The Seattle Sounders are hosting the San Jose Earthquakes in the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Wash. (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on ESPN+.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Sounders: Bye, Earthquakes: 5-0 win over NISA side Bay Cities FC.
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: LWDLL, San Jose: WLWWD
PREVIOUS MEETING: These two sides met just 18 days ago in San Jose, with the ‘Quakes pulling off a 4-3 comeback win. It was the first time in Sounders history that they had lost after leading a match by at least two goals (128 games). Click here to view the highlights on the Sounders FC App.
QUEST FOR FIVE: Fresh off their historic Concacaf Champions League victory last week, the Sounders begin their chase for their fifth U.S. Open Cup title. Seattle won in three straight years from 2009-11 and then again in 2014.
JOÃO PAULO INJURY: The Sounders will be without 2021 MLS MVP finalist João Paulo for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn ACL in the CCL Final. Seattle will need to try and fill the Brazilian midfielder’s big shoes in central midfield.
ROTATIONS APLENTY: Head Coach Brian Schmetzer rotated 10 players in his Starting XI this past weekend in a 2-0 loss at FC Dallas, just three days after the Sounders’ CCL win. It will be worth watching how he approaches his lineup on Wednesday with a return to MLS play this coming Sunday at home against Minnesota United (1 p.m. PT; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).
CCL CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION
We are celebrating our Concacaf Champions League title on July 9 against the Portland Timbers. Come help us commemorate this historic championship!
BATTLE OF YOUNG GOALKEEPERS: Early USOC rounds tend to see a mix of veterans and young players, and there could be a great battle between the posts on Wednesday between the Sounders’ Andrew Thomas and the Earthquakes’ Emi Ochoa. Thomas, 23, and Ochoa, 17, are two of the best young goalkeepers in the U.S. pipeline. Thomas had a standout career at Stanford and could be in line to make his First Team debut, while Ochoa has represented both the U.S. and Mexico at the youth international level and signed to the First Team at just 14.
NEW COACH BUMP: Since parting ways with Head Coach MatÃas Alymeda, the ‘Quakes have won three of their last four matches under Interim Manager Alex Covelo.
