Originally published June 13, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified June 13, 2007 at 2:03 AM

Seattle swarms amateur team in Open Cup

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...

By Matt Massey

Special to The Seattle Times

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.

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