SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC RESERVES v. OAKLAND ROOTS SC US OPEN CUP 3RD ROUND - STARFIRE SPORTS, FORT DENT PARK, TUKWILA, WASHINGTON

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. For the Tuesday night cup tie in Tukwila, the role of the Sounders FC will be played by the Sounders FC Reserves. SOUNDERS FOR THE CUP!!!

What: US Open Cup 3rd Round tie, Seattle Sounders FC Reserves v. Oakland Roots SC.

Where: Starfire Sports, Fort Dent Park, Tukwila, Washington.

When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Tuesday 15 April 2025 CE.

At Stake: Simply put, win and advance or lose and be eliminated.

Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network and Paramount+. Further information available on the United States FA website. 

Where to Listen: If there’s any radio coverage of this match, I haven’t heard of it.

Our youngers are doing a proper job of fighting for the US Open Cup. The least we can do is get out and support the lads who are putting in the hours. Support is vital as there is no lattitude for error in cup football. Win and go through. Lose and be eliminated. Massive support from ours could tip the balance in our favour. Let’s pack out the ground and make such a racket that it irritates the shite out of the opposition.

This is not a drill, this is not a drill. All hands to action stations! It’s cup football at Starfire under the Tuesday night lights in Tukwila. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!! SOUNDERS FOR THE CUP!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

I mean, why wouldn’t you fight for the Cup with everything you’ve got?

The Good News

We’ve not been beat yet in this tournament, and Tsukanome (6 goals in all competitions) and De Rosario (5 goals all hit in MLS Next Pro) are scoring goals like it’s going out of style.

We have good goalkeepers, ably led by Jacob Castro of the senior team. The Sounders FC Reserves’ defence has also been bolstered by reinforcements from the senior squad including Cody Baker, Travian Sousa, Stuart Hawkins, and Leo Burney. Fairly safe bet we can rely on those mentioned above, and maybe, if the fates are kind, even more reinforcements from the senior squad.

Sounders FC reserves have won four out of their last five in all competitions (4-0-1).

Oakland Roots SC are struggling in the USL Championship, as they’d not won all season ’til last Sat, when they defeated FC Tulsa on the road 1:2 on the strength of two Wolfgang Prentice goals. Oakland currently sit 22nd out of 24 in the USL Championship.

Sounders FC Reserves are averaging nearly three goals per match (2.83) in all competitions.

Sounders FC Reserves are unbeaten at Starfire this season with a 4-0-0 record in all competitions.

Oakland Roots SC are struggling in general and have a road record of 1-0-2, with their recent win over FC Tulsa being their first road points of the season. Oakland have only taken four points out of their last five matches (1-1-3).

The Bad News

Sounders Reserves had a bit of a hiccup in the league last Thursday, squandering a 0:1 lead on the road against LAFC Reserves provided by a De Rosario penalty kick (15’). Rosenthal (48’) and Evans (52’) would hit back to give LAFC Reserves the lead in the second half. Our lads would rally to equalise on another strike from De Rosario on 58’ to make it 2:2. LAFC Reserves would be awarded a late penalty kick due to a handball in the Penalty Area by our defence. Evans converted the penalty in the 88th and we were unable to equalise before full-time.

Sounders FC Reserves are conceding two goals per match in all competitions this season.

Although the stats lean towards a 3:1 or 3:2 victory for ours, they could also point to a 2:2 draw forcing extra-time and possibly a penalty kick tie-breaker.

The Side I Would Select

The attack is sound for the Reserves, averaging nearly three goals per match. The defence could use some shoring up, and I’d add Joao Paulo who hasn’t seen much action in the senior team. I’d have Ryan Kent if he’s got his visa matters sorted out, and also Jordan Morris, who could both use some match sharpness before the senior team’s Saturday fixture against Nashville.

GK     Castro

LB     Sousa

LCH    Hawkins

RCH    Yamada

RB     Baker

LDM    Brunell

RDM    Joao Paulo

LF     Baker-Whiting

CAM   Tsukanome

RF     Kent

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I’d imagine Herve Diese will select a team similar, if not identical, to the one that beat Spokane in the last round of this tournament.

GK     Castro

LB     Sousa

LCH    Hawkins

RCH    Yamada

RB     Baker

LDM    Brunell

RDM    Kingston

LF     Gomez

CAM   Tsukanome

RF     Kang

CF     De Rosario

Intangibles

Better rested.

Sounders FC Reserves played their most recent league match on Thursday 10 April. Oakland Roots played their most recent match on Saturday 12 April. Theoretically, that means four days between fixtures for ours, whilst Oakland must play with only two days between matches.

Tuesday cup tie.

Cup ties on a Tuesday are a rarity. I’ve not seen any promotion for this match. It transcends sadness.

Starfire mystique.

Starfire can be a huge advantage for us. It’s a small ground with the fans and supporters right up against the pitch.

Shitty lack of promotion of US Open Cup.

Starfire can be an advantage…if our people show up in numbers.

Reinforcements?

I wonder if the result for this match may depend on how many members of the Sounders FC senior squad are available to be called upon, against such an experienced opponent.

General notes on personnel

Oakland transfers IN:

Byaruhanga (Vyskov) undisclosed

Bravo (Charlotte FC) free

Johnson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)

Damm (San Luis) free

Mohamed (New Mexico United) undisclosed

Greene (Monterey Bay) free

Armenakas (Memphis 901) free

Wilson (Jerv) free

Gibson (Indy Eleven) free

McIntosh (San Antonio) free

Oakland transfers OUT:
Rodriguez (Las Vegas Lights) undisclosed

Diaz (El Paso Locomotive) free

Chery (Hai Phong) free

Reid (Harbour View) undisclosed

Comparison against common opponents

n/a

Know Thine Enemy

Oakland as they lined up in their 1:2 victory over FC Tulsa in the USL Championship on 12 April at Elgin Avenue.

GOALKEEPER

Kendall McIntosh, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: Sporting Kansas City (16/0), San Antonio FC (9/0), Oakland Roots SC (6/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €125,000

Notes: Developed by San Jose Earthquakes. Played his university football for Santa Clara (54/0).

DEFENCE

Baboucarr Njie, 29

Gambia (1/0)

Notable Clubs: Rio Grande Valley FC (28/2), Phoenix Rising FC (42/2), Oakland Roots SC (44/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Played his university football for North Carolina Wesleyan (NCAA III) (57/34).

Julian Bravo, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: Oakland Roots SC (3/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: not listed

Notes: Played for Golden State Force U-18s/U-19s in the United States FA Developmental Academy. No known honours.

Neveal Hackshaw, 29

Trinidad & Tobago (28/2)

Notable Clubs: North East Stars (?/3), Charleston Battery (75/1), Indy Eleven (91/7), Oakland Roots SC (58/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000

Notes: Developed by Joe Public and Arima North Secondary.

Kai Greene, 31

United States

Notable Clubs: Rio Grande Valley FC (69/1), San Antonio FC (43/0), Oakland Roots SC (36/1), Monterey Bay FC (97/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Played his university football for Seton Hall (68/9).

Jurgen Damm, 32

Mexico (12/1)

Notable Clubs: Pachuca (67/4), Tigres UANL (137/9), Atlanta United (24/0), Club America (7/0), San Luis (27/1), Oakland Roots SC (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €350,000

Notes: Developed by Escuela Futbol Chivas, Atlas, and Tecos. Won four Liga MX titles, three Campeon de Campeones, and a Campeones Cup with Tigres UANL. Named to Liga MX Best XI 2015 Apertura.

MIDFIELD

Daniel Gomez, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: Oakland Roots SC (58/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Developed by Seattle Sounders FC and Sacramento Republic FC.

Jose Sinisterra, 26

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Lanus (5/1), Platense (16/0), San Martin (15/0), Deportivo Pereira (32/1), Club Blooming (25/3), Sportivo Trinidense (7/1), Oakland Roots SC (15/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000

Notes: Full name: Jose Luis Sinisterra Castillo. Developed by Sporting de Buenaventura, Palmeiras, Santos, Corinthians, Defensa y Justicia, Quilmes, Lanus, and Atletico Nacional. Won a Colombian league title with Deportivo Pereira.

Bobosi Byaruhanga, 23

Uganda (21/0)

Notable Clubs: Vipers SC (26/3), Oakland Roots SC (2/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: not listed

Notes: Developed by Vipers SC. Won a Uganda Premier League championship and Uganda Cup with Vipers SC.

FORWARD

Wolfgang Prentice, 24

United States

Notable Clubs: Oakland Roots SC (20/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €150,000

Notes: Developed by Crescenta Valley SC, West Coast FC, Los Angeles Galaxy, Pateadores, and Real So Cal. Played his university football for Cal State Northridge (35/4).

Peter Wilson, 28

Liberia (16/2)

Notable Clubs: GIF Sundsvall (93/19), Sheriff Tiraspol (17/7), Olympiakos Nicosia (27/2), Oakland Roots SC (5/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: not listed

Notes: Developed by GIF Sundsvall. Won a Moldovan league championship with Sherrif Tiraspol.

Familiar Faces

Oakland Roots SC midfielder Daniel Gomez was at Sounders FC Academy and played for the U-18s/U-19s (8/0) from 2017-2018.

Squads

Sounders FC Reserves from:

Castro, Helleren, Shour, Alvarez, Carli, Diaw, Katsaros, Lopez, Sandnes, Yamada, Baer, Brunell, Dodzi, Emert, Brun, Newman, Gaffney, Sebastian Gomez, Brito, Kang, Kingston, Pedder, Robles, De Rosario, Hassan, Khoury, Tsukanome, Veillard.

Sounders senior squad players that played 45 minutes or less last Sat may also be selected in the team, rules permitting:

Thomas, Baker, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Burney, Hawkins, Kim, Ragen, Sousa, Joao Paulo, Leyva, de la Vega, Kent*, Minoungou, Morris.

*Work Visa pending

Oakland from:

McIntosh, Spiegel, Syrel, Caracheo, Njie, Bravo, Margvelashvili, Riley, Rasmussen, Hackshaw, Mohamed, Greene, Caminos, Camier, Alekseev, Daniel Gomez, Gibson, Byaruhanga, Damm, Bedolla-Vera, Sorrosa, Elmasnaouy, Prentice, Wilson, Armenakas, Sinisterra, Johnson, Martinez, Saldana, Sanchez.

Injury List

No injuries listed on transfermarkt.co.uk.

Discipline

Sounders FC Reserves: No players suspended. Yamada, Baer, and Hawkins are out next match if booked.

Oakland: No players suspended.

Fun Fact

Last week, Sounders FC Reserves forward Yu Tsukanome was named MLS Next Pro Player of the Week. Tsukanome earned the honour by coming on as a substitute against Vancouver Whitecaps FC Reserves and hitting a hat trick within 14 minutes. You don’t see that every day. Well done, Yu!