the answer is ZERO, NONE. NONE of the players are signed with the
Sounders! Very deep , yes very deep roster !? Are you very exited
Charles about making the play-offs 50% of the time, just by a team
been mediocre? The real soccer fans will never ever go for this
“soccer NFL style” that MLS is! If I wanted to watch the NFL, I
will watch the NFL!
World leagues are heading against your precious model. Bundesliga
has had talks about a Championship Play-off, EPL is starting to
ponder getting rid of pro/rel.
Good game and good win for the Sounders. It will be the only trophy
for the season for them, I hope.
Just wanted to give a shout out to the Fire supporters who were in
town. They were awesome. They made a ton of noise and greatly added
to the atmosphere at the match, the way it should be for a cup
final, beside raising a ruckus downtown. I heard them marching
downtown by the building I work at, and several people came over to
see what was going on, and there they were all in red, chanting,
drums pounding, three hours before the match. Very impressive.
Ditto….on a Tuesday night too. You really get the feeling that
America is starting to understand how good US/(Canadian) soccer is.
I just read that Montreal has sold over 5k season tickets with 5
months to go before their first game……………………….
Assuming Montreal’s stadium is big enough, There should be 6 teams
over 20k next year….although I worry about Toronto fans. That is
1/3 the league. The league has done an INCREDIBLE job of putting
out a great product while keeping costs
low…………………………. Most of the credit probably has
to go to US soccer player development, more specifically the
college system which has cranked out many, many great players. The
casual Euro watching fans will catch a clue…………………..
eventually…………………Go
Washington…………………..Go Sounders.
Well, that one hurt.
Respect for the fans and the show they are putting on places like
Seattle, Portland and others. I just hate the fact that all this is
happening with a system (single entity ) that is a total
misrepresentation of the universal philosophy that our game have
implemented for more than a century.
Roger, everyone hates you. Go take your crazy and go somewhere
else. MLS is doing great and is only getting bigger.
KL you call me crazy but last time I cheked the definition of
insanity was to do the same things but to expect a diferent result.
Right?! I say that if we implement pro/rel it will work HERE just
like it has for more than a century , EVERYWHERE. the anti pro/rel
ones argument that it will not work here, even though it has worked
ALLWAYS, EVERYWHERE! can you tell me please who better fit the
definition of insanity?
Do you have a detailed analysis of how its always worked
everywhere, or are you just saying that to spin your statement to
sound true?
Do not really need a detailed analysis, I have on my side something
stronger, is is call reality. You should try to take it into
account some time. Do you know what principle is acting when our
franchises go to play the CCL in orther to earn on the field the
right to play the Fifa Clubs World Cup? How about when our USMNT
play the Concacaf qualifiers in order to go to the WC? Do we get to
go to the WC because we are a big country and therefore a good
market? NO, Right? Does Fifa exclude Haiti and Vanuatu from playing
the WC qualifiers because they are very little nations? No, Right?
That principle is call MERITHOCRACY, the right to play is given to
ALL, and the results on the field determine how far teams go. – It
gives teams a substantial insentive – it makes the games
meaningfull – It respects the pureness of the sport – It makes ALL
the clubs and nations feel part of the football family Can you give
one good reason why we should not try it?
Just to clarify, you’re the one who had the name “Roger (pro/rel)”
and hate for the MLS in general, not the opposite, which is me. I
guess I’ll be the one with the extra name.
Roger, no one cares. Quit trolling and go hand out pamphlets at
your local grocery store about it. To busy looking forward to the
end of the season starting Saturday. Plus the Monterrey game on the
18th. That game should be a blast. I really am hoping that they get
in the same group as Monterrey next CCL. Yes, I realize that the
Sounders are only playing reserves, but Monterrey can only play the
team that the Sounders field….and the Sounders are a deeper team.
(Sorry for the anti-troll comment which was a troll in
itself……I couldn’t help it.) In all seriousness, the US-Mexico
rivalry is one of the best in all of sports. First the national
team and now the professional teams. Great stuff. The end of this
year is going to be pure fun.
Man, am I glad I ditched MLS Talk. Some things never change, and
trolls never seem to go away.
Alan, I don’t think it’s a troll. It’s just someone who has a different opinion than most of the readers here.
Give me a name of any soccer website and I’ll show you the “trolls” who live there. It’s not a MLS Talk thing. It’s across the Internet.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Gaffer, You HAVE to be kidding me…………a guy goes on a MLS
talk site and pretends to hate everything about MLS, he doesn’t
watch the league BUT he is NOT a troll?
Actually I am not done. I just had to get up for a
second………..How about SBI ? There will be a marginal Troll
comment every once in while, guys will shoot him down and Ives will
ban him………Are you seriously thinking that Roger, Alex and
Robert are JUST whiny b1tches, who actually really are hoping MLS
succeeds, because they love watching US soccer
?…………………Is that why you have not banned them ? IF so
you are a moron……….Guys like Roger the SJQ fan and I can have
beefs with MLS and post them because we actually for MLS
succeeding. Guys like Roger the NON SJQ fans are just a waste of a
life.
You can’t be serious. This is why I don’t come on this site, but
have no problem going on other sites. NONE of these people with
“differing opinions” even like MLS. They admit to it all the time.
They don’t even want it to succeed. They don’t like anything about
it. They come on here to run down those actually interested in the
league and bash it in anyway that they can. I have no issue with
those that disagree with me on anything, but you don’t see me over
on EPL Talk bashing EPL when I could care less about the league. If
I did that, I would be a troll and just piss off everyone on the
thread. A troll is just someone trying to rile people up, not
debate ideas. Differing opinions is one thing, trolling and bashing
on a forum on a subject that they don’t care anything about is
another. I’m really not sure why you don’t see this, but that’s
fine. We just have differing opinions. Its just unfortunate that a
few “people with differing opinions” can drive people off of your
site. I follow many soccer blogs and this one has WAYYYYYY more
trolls than the others. Charles is right . Roger(Pro/Rel), Alex,
and Robert are all trolls. None of the other people that I have had
differing opinions with on this site would I say the same thing
about. They are just hear to stir things up and make people mad.
“they are trolls”…………trolls …….trolls…..thats easy to
do, to face reality is a little harder………..so…let me try
one more time. Since you like a real debate. Do you have any
coments on my basic point, wich is: -Single entity ignores the
fundamental values of our game, and that is a big
deal!……………..still waiting!
Gaffer, You need to start banning some of these idiots. If the
article was on Pro/Rel or the financial system of MLS, allowing
them to make the statements they make all the time would be
warranted. But the fact that they go into any article and change
the subject is trolling on a high level. This article was about the
Sounder defeating the Fire in the US Open Cup final. The stupid
Roger decided to bring up is gripes with MLS, rather than talking
about the exciting match from last night. I’m with Alan, my
readership has slowed on this site because idiots like these are
let loose.
For the record, I’m not the “Roger” that has posted here, I’m
actually an MLS fan. Anyways, congrats to the Sounders for winning
their third consecutive US Open Cup title.
The Sounders have sold 55k tickets for next weeks game against San
Jose.
Gaffer , thank you for defending our right to express opinions no
matter how controversial they may seem to some! I ecourage you guys
that use terms like ‘trolls’ to tell me wich of my opinios are
irrational! Out of all the different arguments that I have brough
up, the fundamental one have ALLWAYS being ignored. So let me
mention it one more time and tell me if it is wrong: -Single entity
totally ignores the fundamental values of our game! Which are:
*Inclusion *Universality *Merithocracy ( 208 nations taking part of
the last World Cup, more than the 192 members that the United
Nations count with, is a good proof of those values ) you guys keep
looking the other way EVERY time that I bring this issue, like it
is not a big deal! I desagree! Being out of touch with the essence
of the game is a BIG DEAL. We will never achieve our true potential
until we address it! If you want to keep looking the other way and
enjoy your MLS A vs MLS B one legged finals on neutral sites after
10 team play-offs…have a blast; but I will tell you MLS fan boys
this much, as long as there are fans that understand what our game
is all about, it will be TOUGH to sell us this joke as a legit
league.
Controversial ? Yeah, that is what I am against,
controversy……….Give me a break. You guys hate MLS, you want
it to fail, you are on a MLS Talk site and you say you are not
Trolls. You are Trolls. End of story……………………If I
went on a hand sewing site and started saying the rest of the world
does it with machines and everyone should hate hand sewing I would
be a Troll………..Lastly I don’t think your opinions are
irrational, I just don’t think you have the right to tell someone
how their league should be run, when you have NO money in the game
and you don’t support in any way, shape or form the people that do.
In fact, you want them to fail………………….Guys like Hunt
saved soccer for those that do care. You should be ki55ing his
behind, not cursing his face………………..annoying, entitled,
ungrateful, whiny, yes, controversial, give me a break.
You keep forever and ever ignoring my fundamental point ……….
Wich is: -Single entity totally ignores the fundamental values of
our game!……….and that is a BIG DEAL!….the irony is that you
say that I want MLS to fail, but by looking the other way EVERY
time this issue is brough up, you are making sure that MLS will
fail because you can not build any high structure if your
foundation is not solid…………..by ignoring how important it
is to capture the essence and the values of the game, they are
building on sand……………..I do care about the owners , ALL
THE OWNERS , not only the ones on MLS but also in Rochester,
Orlando, Tampa , Charleston, Harrisburg, Miami….they should also
be linked to the international club soccer pyramid just like Haiti,
Ivory Coast, San Marino are allowed to play the Fifa World
Cup…………..INCLUDE ALL. That is our game spirit! That is the
main reason it is the biggest sport on the planet!
I would say that taking someone’s comments and twisting them into a
pro/rel discussion is trolling, which you often do to me and
others. You are just here to piss people off. How about discussing
the article, which is about Seattle winning the US Open Cup, or
can’t you do that. That’s right, you can’t because you don’t care
about Seattle, MLS, the US Open Cup, etc. It is just an excuse for
you to ramble on about promotion and relegation. My favorite post
of yours goes back to “were we wrong to doubt the playoff
structure”. If this is not a troll, then I don’t know what is. Here
you are, in all of your trolling glory, trying to twist my words
around:
http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/were-we-wrong-to-doubt-the-new-playoff-structure-13750#comment-35169
Alan. even though you did not mention pro/rel specifically, you
where using one of the recurrent anti pro/rel arguments, wich is
……..”non parity , specially on the Premier League, therefore
using a league that is very unique, to make a point against a
system that works EVERYWHERE”…………….Do you have any
comments on my main argument wich is:……..”-single entity
ignores the fundamental values of our game”…….that is more
important than me been obsesed about pro/rel………………any
coments? ……….let me repeat my main point one more time:
-Single entity ignores the essence, the spirit of our
game……..looking the other way still?
@Roger First, you obviously don’t know what Single Entity is or how
the league works. (‘The Sounders have zero players on their roster’
indeed). Second, to say MLS is built on sand shows everyone that
you haven’t been paying attention or that you read an article about
the league contracting Miami/Tampa Bay a decade ago and closed your
mind. And you use the words fundamental and essence a lot. I’m
convinced you have no idea what those words mean.
I use those words a lot intentionally in order to prove a point.
Have you noticed how many responses adressing those issues are on
this thread? NONE, CERO, NADA, …………”you hate MLS” “go away”
“trol” “you have no idea” “take your crazy somewhere else” “why
dont you ban him?”………..why do you allways attack the
messenger, but leave the message untouch?…………….insults
are easy! prove me with intelligent arguments that I am
wrong!…………..I think that the essence, the spirit of the
game is best exemplified by FIFA having more members (208) than the
UN (192), ………….What is your version? What do you think is
the essence, the spirit of world football?…………..school me!
Roger, This topic is about Seattle winning the US Open cup. Unless
you want to contribute to the subject, GTFO.
I’d rather have people make comments, it makes the articles more
interesting. You don’t have to comment on the comments, or even
read them.
wich translates to…………keep looking the other way!
Roger (pro/rel)- I’d look the other way but I enjoy watching the
sport. I like following a team. I like going to games and not just
watching them on TV. So, yeah, the set-up could be better, but for
my $20 and 2 hours the Colorado Rapids are worth it. I also enjoy
watching the occasional MLS broadcast that doesn’t involve the
Rapids. It is just entertainment, if I had to boycott every sport
that wasn’t perfect, I wouldn’t watch any (think about it, no World
Cup- FIFA sucks and made S. Africa spend too much money on stadiums
and it too controlling about local businesses, no Olympics, same
reason, no College Football, obvious, no European Leagues, too
predictable, too much control by top clubs, no American major
sports, the public money spent on stadiums is Sherrif of Nottingham
type crime, etc …etc…etc…).
@The original Tom. Thanks for not using unnecessary insults. We
still disagree thought! You still look the other way on an issue
that is essential!……..and then tell me that you are just happy
to be entertained…”it is just entertaintment”…..you dont have
any intention to try to make it better….so you just take it as it
is…..so I get the idea that you are a “mild” fan……..a “mild”
fan that takes time to read onlibe soccer blogs and make coments on
them…..”mild” fans usually dont do that!?………..to me
something just dont add up!?….even if you write using the name
“original”. Are you original Tom?…………….original just like
Charles that is suposed to be a pasionate soccer fan that
pasionatelly defends the interest of a selected group of owners to
take our game on a direcction totally oposed to its
essence?……………by tha way Charles, kissing MLS owners
behinds is your job and not mine!, and they did not saved our game
but the oposit……..our game needs to be saved from
them…………..I am an original soccer fan defending the
pureness of game essence! …………..you guys can fool some
people some times, but……………….
Which brings us to the truth……the moron trolls are here for one
reason….to feel superior to everyone else……if soccer
suceeds,they hope it won’t, they lose that. Calling our league
Mickey Mouse etc shows just how much better than us they truly are.
How is soccer going to succed using a system that is in total
oposition to its essence?
So soccer’s essence is massive debts and eroding stadiums?
you guys are on an alternative reality! ……………”be scared!
be very afraid of pro/rel!”………”clubs would be bankrrupted all
around”………..”the league would fall down if we ever implement
it”…….”remember the old NASL!”……………..Reality makes a
serious argument against all of your manipulation. There has NOT
been one soccer league that practiced pro/rel that has EVER folded.
ANYWHERE, for more than a century.
What is essential is 22 guys, a field, a ref, a place to watch. The
English league’s 4th division was not always open to the rest of
the non-league teams- yet they survived and now it is. The
Champion’s league is not that open- what with the seeded draws (Man
City was 3rd in the one of the best leagues- yet they were in pot 4
because why? They are not one of the old boys). I have a choice
this weekend, I can watch a games on TV on Sat. morning- OR I CAN
LEAVE MY HOUSE and go to the Rapids game on Friday night- a team I
have real connections with because I watch them a lot and they have
players from Colorado. It is quite likely I’ll go to a game, and
watch some EPL. The league is not perfect, and I enjoy going on
sites like this one to discuss how to improve it; but, I grew up
when this country had no league, so I’m not going to sit this one
out.
Tom. You guys just don’t get it! I dont want to sound arrogant, but
until you see the phenomenon that international football is in all
its dimention, it is almost like we are talking two different
languages. The magic of football is that it is very humble and very
deep at the same time. Humbleness made posible easy access. To play
it you dont need 22 guys, neither a ref, even shoes, and almost any
surface can become a field. That humbleness made it posible for the
game to spread all around the world, it became an universal link
between people, cities, nations, continents. Simple became huge!
Never understimate the value of simplicity! To realize what is the
essence you have to look past the humbleness and understand the
mesage that live with in it! ……….football have acomplished
what the world powers have not, to unite mankind around a game(Last
WC 208 nations, UN 192 members)…………to capture that essence,
that spirit, should be one of our top
priorities……………….just like the founder the modern
Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin said.. “The most important thing…
is not winning but taking part”.
I’ve played this game my whole life, with and against people from
all over the world. I don’t travel a lot, but I have played in
Guatemala, beaches in Mexico, England, Germany. And I’ve watched
games with people from all over the world. My other team, the team
from where my ancestors came from, has spent a total of 1 season in
the top flight over their 120+ years’ history. I get how great the
minor league system is in England- the FA cup dreams, the promotion
dreams. I love going to US world cup qualifying games and knowing
that other qualifiers are being played all over the world that day.
I agree that our closed systems in US sports are mostly cultural
and business restrictions, although our vast geography plays a
part. BUT, it is the system we have, and I want to have a team and
go to games. We can push for change, and maybe, over the years, it
will, but in the meantime, I have a good game to go this weekend.
I think that our closed systems are wrong, and mostly benefit a
small group of owners; not the players, not the cities that are
neglected, not the fans, not society in general. What should carry
most weight?……………I think that we should push for change
so that fans all around the nation can have a good game to go
to!………….just like they suscesfully do all around planet
earth!