Sounders FC advances to U.S. Open Cup final with 2-1 overtime victory

TUKWILA — Stitches embedded in his scalp from a nasty collision earlier in the match, Nate Jaqua made sure there would be high drama at the Starfire Zoo Tuesday night. Against his former team, no less.

His Sounders FC teammate, Stephen King, made sure Jaqua's effort wasn't in vain.

Jaqua, who'd been bloodied after his run-in during the game's 10th minute, blasted home a goal that deflected off the Houston Dynamo's Kei Kamara in the 89th. It tied the score, then King sent in a rocket off a misplayed ball in front of the net in the fourth minute of overtime, leading Seattle to a 2-1 come-from-behind win in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal at Starfire Sports Complex.

The goals were a culmination of a change in formation in the second half and the sense of urgency to pound away at the Dynamo's defense and first get the tie, then go for the win.

"We created chances. The team kept fighting and battling," coach Sigi Schmid said. "As a result of that we ended up with the equalizer and then won it in overtime."

The win, before a noisy throng of 4,895 squeezed into the complex's stadium, propelled the Rave Green into the championship game of the U.S. Open Cup, the tournament of American club teams. Seattle will travel to Washington, D.C. for a Sept. 2 match against another Major League Soccer team, D.C. United.

It didn't look that way for a very long time, and things really got dicey in the final 10 minutes of overtime. Defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado drew a second yellow card and was ejected, meaning he'll be out for the championship game.

Ade Akinbiyi fired home a shot from in close in the 32nd minute, giving a visiting team a lead at Starfire for the first time against Sounders FC. The Dynamo held on for 57 minutes but couldn't keep Sounders FC from tying, as Seattle cranked up its attack in the late second half.

The match was physical and fans were rowdy. Temporary bleachers were filled along the west end line and above the grandstand seating area. Those fans weren't happy with some of the officials' calls and some rough play; nevertheless, the aggressiveness came from both teams.

Sounders FC had won two play-in matches and a quarterfinal at Starfire to get to the semifinals, plus a third-round match in Portland. Tuesday night, it faced its biggest challenge of the Open Cup. In the second half, the physical toll began to show in the Dynamo, and the 61st-minute entrance of Sounders FC forward Steve Zakuani and his speed also helped turn the tide of the match.

"It felt like they were slipping a little bit in their energy level," Jaqua said. "We were just thinking, 'If we keep going we've got to get one.' "

Jaqua got it, taking a layoff from Roger Levesque in traffic. The goal was a tough break for Gig Harbor native Tally Hall, Houston's goalkeeper, who had 10 saves.

The match went into overtime — two 15-minute periods without sudden death — and King struck. It was the midfielder's third goal in Open Cup play, including the two play-in games.

After King's goal, Seattle had to hold on for more than 10 minutes with only 10 players. Sounders FC survived, and players fell to the turf exhausted right after the final whistle. For the second time in 11 days, Seattle rallied to defeat the Dynamo, once at Qwest Field in a regular-season match and again Tuesday.

"There's going to be some pretty intense battles when Seattle plays Houston," Schmid said. "That's something you're going to see from here on out."

Sounders FC 2, Dynamo 1 (OT)

At Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila

Houston	1 0 — 1
Seattle	0 1 — 1

First half — Houston, Ade Akinbiyi 1 (unassisted) 32'. Second half — Seattle, Nate Jaqua 1 (Sebastien Le Toux 1, Roger Levesque 1) 89'. Overtime — Seattle, Stephen King 1 (Sebastien Le Toux 1, Steve Zakuani 2) 95'. Yellow cards — Julius James (caution; reckless tackle), Houston, 30'; Bobby Boswell (caution; dissent), Houston, 30'; Brad Davis (caution; delaying a restart), Houston, 43'; Nate Jaqua (caution; reckless foul), Seattle, 63'; Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (caution; reckless tackle), Seattle, 67'; Brian Mullan (caution; reckless tackle), Houston, 70'; Tyrone Marshall (caution; unsporting behavior), Seattle, 80'; Mike Chabala (caution; reckless tackle), Houston, 91+. Red card — Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (ejection; second caution), Seattle, 110'. Goalkeepers — Houston, Tally Hall; Seattle, Kasey Keller. Total shots — Seattle 26, Houston 7. Shots on goal — Seattle 12, Houston 4. Total saves — Houston 10, Seattle 3. Fouls — Seattle 21, Houston 19. Offsides — Houston 1, Seattle 1. Corner kicks — Seattle 11, Houston 8. A — 4,895.

LINEUPS

Houston — Tally Hall (GK); Julius James 60'; Danny Cruz; Erik Ustruck; Brad Davis; Ade Akinbiyi; John Michael Hayden; Dominic Oduro 65'; Corey Ashe 68'; Andre Hainault; Bobby Boswell. Substitutes: Pat Onstad (GK); Brian Mullan 68'; Kei Kamara 65'; Cam Weaver; Craig Waibel; Mike Chabala 60'; Wade Barrett.

Seattle — Kasey Keller (GK); Tyson Wahl 84'; James Riley; Peter Vagenas 65'; Sebastien Le Toux; Tyrone Marshall; Stephen King; Fredy Montero; Nate Jaqua; Sanna Nyassi 61'

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado 110'. Substitutes: Terry Boss (GK); Osvaldo Alonso 65'; Steve Zakuani 61'; Nathan Sturgis; Zach Scott; Roger Levesque 84'; Lamar Neagle.

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