DC 1-2 Seattle: Seattle Becomes First Expansion Team Since 1998 to take the US Open Cup

By: Laurie | September 3rd, 2009

“Hey! Fredy! C’mon, Dude, I need you to get up and act like I didn’t just stomp you on the ~~chest~~ hand. C’mon, man. Please? I know I used to play for Portland and you guys hate Portland, but Prus is talking with the 4th official and they look pissed. Please? Fredy? Please? Your guys aren’t still mad that I mooned your fans last time we played, are you? Oh, c’mon, Fredy, I’ll give you ten bucks! I’ll introduce you to loose women! I’ll…I’ll…. Oh, s***.”

And with that, Seattle Sounders FC became the first expansion side since the 1998 Chicago Fire to take home real silverware by winning the oldest tournament in the United States, the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. (And things were a bit different back in 1998, because the league itself was only two years old.)

The first half had chances for both sides. Seattle probably had the better looks at goal, but Seattle’s had some great looks at goal in recent games — always right before the ball soared high, wide or to straight to the keeper.

And this game looked to be more of the same. DC had a full-strength lineup, Seattle’s was makeshift — four starters missing, including both central defenders. But the chances kept coming for both sides, and by the start of the second half it was clear that something big was going to happen.

What was it? Take a look at the video, below. Start at about the 1:45 mark. It’s one of those “second bite of the cherry” goals that announcer Max Bretos is so fond of talking about. (Right before he screams, “YYYEEEEAAAAAAHHHHAHH!!!!”)

But don’t stop there. Keep an eye on DC goalkeeper Josh Wicks immediately after the goal.

Some background: Wicks used to play for the Portland Timbers, the arch nemeses of the USL Sounders. There is no love lost between the two. When DC came to Seattle earlier in the year, Emerald City Supporters got quite creative with chants involving, among other things, words that rhyme with “Wicks.” He allegedly responded by mooning the ECS under the guise of tucking in his jersey. (No photos have emerged that I’ve seen, but that’s the story.) He wasted so much time after DC tied it up that the ref was reaching for his pocket — until a Seattle supporter threw a bottle at Wicks, which was a bigger infraction than time-wasting.

So…yeah. No love lost between Wicks and Seattle. Now watch the clip, again starting at 1:45-ish.

For the record, there are camera angles that better show the deliberate nature of the stomp. This was NOT accidental.

Wicks will be facing a ban, but it won’t affect league play. Since the US Open Cup is run by US Soccer and not MLS, the worst they can do is ban him from future Open Cup play. (See Blanco, Cuauhtemoc.)

Goal #2 for Seattle was just as sweet for longtime Sounders fans, as the “French Connection” of Sebastien Le Toux and Roger Levesque linked up the way they used to during the USL championship season in 2007. DC put themselves back in the game in the 89th minute when a criminally unmarked Clyde Simms calmly slotted home a rebound off a Santino Quaranta free kick.

But in the end they couldn’t come up with the equalizer, and Seattle has its first silverware for its new trophy case.

(And I’m trying not to gloat here over the fact that my favorite team has just won my favorite tournament, but… Damn. It’s hard.)

(Photo by our very own blogger Jen at LA Galaxy Offside, who was at the match.)