Sounders roll on to U.S Open Cup semis

The way the Seattle Sounders are playing, they might as well be part of Major League Soccer (MLS) already. Rumors are that Seattle is close to landing an expansion team for 2009.

They've more than proved they can compete right now.

Josh Gardner and Sebastien Le Toux both provided a goal and an assist as the Sounders beat their second MLS team this season by blasting the Colorado Rapids 5-0 in front of 6,619 spectators Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the 94th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Qwest Field.

The victory, Seattle's most dominant over an MLS team, marked the Sounders' deepest advancement in the Open Cup and earned them another date against an MLS franchise.

The Sounders (17-6-6) face FC Dallas (12-12-5) of MLS in an Open Cup semifinal Sept. 4 at Qwest Field. FC Dallas went to Charleston and downed the Battery 2-1 in overtime Tuesday.

"I'm not saying we're better than Chivas [USA] and Colorado, but on that day we were better," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. "The true test would be if we played in that league."

Seattle, now 14-1-3 in its past 18 matches and unbeaten in the past 11, is bidding to become the second non-MLS champion of the Open Cup and first since the Rochester Raging Rhinos won it in 1999. MLS teams joined the Open Cup in 1996.

Sources close to the Sounders have said there a four groups of investors vying for an MLS franchise in 2009, although Sounders managing partner Adrian Hanauer wouldn't confirm that number.

"There's pretty high-level conversations going on right now about MLS," Hanauer said earlier Tuesday on KJR radio about MLS expansion to Seattle. "There's a lot of progress being made and lot of conversations happening.

"I'd say this thing is further along than it's ever been. There's a high, high likelihood that MLS will be here in the not-too-distant future."

Defender Taylor Graham headed in a corner kick by Josh Gardner in the 23rd minute at the far left post and fellow Sounders defender banged home a flying header in the 25th minute on a cross from Leighton O'Brien for a 2-0 lead.

Seattle went in front 3-0 in the 41st minute on an own goal from Colorado after Roger Levesque chipped a shot off goalkeeper Zach Thornton and Rapids defender Ugo Uhemelu knocked it in the net. Gardner made it 4-0 in the 56th minute and Le Toux's team-high 13th goal of season pushed it to 5-0 in the 68th minute.

Note

• U.S. national team goalkeeper Kasey Keller, a native of Lacey, was in attendance and chatted with Sounders manager partner Adrian Hanauer before the match. During preseason, Hanauer talked to Keller, who is currently unsigned, about playing for the Sounders.