REPUBLIC 1, SOUNDERS 2: Juan Herrera was able to get an open look at a header off a corner kick to pull back a goal early in the second half.

Never-say-die Sacto 😤@SacRepublicFC | #USOC2024 pic.twitter.com/RPGeSkkKQr
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 10, 2024

REPUBLIC 0, SOUNDERS 2: Jordan Morris scored his ninth goal across all competitions, slickly dribbling around the keeper and finishing with his left foot after collecting a pass from Reed Baker-Whiting.

A 1st in the Open Cup for @JmoSmooth13 👏#USOC2024 | @SoundersFC pic.twitter.com/n4BxWMMJg9
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 10, 2024

REPUBLIC 0, SOUNDERS 1: Josh Atencio scored in the 16th minute, collecting an attempted clearance at the top of the penalty area and then hitting a shot that deflected off a defender and into the goal.

Can't score if you don't shoot 💥 @SoundersFC #USOC2024 // @OpenCup pic.twitter.com/ZIDcEFqcfJ
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) July 10, 2024

LINEUPS: True to their word, the Sounders rolled out something very close to a first-choice lineup with only four changes from the weekend match two days earlier. Jon Bell, Andrew Thomas, Josh Atencio and Reed Baker-Whiting replaced Jackson Ragen, Stef Frei, Obed Vargas and Léo Chú, respectively.

The Seattle Sounders have a chance to advance to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals for the first time since 2014 when they visit the USL Championship’s Sacramento Republic tonight at 8 PM. If the Sounders win, they’d host the winner of LAFC-New Mexico United on Aug. 27.

Although the Sounders used heavily rotated lineups in the previous two rounds, they are expected to use one tonight that is at least closer to first choice.

In those previous rounds, the Sounders beat USL Championship teams Louisville City and Phoenix Rising at home. Louisville are currently the top team in the league with a record of 12-4-2, while Rising are ninth in the Western Conference. Republic currently sit third in the West with a record of 7-3-7.

While Republic’s league form is not particularly impressive, they do have a history of being giant killers in this tournament. In the previous round they beat the San Jose Earthquakes, which was the fifth time they’d taken down an MLS opponent. That includes a win over the Sounders in 2018 and a run to the Open Cup final in 2022, where they lost to Orlando City.

Notes

The Sounders are trying to become the first MLS team to win five Open Cups, which would also tie the all-time record.
This is the second-ever competitive meeting between the Sounders and Republic, but they did face one another in preseason earlier this year. In a pair of split-squad games, the Sounders won 4-1 overall.
VAR will be in use starting this round, one round earlier than it was last year.
Tonight’s game is available for free through Apple’s MLS Season Pass.