The Seattle Sounders are hosting Phoenix Rising FC of the USL Championship on Wednesday in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available to stream on ussoccer.com and mlssoccer.com
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM.
2024 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 3-6-5 (14 points, 10th MLS Western Conference), Rising: 4-4-3 (15 points, 5th USL Championship Western Conference)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: DLWWD, Phoenix: WDWDW
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Sounders: Defeated the USL Championship’s Louisville City FC 5-4 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Round of 32; Rising: Defeated the USL Championship’s North Carolina FC 2-1 in the Round of 32.
PREVIOUS MEETING: This is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs
BUSY STRETCH CONTINUES: The Sounders will play their sixth match of the month on Wednesday, with two more slated before the end of May.
ROTATED LINEUP: Like he did in the win over LouCity, Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer will likely employ a heavily rotated squad on Wednesday. Seattle is coming off a 1-1 home draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend while a date at St. Louis CITY SC awaits on Saturday (5:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
OPEN CUP HERO: Sounders backup goalkeeper Andrew Thomas put in a legendary performance against Louisville, cementing arguably the best shootout performance in club history. The 25-year-old made three saves before stepping up himself to bury the winning kick in the eighth round to send Seattle to the Round of 16.
RISING ON A RUN: Phoenix enters this midweek match unbeaten in its last five matches in all competitions. The USL Championship title-holders have not lost since April 20.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Rémi Cabral, F
Phoenix is led up front by Cabral, who is on loan from Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids. The 24-year-old Frenchman, whose twin brother, Kévin, also plays for the Rapids, is tied for fifth in the USL Championship with six goals.
