Seattle swarms amateur team in Open Cup

TUKWILA — Too much speed. Too much skill. Too much offensive firepower.

Banat Arsenal, an amateur team, was no match for the Seattle Sounders in Tuesday's first-round match of the 94th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux provided two goals as the Sounders took control midway through the first half of a 4-1 victory over Banat Arsenal of Glendale, Ariz., in front of 864 fans at Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex.

Banat Arsenal, a member of the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA), saw its first Open Cup appearance end early as Seattle erupted for three first-half goals in a 12-minute span to break a 1-1 tie.

The Sounders host their United Soccer Leagues (USL) First Division rival Portland Timbers at 7 p.m., June 26 in the second round of the Open Cup at Starfire. The Timbers beat the Bakersfield Brigade 2-0 on Tuesday night.

"It's a chance for the club to get an exciting game at Starfire, and then if we win, to get a bigger game against an MLS [Major League Soccer] club," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said.

Le Toux notched his first goal on a run down the right side, chipping the ball over the head of goalkeeper Chris Rehfuss for a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute. Le Toux then scored on a rebound in the 36th minute for a 3-1 advantage.

Greg Howes hiked the Sounders' lead to 4-1 in the 44th minute.

Seattle forward Nathan Knox knocked in an 8-yard shot from a tough angle at the left post, driving the ball into the right corner of the net for a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.

Banat Arsenal tied the score 1-1 when Maurice Hughes scored in the 18th minute on an assist from Ty Hibbert on a set piece.

"Sometimes those goals happen," Schmetzer said. "But we came right back."

W-League

Sounders Women 1, San Diego Sunwaves 0

Midfielder Tafara Pulse bounced a 15-yard angle shot from the right off the crossbar and into the net in the 71st minute as the Sounders Women (3-3-1, 10 points) won a W-League Western Conference match at Starfire Sports Complex.