When we headed down to Starfire for last week’s Tacoma Defiance U.S. Open Cup matchup against USL side Oakland Roots, I'll admit I didn't know what to expect.
Our plan was to stream a live episode of Lobbing Scorchers from Watershed Pizza, which we actually pulled off despite some dodgy WiFi. We managed to make it through without the whole thing crashing, and had a great interview with Sounders technical director Henry Brauner.
The real fun part, though, was the game itself. There weren't as many people there as there would be for a Sounders first-team Open Cup match, but the attendance was nonetheless solid, and the atmosphere was great. And the team responded.
Peter Kingston scored a banger free kick. Osaze De Rosario bagged an extra-time game-winner, then celebrated with the fans in the stands before the home side officially upset a club that plays a division above them.
They're the last MLS NEXT Pro team left standing in the Open Cup, and now get a crack at the Portland Timbers first team on May 6. Is it especially likely that a Next Pro side beats any MLS first team, let alone a Timbers side that's in great form at the moment? Not really, but there's only one club that has anything to lose in this matchup, and it's not Tacoma. If they pull this one off, I'd argue it'd be the funniest result in the history of the organization with eternal bragging rights. If they lose, then it's been a hell of a run.
We're planning on heading back out there, so if you missed the last one, I highly recommend making the trip. We'll hopefully be set up for another live show (this time featuring Jeremiah Oshan), and would love to see you there.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday, April 26 at Colorado Rapids | 6:30 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
- Postgame Pontifications: Finally flexing some muscle
- Danny Musovski enjoying quite the moment
- Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff: Was that the real Seattle Sounders?
- Seattle Sounders vs. Nashville SC: community player ratings form
- Ship's Log, April 19: You probably forgot about home-road splits
- Sounders vs. Nashville SC: Highlights, stats and quotes
Reign
Next match: Saturday, April 26 vs. Bay FC | 7 pm PT
- Reign earn gritty win over Portland at home
- Three stats: Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns
- Reign vs. Thorns: Highlights, stats, quotes
Defiance
Next match: Wednesday, April 23 at Sporting Kansas City II | 4 pm PT
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
- Women’s Super League weighs up title playoffs in radical revamp (Telegraph)
- NWSL’s harassment reporting system left players confused, searching for answers (SFChronicle)
- Vancouver Rise victorious in emotional, historic NSL kickoff (SportsNet.ca)
- Bad turf, cold showers, wash your own kit: life at the top of US minor league soccer (The Athletic)
- FIFA World Cup 2026 host city posters: Astronauts, cowboys, lobsters (ESPN)
- Washington state may loosen beer garden rules for World Cup (Axios)
- Opinion: Trump’s immigration laws are harming NWSL players. The league must do more to protect them (All for XI)
- MLS Winners and Losers: Seattle Sounders make a statement (Backheeled)
- NWSL Power Rankings: KC, Spirit leapfrog Orlando at the top (ESPN)
- Matthew Doyle: Austin's new look, New England find chemistry & more from Matchday 9 (MLSsoccer)
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