Sounders stop Galaxy at U.S. Open Cup

Nate Jaqua and Fredy Montero scored in the first half, and Lamar Neagle added an insurance goal in the second, giving the Seattle Sounders a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal game on Wednesday night at Tukwila, Wash. The Sounders, who are seeking their third straight Open Cup title, will host FC Dallas in a semifinal on Aug. 30. Only the New York Greek Americans (1967-69) have won three straight Open Cups in the 98-year history of the tournament. Adam Cristman scored for the MLS-leading Galaxy, eliminated in the quarterfinals by Seattle for the second straight season. Jaqua, who had five goals for the Sounders in last year’s U.S. Open Cup, scored his first one of this year’s tournament late in the 4th minute. Jaqua took a through ball from Pat Noonan in the left side of the penalty area and drilled it into the back right corner past goalkeeper Josh Saunders. Montero made it 2-0 early in the 25th minute with a shot from the top center of the box and into the back right corner. Cristman, who had a near-miss earlier in the first half, ran onto a cross from Chris Birchall in the 6-yard box and ripped it past goalkeeper Terry Boss into the back left corner midway through the 40th minute. Neagle sealed it for the Sounders with his goal in the 74th minute.