Originally published Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 12:00 AM

No fluke: Sounders reach Open Cup quarters

So much for talk that the Seattle Sounders' recent dominance over Major League Soccer teams was a fluke. Seattle, in its final season as...

By MATT MASSEY

Special to The Seattle Times

TUKWILA — So much for talk that the Seattle Sounders' recent dominance over Major League Soccer teams was a fluke.

Seattle, in its final season as a United Soccer Leagues First Division club, scored its third win in two seasons over MLS teams as the Sounders dominated Chivas USA 2-0 Tuesday night in front of 2,997 at Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex. The victory came in the third round of the 95th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Taylor Graham and Sebastien Le Toux provided the goals as the Sounders knocked Chivas (5-7-3) out of the Open Cup in the third round for the second season in a row. Last season, Seattle won 3-1.

"This, perhaps, makes people truly believe that we have good players on this team and that last season wasn't a fluke," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "It also is proof that the Open Cup tournament is an exciting format."

The win propelled the Sounders into back-to-back quarterfinal appearances for the first time in team history. Seattle (8-2-7) hosts the Kansas City Wizards of MLS in a quarterfinal contest Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Qwest Field.

Graham, a former MLS defender who played for K.C. in 2003 and 2004, flew across the goal mouth on Josh Gardner's corner kick from the right side and gave Seattle a 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.

"We feel we can compete with any team in the country," said Graham. "And we relish the opportunity to do that with MLS teams."

Le Toux made it 2-0 in the 80th minute by chipping the ball 15 yards over goalkeeper Brad Guzan after a long punt by Seattle keeper Chris Eylander grazed a Chivas defender.

"They fell asleep for a couple of seconds and you can't do that with Sebastien, because he's got pace," Graham said. "That goal at the end feels so good just to have that cushion. Tonight was our night."

Notes

• The Sounders fell 2-1 to FC Dallas in the Open Cup semis last year.

• Tickets for next Tuesday's match are available today at 10 a.m. for $17 at www.tickemaster.com or $20 at the gate on match day.

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