The
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 5, 2010, at
Qwest FieldCenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
in Seattle, Washington. The match determined the winner of the
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the
United States Soccer FederationThe United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
. This was the 97th edition of
the oldest competitionThe Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
in United States soccer.
Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
won the match, defeating the
Columbus CrewThe Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
2–1 in front of a sellout crowd of 31,311, the highest attendance at a U.S. Open Cup final.
Kevin BurnsKevin Burns is an American soccer player who played for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Burns played college soccer at the University of Connecticut from 2003 to 2006...
scored first, giving the Columbus Crew an early lead.
Sanna NyassiSanna Nyassi is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports Authority of the GFA League First Division...
then scored both goals for Seattle Sounders FC as it became the first team since 1983 to win two consecutive U.S. Open Cup championships.
Both the Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC qualified automatically for the third round of the U.S. Open Cup tournament by finishing among the top six in the
2009 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
standings. Both clubs won three matches in the tournament to advance to the final. Seattle won the bidding process to host the final.
As a result of its U.S. Open Cup championship, Sounders FC earned a berth in the preliminary round of the
2011–12 CONCACAF Champions LeagueThe 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League is the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 26, 2011 and will finish with the second leg of the final April 24–26, 2012. Monterrey is the defending champion...
, as well as a $100,000 cash prize. The Crew received the runner-up prize of $50,000.
Route to the final
The U.S. Open Cup is an annual American soccer competition open to all
United States Soccer FederationThe United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of
Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS). The 2010 tournament was the 97th edition of the oldest soccer tournament in the United States.
Each year, MLS, which has teams that play in both the United States and Canada, is allowed to enter eight of its U.S.-based teams in the tournament. The top six MLS teams from the previous season's league table qualify automatically for the tournament, while the remaining two spots are determined by preliminary
qualification matchesThe 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament proper features teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid. These five levels, namely Major League Soccer, the United Soccer Leagues , and the United States Adult Soccer Association, each have their own separate qualification process...
. The eight MLS entries begin play in the third round of the tournament. In 2009, both
Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
and the
Columbus CrewThe Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
finished among the top six teams in MLS overall league standings and therefore qualified automatically for the third round of the 2010 U.S. Open Cup.
Columbus Crew
Prior to 2010 the Columbus Crew had been to the U.S. Open Cup final twice, in 1998 and again in 2002, winning the cup in the latter appearance. On June 29, 2010, the Crew began the competition in the third round, hosting the Rochester Rhinos of the
D2 Pro LeagueUSSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
at
Columbus Crew StadiumColumbus Crew Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium in Columbus, Ohio and the home stadium of Major League Soccer club, Columbus Crew. Built in 1999, Crew Stadium was the first soccer-specific stadium built for a professional soccer team in the second pro era of American soccer...
in
Columbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in front of a crowd of 1,760. The Crew's
Andy IroAndrew "Andy" Iro is an English footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
scored in the 30th minute by heading in a
corner kickA corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
from teammate
Eddie GavenEddie Gaven is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer...
. In the second half, Rochester evened the score when substitute
Darren SpicerDarren Spicer is an American soccer player who last played for Rochester Rhinos in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-Youth and College:...
scored from 17 yards out. The Rhinos'
Alfonso MotagalvanAlfonso Motagalvan is an American soccer player currently playing for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
was sent off in the 84th minute for a dangerous tackle on
Emilio RenteríaEmilio Rentería is an Venezuelan footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
, forcing Rochester to play the final minutes of the game with 10 men. The score remained level until the fourth minute of stoppage time, when
Steven LenhartSteven Lenhart is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
scored with a volley over the onrushing goalkeeper to give Columbus the victory.
A week later, on July 6, Columbus faced the
Charleston BatteryCharleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the
USL Second DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals. The match was hosted by Columbus, again at Crew Stadium in front of a crowd of 1,847. In the 37th minute, Lenhart was fouled in the penalty area while going for a cross and the referee signaled for a
penalty kickA penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
. Rentería took the penalty kick and drove a right-footed shot into the back of the net, making the score 1–0. Columbus extended its lead in the 70th minute through a goal from Lenhart, and again in the 87th minute when Gaven scored off of a pass from
Emmanuel EkpoEmmanuel Ekpo is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
. The Crew won 3–0, earning its first U.S. Open Cup semifinal appearance since 2002.
On September 1, 2010, the Columbus Crew visited
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to face MLS club
D.C. UnitedD.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
in the semifinal match at
RFK StadiumRobert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United....
in front of a crowd of 3,411.
Pablo HernandezPedro Pablo Hernández is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Argentinos Juniors.-Career:On July 1, 2010, D.C. United officially announced the loan signing of Hernández from Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting, after he trialed with the club.-External links:* at D.C. United* at Defensor...
scored in the 17th minute on a penalty kick to give D.C. an early lead which it almost held for the victory. However, in the 89th minute D.C.'s
Marc BurchMarc Burch is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
deflected a shot by Columbus's Iro into the net for an
own goalAn own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
, tying the score and sending the match into
extra timeOvertime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
. In the 97th minute, the Crew's Lenhart
dribbledIn sports, dribbling refers to the maneuvering of a ball around a defender through short skillful taps or kicks with either the legs , hands , stick or swimming strokes...
the ball into the 18-yard box and was tripped by D.C. United's
Carey TalleyCarey Talley is a former American soccer player.-College:Talley played high school soccer for Houston High School in Germantown, Tennessee. His team won the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association soccer championship his junior and senior years in 1993 and 1994. He played his club soccer...
to draw a penalty.
Guillermo Barros SchelottoGuillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
took the penalty kick and scored the winning goal. The 2–1 final score secured the Crew's spot in the final.
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle won the
2009 U.S. Open CupThe 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final was played on September 2, 2009, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The match determined the winner of the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a tournament open to amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with the United States...
—the second MLS
expansion clubAn expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
to do so in its inaugural season after the Chicago Fire in 1998. Prior to the final, Sounders FC played U.S. Open Cup home games at the
Starfire Sports ComplexStarfire Sports Complex is a sporting facility in Tukwila, Washington, on the banks of the Green River, near Seattle. It is operated by the non-profit corporation Starfire Sports. At the time of its opening, CEO Chris Slatt believed it to be "the largest synthetic-turf soccer complex in the...
in
Tukwila, WashingtonTukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. The facility is smaller than the club's home stadium for league matches,
Qwest FieldCenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
, but Sounders FC representatives preferred the atmosphere at Starfire for smaller cup matches.
On June 30, 2010, Seattle began the defense of its title in a match hosted by the
Portland TimbersPortland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the D2 Pro League in Portland, Oregon, at
PGE ParkJeld-Wen Field is an outdoor sports stadium located in Portland, Oregon, United States that is used primarily for soccer and American football...
in front of a crowd of 15,422. Sounders FC took the lead in the 13th minute on a header from
Nate JaquaJonathan "Nate" Jaqua is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School:...
, but the Timbers levelled the score in the 38th minute when
Bright DikeChinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
scored on a shot from inside the
penalty areaThe penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
. The score was 1–1 at halftime, and remained that way through full time and extra time. Seattle finally defeated Portland in a 4–3 penalty shootout with goalkeeper
Kasey KellerKasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
making two saves and
defenderWithin the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Zach ScottZach Scott is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
scoring the winning penalty kick.
Sounders FC hosted its quarterfinal match a week later on July 7 against an MLS club, the
Los Angeles GalaxyThe Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
, at Starfire Sports Complex in front of a sellout crowd of 4,512. Seattle forward Jaqua again led the attack scoring two goals in the second half. The first came in the 50th minute when he headed in a rebound off of the crossbar and the second came in the 62nd minute off a cross from
Miguel MontañoMiguel Montaño is a Colombian footballer currently playing for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Career:...
. Seattle won 2–0. Sounders FC's reserve goalkeeper
Terry BossTerrence "Terry" Boss is a former American-born Puerto Rican international soccer goalkeeper.-College and Amateur:...
also made two saves in his first start for the team.
On September 1, 2010, Seattle hosted its semifinal match against another MLS club,
Chivas USAClub Deportivo Chivas USA is an American professional soccer club based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada....
. Like the quarterfinal, it was hosted at Starfire with a sellout crowd of 4,547. Jaqua gained Seattle an early lead in the 10th minute off a
Steve ZakuaniSteve Zakuani is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Born in Zaire , Zakuani grew up in London before attending the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship...
cross. Zakuani was involved again in the 58th minute, this time crossing to a diving Fredy Montero who increased the lead to two. Chivas USA's
Jesús PadillaJesús Padilla is an American-born Mexican footballer, currently playing for CF La Piedad on loan from C.D. Guadalajara.-Career:...
scored in the 68th minute on a through ball from Justin Braun cutting the deficit to one. However, in second half stoppage time, Jaqua scored again making the score 3–1 and sealing the Sounders FC victory and an appearance in the tournament final. Jaqua's two goals raised his total to five in the tournament. Zakuani, who had just returned from a pelvic strain injury, had two
assistsIn association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal. Statistics for assists made by players may be kept officially by the organisers of a competition, or unofficially by, for example, journalists or organisers of fantasy football competitions...
in the match.
Venue selection
On August 26, 2010,
U.S. SoccerThe United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
announced the potential sites for the final, depending on the outcome of the semifinals. It was determined that if Seattle qualified for the final, they would host it at Qwest Field regardless of the opponent. If Chivas USA defeated Sounders FC in the semifinals, they would host the Columbus Crew at
The Home Depot CenterThe Home Depot Center is a multiple-use sports complex located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. Its title sponsor is hardware retailer The Home Depot. The $150 million complex was...
in
Carson, CaliforniaCarson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, or visit
D.C. UnitedD.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
at RFK Stadium in
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, depending on the outcome of the other semifinal match. Since Columbus and Seattle advanced from the semifinals, the final was held at Qwest Field in Seattle. This was the first U.S. Open Cup final to be played in the state of Washington.
Columbus general manager Mark McCullers expressed concerns about the fairness of the scheduling since he claimed it would be difficult for the Crew to travel to the
West CoastWest Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
on October 5 and then return to Chicago three days later for a league match. Crew head coach
Robert WarzychaRobert Warzycha is a Polish former professional association football player. He is currently the head coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer....
also complained about the scheduling saying, "You make it to a final, but you have to go to Seattle on Sunday after playing a home game on Saturday... You've got to fly all day, play on the (artificial)
turfFieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
on Tuesday and then you go play an important MLS game in Chicago on Friday. Great."
A year after a public argument between Seattle and D.C. United ownership over the fairness of the bidding process to host the 2009 U.S. Open Cup Final—which D.C. United hosted—Sounders FC was successful in its bid to host the 2010 final. For the 2009 final, D.C. United drew an attendance of 17,329 through extensive marketing efforts. Seattle began selling tickets to the 2010 final on September 7 and within six days 22,000 had already been sold.
Analysis
In 2010, prior to meeting in the U.S. Open Cup final, Sounders FC and the Crew met twice in MLS league matches. The first was played on May 1 at Qwest Field and finished in a 1–1 draw.
The second meeting between the two teams was played on September 18, only 17 days before the Open Cup final, at Crew Stadium. Seattle won by a convincing scoreline of 4–0. Regarding the score of the latter meeting, Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid stated, "I don't think the difference between the two teams is four goals even though that was the score." Discussing the difficulty of going into Seattle for the final, Crew forward Barros Schelotto commented, "The field is for Seattle. The stadium is for Seattle. Everything is for Seattle. But that does not matter. We have the final. We have 90 minutes to win a trophy. Nothing is more important."
In the weeks leading up to the match, Seattle Sounders FC was on a six-game home unbeaten streak. However, in the last match before the final (a league match victory over
Toronto FCToronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
) goalkeeper Keller allowed a goal, ending his three-game shutout streak. The Columbus Crew came into the final not having won a league match in the previous month, although their last match was a 0–0 draw with the
San Jose EarthquakesThe San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
on October 2.
Since MLS teams began participating in the tournament in 1996, the home team had won nine times and lost three in the U.S. Open Cup final prior to 2011. The 2003 Chicago Fire, 2007
New England RevolutionThe New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
and 2009 Seattle Sounders FC were the only away teams to win a final.
Match
The 2010 U.S. Open Cup Final was played on October 5 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. Live television coverage was provided nationally by
Fox Soccer ChannelFox Soccer is an American television specialty channel, owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group, that specializes in soccer. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australian rules football, but is now dedicated strictly to soccer...
. Prior to kickoff, Seattle's 2009 U.S. Open Cup trophy was displayed at midfield. The final drew an attendance of 31,311 surpassing the 81-year-old record for the event. The previous record attendance for an Open Cup final was 21,583, set in
1929The 1928–29 National Challenge Cup was the annual open cup held by the United States Football Association now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. This edition of the soccer tournament featured 100 entrants...
when
New York HakoahNew York Hakoah is a former United States soccer club based in New York City.-New York Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players from SC Hakoah Wien, including among others Béla Guttmann and Rudolph Nickolsburger, they initially played in the Eastern Soccer League in the fall of 1928. In 1929...
defeated the
Madison Kennel Club of St. LouisSt. Louis Madison Kennel was a U.S. soccer team established in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. The team played in the St. Louis Soccer League for two seasons. Madison Kennel reached the final of the 1929 National Challenge Cup where they lost 5-0 on aggregate to New York Hakoah in a two game, home...
.
Both clubs started mostly their first-team players for the final. Costa Rican
Leonardo GonzálezLeonardo González Arce is a Costa Rican footballer. He currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
, a regular starter at left back for Sounders FC, was unavailable due to U.S. Open Cup roster limitations, which allow teams to have only five foreign players on their 18-man, game day roster. Defender
Tyson WahlTyson Wahl is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
started in his place. Crew backup goalkeeper
Andy GruenebaumAndy Gruenebaum is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
also started in place of normal starter
Will HesmerWilliam "Will" Hesmer is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College:...
, though this was a normal change for U.S. Open Cup and
CONCACAF Champions LeagueThe CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
matches. Each club was organized in a 4–4–2 formation at kickoff.
First half
Seattle had most of the early scoring opportunities. Two minutes into the match, Montero took the first shot of the game with a header at close range which was saved by Crew goalkeeper Gruenebaum. Seconds later, Montero had another shot from distance which went just over the bar. Four minutes later, Seattle
midfielderA midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Zakuani got around Crew defender Frankie Hejduk and passed the ball to Blaise Nkufo whose tap-in attempt was saved by Gruenbaum. In the 12th minute, Gaven took the Crew's first shot of the match but it flew high over the crossbar. In the 16th minute Zakuani had a run up the middle before passing to Montero, whose shot was again saved by Gruenbaum. Columbus successfully defended crosses from Zakuani and Nkufo in the 18th minute and kept Seattle from getting a shot off. Columbus nearly took the lead in the 20th minute as Emmanuel Ekpo got behind the defense and made a quick pass back to Gaven, who missed a wide-open shot over the bar.
While Seattle controlled the game for much of the first half, Columbus took the lead on a counterattack movement in the 24th minute. The play developed on the right side when Hejduk made a low pass to Lenhart from a forward position. Lenhart touched the ball to Kevin Burns for a low shot inside the far post for a goal. Few chances were created after the goal as Columbus' strong defensive play held off Seattle's attacks. In the 34th minute Tyson Wahl crossed the ball into the box but Gruenbaum was able to jump and grab the ball before Nkufo could direct it towards goal with his head.
Seattle equalized in the 38th minute. Montero passed to Tyson Wahl, who crossed the ball into the
18-yard-boxThe penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
, where Crew goalkeeper Gruenebaum hesitated on how to handle the ball. He knocked it away, and it fell to Nathan Sturgis, who passed the ball between the legs of Gaven to find teammate Sanna Nyassi 18 yards out. Nyassi turned on the ball and shot it past Gruenebaum, who was still out of position. Following the goal few scoring opportunities were created before halftime. After one minute of stoppage time, the first half ended with a tie score, 1–1.
Second half
Columbus Crew midfielder Kevin Burns commented on the team's attitude after the first half, "We were OK at halftime. Our heads weren’t down." No substitutions were made as the teams returned to the field for the second half.
Despite Seattle's continued control of the tempo of gameplay early in the second half, they were unable to create many scoring opportunities. In the 58th minute James Riley was alone on the edge of the penalty area after receiving a pass from Montero. However, Riley's cross was deflected for a corner kick. Two minutes later Seattle's Zakuani created a scoring threat when he received an aerial pass into the penalty area, but Crew goalkeeper Gruenebaum was quick to get to the play causing Zakuani to fall down and the ball to bounce away before being cleared by Columbus. In the 64th minute, Kasey Keller made a diving save to stop Gaven's shot from 30 yards out, his fourth
shot on goalIn ice hockey, a shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save....
in the game. Two minutes later, the score line finally changed as Seattle completed 18 consecutive passes. Montero got open on the right side of the field to receive the 19th and then crossed a ball into the penalty area. Gruenebaum decided not to chase the pass as Zakuani ran inside of Crew defender Hejduk and headed a shot that hit the crossbar. The Crew defenders failed to clear the ball before Nyassi ran in and easily scored the go-ahead goal.
Zakuani was again on the attack in the 75th minute with a run down the middle, but was "sandwiched" by two Columbus defenders and lost possession. Columbus made two substitutions in the 78th minute, bringing on fresh legs at forward with Rentería in for Lenhart and swapping midfielder Burns out for forward Andrés Mendoza. Shortly after the substitutions, Keller came out to grab a Columbus cross and made a long throw to Montero. Seattle pushed up the field and Montero took a shot which bounced off of teammate Nkufo's back. In the 81st minute, Crew coach Warzycha made his final substitution bringing on
Robbie RogersRobbie Rogers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer and the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth and College:...
for Gaven. Shortly after, in the 85th minute, Columbus nearly equalized when Rogers received a pass from Hejduk and took a shot which bounced hard off of the crossbar.
Seattle made its first substitution in the 79th minute when Sanna Nyassi left the field to an ovation from the crowd as he was replaced by
Álvaro FernándezÁlvaro Fernández is a Uruguayan footballer. He currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer and the Uruguay national football team.-Club:...
. In the 87th minute, Zakuani ran free on a breakaway but was taken down by Crew forward Barros Schelotto who received a yellow card for the foul. Montero took the ensuing free kick and shot it on goal with Gruenebaum catching it for the save.
The referee added three minutes of stoppage time to the second half. During that time, Seattle made its remaining two substitutions. First in the 90th minute Roger Levesque was brought on for Zakuani, and then in the 93rd minute they brought on Jaqua for Montero. The referee blew his whistle ending the game shortly thereafter. Most of the fans in attendance remained after the game for the presentation of the trophy.
Match details
| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
| Seattle Sounders FC: |
| | |
| GK |
18 |
Kasey KellerKasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
(c) |
| DF |
7 |
James Riley |
|
| DF |
4 |
Patrick IanniPatrick Edward Joseph Ianni is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
|
| DF |
31 |
Jeff ParkeJeff Parke is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Career:...
|
| DF |
5 |
Tyson WahlTyson Wahl is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
|
| MF |
23 |
Sanna NyassiSanna Nyassi is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports Authority of the GFA League First Division...
|
|
|
| MF |
6 |
Osvaldo AlonsoOsvaldo Alonso Moreno is a Cuban footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
|
|
| MF |
12 |
Nathan SturgisNathan Sturgis is an American soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
|
| MF |
11 |
Steve Zakuani Steve Zakuani is a Congolese footballer who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Born in Zaire , Zakuani grew up in London before attending the University of Akron on a soccer scholarship...
|
|
|
| FW |
17 |
Fredy Montero |
|
|
| FW |
9 |
Blaise Nkufo |
| Substitutes: |
| GK |
28 |
Terry BossTerrence "Terry" Boss is a former American-born Puerto Rican international soccer goalkeeper.-College and Amateur:...
|
| DF |
14 |
Tyrone MarshallTyrone Marshall is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Marshall moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area when he was twelve years old...
|
| MF |
15 |
Álvaro Fernández Álvaro Fernández is a Uruguayan footballer. He currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer and the Uruguay national football team.-Club:...
|
|
|
| DF |
20 |
Zach ScottZach Scott is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
|
| MF |
21 |
Nate JaquaJonathan "Nate" Jaqua is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School:...
|
|
|
| MF |
22 |
Mike Seamon Mike Seamon is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Seamon was born in New Jersey and attended Union Catholic Regional High School....
|
| FW |
24 |
Roger LevesqueRoger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
|
|
|
| Manager: |
Sigi SchmidSiegfried "Sigi" Schmid is a German-American soccer coach. Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the University of California, Los Angeles , where he was a starting midfielder in each...
|
|
style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
| Columbus Crew: |
| | |
| GK |
30 |
Andy GruenebaumAndy Gruenebaum is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
|
| DF |
2 |
Frankie HejdukFrank Daniel "Frankie" Hejduk is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He formerly played as right back for Columbus Crew, where he was team captain, and the United States national team.-Youth and College:Hejduk attended San Dieguito High...
(c) |
| DF |
14 |
Chad MarshallChad Marshall is an American soccer player who currently captains the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
|
| DF |
6 |
Andy IroAndrew "Andy" Iro is an English footballer who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and college:...
|
| DF |
29 |
Shaun Francis Shaun Francis is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
|
|
| MF |
12 |
Eddie GavenEddie Gaven is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Youth:Gaven attended Steinert High School in New Jersey but did not play college soccer...
|
|
|
| MF |
16 |
Brian CarrollBrian Carroll is an American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
|
|
| MF |
17 |
Emmanuel EkpoEmmanuel Ekpo is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
|
| MF |
15 |
Kevin BurnsKevin Burns is an American soccer player who played for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Burns played college soccer at the University of Connecticut from 2003 to 2006...
|
|
|
| FW |
32 |
Steven Lenhart Steven Lenhart is an American soccer player who currently plays for San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
|
|
|
| FW |
7 |
Guillermo Barros Schelotto Guillermo Barros Schelotto is a former Argentine football forward.Barros Schelotto, nicknamed "Guille" or "Melli" , played 16 years of his professional career in the Argentine Primera División...
|
|
| Substitutes: |
| GK |
1 |
William Hesmer |
| DF |
4 |
Gino PadulaGino Padula is an Argentine footballer.-Career:Padula started his career with Argentine club River Plate in 1996 before moving to Huracán in 1997. In 1998 he moved to Europe to play for Xerez in Spain. His move to Europe was facilitated by the fact that he is the holder of an Italian passport...
|
| FW |
10 |
Andrés Mendoza |
|
|
| MF |
18 |
Robbie Rogers Robbie Rogers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer and the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth and College:...
|
|
|
| FW |
20 |
Emilio Rentería Emilio Rentería is an Venezuelan footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.-Club:...
|
|
|
| MF |
22 |
Adam MoffatAdam Moffat is a Scottish footballer who currently plays for the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.-Career:...
|
| DF |
23 |
Eric BrunnerEric Brunner is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
|
| Manager: |
Robert WarzychaRobert Warzycha is a Polish former professional association football player. He is currently the head coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer....
|
Man of the Match:
Sanna NyassiSanna Nyassi is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-Professional:Nyassi began his professional career in 2004 with Gambia Ports Authority of the GFA League First Division...
Referee:
Michael KennedyMichael Kennedy is a soccer referee from the United States. He was a FIFA referee from 1999 to 2006, supervising several international matches during his career.-References:* * *...
Assistant referees:
Thomas Supple
Paul Scott
Fourth official:
Ricardo Salazar |
Statistics
First half
| Sounders FC |
Crew |
| Goals scored |
1 |
1 |
| Total shots |
4 |
4 |
| Shots on target |
3 |
1 |
| Saves |
0 |
2 |
| Corner kicks |
1 |
0 |
| Fouls committed |
6 |
5 |
| Offsides |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow cards |
1 |
2 |
| Red cards |
0 |
0 |
Second half
| Sounders FC |
Crew |
| Goals scored |
1 |
0 |
| Total shots |
6 |
6 |
| Shots on target |
2 |
0 |
| Saves |
1 |
1 |
| Corner kicks |
5 |
2 |
| Fouls committed |
5 |
5 |
| Offsides |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow cards |
2 |
1 |
| Red cards |
0 |
0 |
Overall
| Sounders FC |
Crew |
| Goals scored |
2 |
1 |
| Total shots |
10 |
10 |
| Shots on target |
5 |
1 |
| Saves |
1 |
3 |
| Corner kicks |
6 |
2 |
| Fouls committed |
11 |
10 |
| Offsides |
0 |
0 |
| Yellow cards |
3 |
3 |
| Red cards |
0 |
0 |
Post-match
Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid discussed the match in the post-game press conference saying:
Columbus Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenbaum commented after the match, "We knew it was going to be a tough place to play, their fan base is great. Anytime you have a championship match on your own pitch, the odds are going to be against you. We knew we had to defend and take advantage of any opportunity. We came out and scored the first goal and they were able to capitalize on two weird bounces."
Seattle Sounders FC is the first MLS club to repeat as the U.S. Open Cup champion and the first club overall to repeat since the
New York Pancyprian-FreedomsNew York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
did so in 1982 and 1983. The victory was also Sigi Schmid's third Open Cup championship as a head coach. Sanna Nyassi was the first player to score multiple goals in an Open Cup final since Mike Deleray in
1994-Final:...
. As champions of the tournament, Sounders FC received the $100,000 cash prize while the Columbus Crew received $50,000 as the runner-up. Seattle also earned a berth into the preliminary round of the
2011–12 CONCACAF Champions LeagueThe 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League is the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 26, 2011 and will finish with the second leg of the final April 24–26, 2012. Monterrey is the defending champion...
.
External links