LINEUPS: The Sounders made one change from their league game on Saturday, re-inserting Andrew Thomas into goal. LAFC counters with what’s effectively a first choice lineup absent some notable players like Olivier Giroud, Eduard Atuesta and Jesus Murillo.

The Seattle Sounders will get a fourth shot at LAFC, this time in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday. LAFC come into the game having eliminated the Sounders from the Leagues Cup about 10 days ago, which was the third time they’d beaten them this year. The Sounders have not beaten LAFC since May 26, 2021, nine meetings ago.

The biggest variable in this match is probably that it’s being played at Starfire Soccer Complex in Tukwila. The Sounders have a record of 25-1-3 in the Open Cup at the 4,000-seat venue that dates back to their time in the USL. This will be the first time LAFC have ever played there.

The Sounders are coming off a 3-2 win in their return to regular-season play over the weekend, while LAFC just lost 3-1 to the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final on Sunday. They flew straight to Seattle after that match.

The winner of this match will host Sporting KC in the Open Cup final on Sept. 25.

Notes

Paul Rothrock is the Sounders’ active leader in U.S. Open Cup goals (3). With his next goal, he’d tie Andy Rose for fifth on the team’s all-time list.
Neither team has had to face a MLS opponent to get to this point in the tournament. The Sounders beat USL Championship sides Louisville City, Phoenix Rising and Sacramento Republic. LAFC beat USL Championship teams Las Vegas Lights, Loudoun United and New Mexico United.
The Sounders will be attempting to win their fifth U.S. Open Cup, while LAFC has yet to play in a final of this tournament.
This is the sixth time during the MLS era the Sounders have advanced to the Open Cup semis. They’re 5-0-0 in their first five trips. The last time they played in the Open Cup semis was 2014 when they beat the Chicago Fire 6-0. They also made two trips there during the USL era, going 0-2-0 in those games.