Sounders FC hosts Open Cup play-in match

TUKWILA — Stephen King has been waiting for his chance to play a meaningful game for Sounders FC since the season started. The midfielder gets his opportunity, along with several other players hungry for playing time, tonight when Seattle hosts Real Salt Lake in a U.S. Open Cup tournament play-in match at Starfire Sports Complex.

The match is sold out, and a crowd of around 3,700 is expected.

The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup tournament in American soccer, having started in 1914. It is open to all U.S. pro and amateur clubs that qualify, and games are played concurrent with teams' regular seasons, as is the case with the Major League Soccer entrants.

The six MLS clubs that finished with the most standings points last season are automatically in the 2009 tournament; there's a play-in bracket featuring the eight other American MLS teams that includes Sounders FC. The final two Open Cup MLS entrants will come out of those eight.

Last year's Sounders from the United Soccer Leagues First Division advanced to the Cup semifinals before losing to another USL team, the Charleston Battery. The Sounders defeated two MLS teams, Chivas USA and the Kansas City Wizards, during their run.

Now Seattle is an MLS team, and tonight's match is a chance for reserves back from injury, like King, defender Taylor Graham, midfielder Peter Vagenas and forward Jarrod Smith, to see action in a tournament that coaches and players say they are taking seriously. Though the game gives Sounders FC two matches to play this week, coach Sigi Schmid said he'll field a mixture of starters and reserves.

One of the reserves is King, who was chosen in the MLS expansion draft last fall and has only played in reserve games. He played in U.S. Open Cup games for the Chicago Fire last season.

"I feel like I've been working hard trying to work my way into the lineup, and now to finally get my chance to prove myself, I'm very excited for it," said King, who is back from a strained groin two weeks ago.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com