TUKWILA, Wash. – Marcus Hahnemann came up big when the Seattle Sounders needed him most.
The veteran goalkeeper stopped J.J. Koval in a penalty shootout to lift the Sounders to a win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the fifth round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday.
The Earthquakes were able strike first, scoring on a well-taken strike from Steven Lenhart. The Earthquakes forward was able to out-battle Zach Scott for a long pass at the edge of the penalty area, turned a let loose a left-footed rocket that froze Hahnemann to beat him at the near post.
The Earthquakes’ lead was short-lived, though. Just a couple minutes later, Lamar Neagle was able to fend off a couple defenders in the penalty area and slip a pass to Kenny Cooper, who beat David Bingham to the far post.
The Sounders dominated the chances from there on out, but couldn’t keep the match from getting to overtime.
That was mostly due to the play of Bingham and a bit of help from the woodwork. The fifth-year professional with just 405 minutes of regular-season playing time had a stellar match. Among the nine saves he made were point-blank stop of a Neagle header in the 13th minute, a sprawling stop of a Chad Barrett header in the 79th minute, and shutting down Neagle’s breakaway in the 105th minute.
Bingham also benefitted from a couple balls that hit the post, one from an attempted Clarence Goodson clearance in the 43rd minute and the other off a Barrett rocket in the 82nd minute.
The Earthquakes didn’t threaten much after scoring, but did get one outstanding look in the 53rd minute. Khari Stephenson slipped Goodson in for a one-on-one opportunity but the center back’s shot went wide.
