The Seattle Sounders success in the Open Cup has continued as an MLS franchise. The Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA, 1-0, to clinch a spot in the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 

Kevin Forrest scored the lone goal of the match in the 62nd minute when Sanna Nyassi’s long throw found the head of Roger Levesque who headed it toward goal. At that point, Forrest crashed the net and connected on a diving header to give the home team the lead they would not give up.

The Rapids fail to qualify for the tournament for the second year in a row. In fact, the last time Colorado participated in the Open Cup, they lost 5-0 to the USL-1 version of the Sounders in the quarterfinals of the 2007 tournament.

Seattle has only missed the tournament twice (1998, 2004) since they debuted in 1995, and last year they became the first USL First Division team to advance to the semifinals in two consecutive seasons. During that two-year run, the Sounders were 7-1-2 and eliminated four MLS teams.

The Sounders and the other seven MLS teams will enter the Open Cup in the third round, which is scheduled to take place on June 30.