After a war of words in the media that lead to the creation a bold website and some creative marketing and a lot of trash talk and the emergence of a new rivalry in MLS, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final was set to be the most hyped up final in the history of the tournament. Coming in, I wasn't sure the final would live up to the hype that had been building after some comments from each front office that in the old west would be described as fightin' words. Both Seattle and DC are fighting for playoff spots in an ultra competitive MLS playoff race because they have been two of the most inconsistent teams in the league. The Sounders look like Cup competitors every day, however some days they are MLS cup competitors, and some days they are Livermore Halloween tournament U-12 girls Cup competitors. DC has been plagued by road woes, to the point that they have looked bulletproof at home and helpless on  the road. Fortunately, they were home at RFK where a solid crowd of upward of 17k showed up. Not only did they show up, they were LOUD. Like if I knew any of the words of the Screaming Eagles songs, I could have sung along with my headphones in and not felt out of place. Immediately I knew this was gonna be a game worth watching. I settled in with my laptop at the library as my boy Drew was doing materials engineering and economics research and I was learning via osmosis.

In case you missed the war of words, Seattle's GM Adrian Hanauer called out the committee that selects where the final would be hosted because they selected DC and DC's president Kevin Payne happens to it on this committee. Payne did not take kindly to these words, especially challenging how many fans United would pull for the game. United then released both a front page letter in multiple major Washington D.C. newspapers about what Seattle had said, and challenging DC fans to show this expansion franchise that they might be a little too big for their britches. United also started the online trophy case, also known as wewintrophies.com. The fans responded and a solid crowd of 17,000+ were on hand for a Tuesday night shootout in the capital city.

A great environment greeted both teams at kick off and DC fans showed that they are not to be taken lightly. Seattle fans, who travel extremely well, were represented in the upper deck and showed that no matter where the game was played, they were going to be heard. The game started quickly with Freddy Montero having the best early chance which was stoned point blank by DC's Josh Wicks, who was both fantastic and disastrous in goal. Seattle continued to push, and Wicks denied all of the Sounders' Freddy's multiple times, coming up with clutch save after save. United's offensive looked anemic, and multiple bad decisions by Fred and Luciano Emilio on the attack helped thwart some of DC's own attacking chances. Somehow United escaped into half-time level, which looked to be a major turning point.

Halftime brought Santino Quaranta for Fred, and immediately DC looked much more dangerous. The game opened up a bit, and both teams had chances that narrowly missed before Ljungberg broke into the eighteen, ripped a good shot off of a Steve Zakuani cross that Wicks parried, but sneaky Freddy Montero beat Wicks to the rebound and he quickly finished into an empty net. What happened next was relatively disastrous for Wicks and DC, as he headed back to goal he jumped over Montero and decided a nice cleats to the arm of Montero would be the appropriate way to vent his frustration. After some discussion Wicks received a red card for his indiscriminate tryout for Stomp: The Soccer Musical and DC was suddenly down a goal and a man, and Wicks was headed for the showers and likely a suspension. DC replaced Gomez with a keeper, and went on the attack. Dangerous opportunities were wasted and Kasey Keller made a couple nice saves, and Seattle's counter in the 85th where Le Toux appeared to foul Jakovic and then played Levesque, who had come on as a sub, who promptly finished into an empty net and sealed the deal.

DC however, did not receive the memo, and struck back through a rather amusing free kick from Quaranta that struck Wallace and caromed to Clyde Simms who could have dribbled the ball in, having being held onside by Patrick Ianni, and Keller had laid out to save the shot that never materialized. Suddenly DC had life, momentum, and five minutes of stoppage time to work with. Nothing materialized, although James Riley made a spectacular outstretched header to clear a dangerous ball that was on its way to Pontius and possibly to goal. Two poor corners late let DC down, and moments later Seattle was celebrating their first trophy as an MLS side, quite an accomplishment for an expansion side.

Man of the Match: Freddy Montero. Expect to see this kid in Europe in a few years, one of the greatest prospects coming out of an MLS squad, and he proves in week in and week out with his performances.

Ratings:

Seattle Sounders

Keller – 8  While Kasey Keller may be old, he is still quite a keeper. His presence in the air was impressive, he made nice saves when he was called upon, and his distribution was all class. Had no chance or fault on the goal.

Gonzalez – 5.5  Made some dangerous runs, but was beaten defensively at times. None that cost any goals, but his yellow was a poor timed grab of Quaranta's shirt that set up a dangerous free kick for DC.

Ianni – 6  Was out of sorts at times, and responsible for keeping Simms onside on DC's goal. Outside of that, partnered Wahl well considering neither starts regularly and they were playing the emergency fill in role.

Wahl – 7  Looked solid in the middle, especially having not seen a ton of play time and not knowing if he was going to start until Monday during training.

Riley – 8 Came up huge in two spots where United was threating, including on a counter off a Sounder corner where he got stuck in with Gomez. Was heady on the ball, especially late in the game.

Zakuani – 6  His cross lead to the shot that lead to the goal, but outside of that he wasn't very problematic for the DC defense. Came off injured for Levesque late.

Alonso – 5.5  Relatively invisible most of the game. He didn't play poorly, but when you are the engine in the middle of the park and I don't notice you until after half time you might not be doing enough.

Vagenas – 5.5  His tackles were poor, and his distribution left something to be desired. Fortunately for him, the DC midfield left more to be desired.

Ljungberg – 8  Every creative attack seemed to come from or through him. His runs wreaked havoc, and he was unlucky not to score. His strike on goal teed up Montero. Still classy in his old age, although he still whines excessively when he feels like he has been fouled.

Le Toux – 6  Outside of his assist, I didn't notice him outside of thinking he looks like Kenny Cooper. Unlike Cooper, he didn't scare anyone from distance with his shot or anything else really. Hard to bother people when most of the time it appears you are hiding somewhere in the stadium like Waldo, except it would be Where's Kenny Cooper's twin?

Montero – 8.5  The Constantly Offside man of the match was a repeated thorn in the side of DC, and really should have scored multiple times. Outside of his poor finishing, he got the goal through a good effort, and his work rate was impressive, even more so considering his strike partner seemed to be content observing the game. Consistently dangerous, I can't see him playing anywhere but Europe in the near future.

Subs -

Levesque – 7   He scored the winner off a good run that was probably
the easiest goal he has ever scored. Good effort overall, he headed out a cross late that was dangerous.

Evans – 5  Didn't really make much of an impact, didn't really need to
or have the opportunity.


DC United

Wicks – 5  Wicks' rating is based on the average of the game he was having (9) and his decision making post giving up the first goal (1). He managed to keep DC in the game just to take them out it with his terrible stomp audition on Montero's arm. His saves were spectacular, and his distribution was marvelous. He saved at least three goals in the first half, but likely cost DC a shot to recover.

Burch – 5.5  Didn't have a bad game, and his shots were some of DC's most dangerous opportunities.

Jakovic – 6.5  Even though Montero had multiple chances, Jakovic played quite well and denied him of more. I felt like he was fouled on his giveaway that lead to the second goal, assuming it was him.

Namoff – 5  Was beaten more then he needed to be and did not provide much offensively.

Simms – 6.5  Had a nice tap in, and was one of DC's better players. Had too much defensive responsibility in the formation which he managed adequately.

Olsen – 6  Took a nice shot that Keller deflected over, and managed the middle well.

Fred – 1  Fred was Constantly Offside during the match. He gave the ball away countless times, was getting torched by Ljungberg, provided no service, and looked like he was more interested in being elsewhere. Fortunately Tom Soehn helped him with that, subbing him at half for Santino Quaranta. For him not to show up in a match that has so much on the line is just criminal.

Gomez – 4  His vision was lacking, and he got owned by Riley in a one
on one situation where he must beat him and score. He also missed open passes, and wasted free kicks like they were going out of style. When Wicks was sent off, he was pulled for a goal keeper sub.

Pontius – 7  Easily the most dangerous DC player on the field, he was unlucky not to score towards the end of the first half. His runs and creativity caused Riley to hack him down multiple times. Look for him to get capped with the national team in January.

Moreno – 3  The service from his corners were miserable, and he was not a threat at any point during the game. In fact, I'm relatively convinced he and Le Toux went to get dinner together right after kick off.

Emilio – 3.5  His distribution was miserable, his finishing worse, and his work rate made Conor Casey look like Carlos Tevez. He looked old today.

Subs -

Quaranta – 7.5  Made an instant impact, brought life to United, created dangerous free kicks and made me wonder how he doesn't start every game for United.

Kocic – 6  Called into duty in a rough spot, he distributed the ball well, made a couple decent saves and couldn't really be faulted on the goal.

Wallace – 6  A loltastic assist that he knew nothing about was his contribution in the short time he was on. Sorely missed on the field, I haven't the faintest why he and Quaranta are not starting

Congratulations to the Seattle Sounders who have made quite a splash in their freshman year in MLS, and a well deserved trophy for a well organized and potent squad and some of the best fans in the world.