TUKWILA, Wash. — The Seattle Sounders may be off from league competition for three weeks, but an important game looms on the horizon nonetheless. The U.S. Open Cup begins the fourth round of play this week, with the Sounders taking on eternal rivals Portland Timbers Wednesday. That matchup was confirmed during a (non-televised) “random draw” after the conclusion of the third-round games.
Coming on the heels of a disappointing road stretch where the Sounders collected only one point in four games, head coach Brian Schmetzer noted the importance of getting a positive result.