Sounders meet MLS' Kansas City Wizards in U.S. Open Cup tonight

Although he's back home in the Seattle area, Chris Henderson still has roots in Kansas City.

Henderson, an Everett native who is technical director for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC, played two seasons and won his only MLS Cup with the Kansas City Wizards in 2000.

And though Henderson, 37, has no direct affiliation with the current Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer Leagues, he still could have an impact on the outcome of tonight's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match. The former U.S. National team player has inside knowledge of the MLS team.

The Seattle Sounders (8-3-8 overall) host the Wizards (7-5-5) at Qwest Field at 7 p.m. with a chance to reach the Open Cup semifinals for a second consecutive season.

So where will Henderson's loyalties be?

"I'm with the Sounders," said the 1989 graduate of Everett's Cascade High School. "I'd love to see them go far again in the Open Cup. I'll do everything I can to cheer on the Sounders."

Will he be doing more than cheer? The Sounders hope so.

"He knows more about this current [Wizards] team than anybody," said Sounders defender Taylor Graham, a former MLS player who spent two seasons with the Wizards in 2003 and 2004. "He hasn't told us anything yet."

Henderson, who was hired Jan. 24 as technical director of the 2009 expansion MLS club in Seattle, shares office space at Tukwila's Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex with current USL Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer.

He spends time at Sounders practices and is stationed behind the Seattle bench as Schmetzer auditions for the head-coaching job when MLS debuts in Seattle next March.

Henderson said he hasn't shared much inside information with Schmetzer or the current Sounders.

"Brian's the one to ask," Henderson said of what to expect from the Wizards. "He's a coach. He's prepared. He gets his teams prepared. He's pretty familiar with MLS teams, and he watches a lot of MLS games.

"And Taylor Graham knows them very well."

Henderson, whose career in MLS spanned 11 seasons through 2006, still keeps in touch with his Wizards friends and is trying to sell his house in Kansas City. He still regularly talks to his former neighbor three houses down, midfielder Kerry Zavagnin.

"Our kids are the same age, they went to school together and play together every day in the backyard," said Henderson of Zavagnin, the lone current Wizard who played on the 2000 MLS Cup team with Henderson. "The core of their team I've played against."

Notes

• Kansas City and Seattle squared off just once before in the Open Cup, with the Wizards scoring a 4-0 second-round win in 2001.

• Rumors, blogs and Sounders players indicate that the Wizards will bring a roster that features just two starters — Jimmy Conrad and Michael Harrington, but that couldn't be confirmed with Wizards officials.

"I don't look at it as a slap in the face that they're not bringing all their starters," Graham said. "Teams have to pick and choose when to rest players."

Logic points to two home games — Thursday's MLS match with the New York Red Bulls and Friday's exhibition with Mexican club Atlas — keeping some Kansas City starters home tonight.

• The Wizards are in last place in the Eastern Conference at 4-5-5 and 17 points. Seattle is tied for fourth in USL First Division at 4-3-8 with 20 points.

• Sounders forward Sebastien Le Toux has 13 goals this season in 19 matches, including six in USL First Division action and five in the Open Cup. He also has two assists for 28 points total this season.