PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers will travel to face Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC in the fourth round of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Cheney Stadium on Wednesday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific), it was determined today as U.S. Soccer announced the fourth-round matchups.
With the announced pairing with Seattle, Portland will square off against an MLS opponent for a fifth straight year to open the competition. In their last four fourth-round matches, the Timbers have produced a 3-1 record dating back to the 2015 campaign. This fourth-round match marks the eighth meeting between the Timbers and Seattle in U.S. Open Cup play (2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017), dating back to their first tournament match as second-division sides in 2005.
The fourth round marks the tournament entrance for the 21 U.S.-based Major League Soccer (Division I) teams. They will join the 11 winners from the competition’s third round that was contested earlier this week (May 28 and May 29).
In its 106th year, the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, U.S. Soccer’s National Championship, is the only high-profile competition in American team sports where amateur sides have the opportunity to face professionals in meaningful competition. The tournament is conducted on a single-game, knockout basis and open to all professional and amateur teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer and has crowned a champion annually since 1914. In 1999, the competition was renamed to honor United States soccer pioneer Lamar Hunt.
