by Brad Wall
TUKWILA, Wash. – The Sounders scored four goals in the second half, pulling away from the Silverbacks 5-1 Wednesday night to advance to the fourth round of the US Open Cup.
Seattle was unable to find the net for the majority of the first half with four of their first nine shots being on goal but not hitting the net. That drought ended when Jeff Parke fed Andy Rose near the top of the box and Rose ripped it into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead right moments before the halftime whistle.
The Sounders came out quick in the second half as Cordell Cato rolled it out to Osvaldo Alonso up the right side, who ended up being one on one with goalkeeper and struck it inside the far post for a goal at the 47 minute mark and a 2-0 lead.
Atlanta got on the board about six minutes later when Reinaldo Navia hit a shot into the top right corner of the net to put the Silverbacks within one.
About a minute later, Alex Caskey headed down an errant ball and took it down the field before making a left-footed goal inside the far post to extend the lead back to two.
Sammy Ochoa hit two goals in the span of three minutes as he was lead up the left side by Alonso before getting it past the goalkeeper at the 63 minute mark. He scored again at the 66-minute mark with a left-footed curler to put the Sounders ahead comfortably 5-1.
Seattle took 24 shots with 14 of them being on goal while Atlanta took eight with three of them being on goal. The Sounders had eight fouls on the day to the Silverbacks' 11.
Since joining the MLS, the Sounders have taken the league by storm winning the last three US Open Cups.
Sounders FC will face Amateur Cal FC June 5th in the fourth round of the US Open Cup and continue their quest of a fourth consecutive Championship. Cal FC upset the Sounders' fellow northwest MLS neighbor Timbers Wednesday 1-0 in their third round matchup.
