Two big games upcoming for Sounders FC

Two big games await the Seattle Sounders FC this week as the run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup continues and MLS play resumes against the two-time champion Houston Dynamo.

Two big games await the Seattle Sounders FC this week as the run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup continues and MLS play resumes against the two-time champion Houston Dynamo.

Sounders FC (6-3-7, 25 points, 9-3-7 overall) faces the Kansas City Wizards (5-6-4, 19; 5-7-7 overall) in the quarterfinal round of the Open Cup on Tuesday night at Starfire Sports Stadium. Kickoff is 7 p.m. PT.

On Saturday, Seattle hosts Western Conference leader Houston (9-3-4, 31 points) in the first of three consecutive league games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT and the game is sold out.

Sounders FC owns the third-best percentage record and its 25 points is tied for third in the league. The Dynamo remains the MLS overall point leader and is coming off a 1-0 road win over Kansas City.

The winner of Tuesday’s Seattle-Kansas City game advances to the semifinal round of the Open Cup on July 21. If Sounders FC prevails, it will host either Houston or the Charleston Battery of USL-1 at Starfire. The Wizards are the only team to defeat Sounders FC at home. They edged a shorthanded Seattle squad, 1-0, on April 11.

To reach the third round of the Open Cup, Sounders FC defeated the USL-1 Portland Timbers, 2-1, on the road July 1. Kansas City advanced by virtue of a tiebreak win over the USL-1 Minnesota Thunder after the game ended 3-3 after extra time.

Tuesday’s Open Cup match can be heard live via an audiocast on SoundersFC.com. Thom Beuning will call the action with analysis from Peter Fewing.

The Seattle-Houston match will be aired by KONG 6/16 and News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM. Calling the action will be Arlo White and Greg Vanney. The match is available in Spanish on 1210 AM Ke Buena with Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez.

Seattle will meet Chelsea FC of the English Premier League in a friendly on July 18 on Xbox Pitch and return to league play on July 25, hosting the Chicago Fire. Both games will begin at 12 p.m. PT.