BONNEY LAKE, WA—(club release) The Sounders U23 team won last night to advance in the US Open Cup. The task did not come easy for the new crop of players coming in for the summer of 2016. With some of the players arriving on planes within 24 hours of the game, the team used the game as an opportunity to get to know each other and find a way to win and advance.
The visiting Outbreak FC jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute when Oscar Aguero intercepted a pass in the Sounders end and slipped a shot past Sounders goalkeeper Paul Christensen. Sounders U-23s would respond just before the break when a fell for LeeRoy Maguarashe whose first-time volley rocketed inside the left corner. After a second half deadlock, the game made way for extra time where Ashkanaov Apollon slid David Olsen through to find the winner in the game’s 115th minute. Apollon would add to the goal tally to ice the match at 3-1 in the 120th minute. With the victory, Sounders FC U-23s will face Kitsap Pumas in the tournament’s Second Round on Wednesday, May 18.
“We are always happy to win games but we have a long way to go to be competitive in the Northwest Division of the PDL,” said Sounders U23 Head Coach Darren Sawatzky, “We look forward to playing Kitsap next Wednesday in the first of many games against our divisional opponent.”
The Sounders U23 travel to Gordon Field for a 7:30pm game next Wednesday, May 18th. The Sounders U23 kick off the PDL regular season on May 22nd at 2pm at Sunset Stadium in Sumner against Crossfire PDL. Tickets can be found at http://www.soundersu23.com.
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