The buzz after Seattle’s penalty-kick win over Portland was as upbeat as you might expect.

A few stats:

Sounders won on PKS, 4-3, with Sturgis, Zakuani, Montero and Scott converting. Patrick Ianni had a chance to win it in the fourth frame, but hit the crossbar. The Timbers put everything on frame, but Keller got to two of them.

The Sounders will visit Los Angeles for a regular-season MLS game Sunday and then host the Galaxy Wednesday at Starfire in the Open Cup quarterfinals. Ticket information for that game is listed in a post below.

Meanwhile, tonight’s 7:30 start, …

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Here’s the ticket info just provided by the club:

Seattle v Los Angeles GalaxyQuarterfinal Round
Wed., July 7, 7:00 pm,Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila
Tickets: General Admission and priced $15
Parking: Reserved Starfire lot parking is $15 and may be purchased in advance when purchasing tickets
Tickets go on sale Thursday, July 1, at 10 a.m. PT either at Qwest Field box office, by calling 1-877-MLS-GOAL, visiting the Sounders website or through Ticketmaster

Tacoma Tide FC 1 – 2 Portland Timbers U-23

June 30, 2010
TacomaFC.com – A defensive miscue just before the half and a late second-half header from the doorstep that found the back of the Tacoma net were the nails that closed the coffin on the Tide FC Wednesday, blowing an early 1:0 lead, to lose to the visiting Portland Timbers U23 2:1.

“We got caught,” said Tide FC head coach Gerry Gray.

After a Daniel Gray scoring strike off a penalty kick in the 36th minute to give Tacoma a 1:0 lead, Portland (10-0-0) responded in the 44th.  …

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It’s gone final. Seattle advances, 4-3 on PKs. Zach Scott got the winner.

The Sounders advance to the Open Cup quarterfinals, hosting LA on Wednesday at Starfire.

I’ll be back.

Headed for PKs: It’s still 1-1 after 120 minutes. So we’re headed to penalty kicks… which just happened to be the topic of our preview story in today’s paper.

Portland will shoot first.

101st minute: The Sounders will play the final 19 minutes shorthanded as Taylor Graham has just been sent off for picking up his second yellow card. However, the Sounders might just gulp and be grateful, as the foul was very very close to the penalty box.

Full time: Still 1-1. Seattle dominated the final minutes, but didn’t really have any particularly solid chance. Portland did, on a counter, which ended when Taylor Graham put a brave tackle on Bright Dike in the box.

Now we’re headed for 30 minutes more. And then, if needed, PKs.

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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando was selected MLS player of the month. (He got my vote, with New York’s Juan Pablo Angel getting my No. 2.)

Here’s the release from the league:

Major League Soccer and the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) today announced that Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando was voted Major League Soccer’s Player of the Month for June. The naming of Rimando marks the second consecutive month that a Real Salt Lake player has captured the honor. Salt Lake forward Álvaro Saborío won the award in May.

Rimando posted three shutouts through three games played in June, facing 16 total shots, to help the defending MLS Cup champions to a club record eight-game undefeated streak and a club record 17-game home undefeated streak.

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The Sounders and Timbers renew their longtime rivalry at 7:30 tonight at Portland in U.S. Open Cup competition. (The billboard in this picture shows 7 p.m., but all I’ve heard or seen from every other source says 7:30. In any case, it will be shown live on FSN and broadcast on the usual radio outlets.)

Some 300-400 Sounders fans are expected to make the trip down, joining what presumably will be a sold out PGE Park.

The Sounders trained at the partly-renovated-with-much-more-to-come stadium Tuesday, and after practice we talked to coach Sigi Schmid about what he has learned about the …

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Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said today that he had assigned veteran midfielder Peter Vagenas to take the penalty kick that could have given Seattle a 2-1 lead in what eventually became a 3-1 loss at Philadelphia on Sunday.

However, when the time came, Vagenas believed he was too tired to take the shot with confidence. Pat Noonan took the shot instead, and it was saved. After the game, Schmid and several Sounders said they thought that was where the game turned.

Here’s Schmid’s explanation of what happened:

It was written up on the board before the game. Peter Vagenas was

…

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The Sounders have completed a late-afternoon practice today at PGE Park in Portland. The main message from coach Sigi Schmid was that the Sounders are serious about defending their U.S. Open Cup title and that he actually thinks a run in Open Cup competition could help his team’s efforts to climb back into playoff position in the MLS regular season.

Some highlights from Schmid:

On why it’s important) It’s important because of the Open Cup. We got off to a good start here last year. But it’s also important for us because our season hasn’t gone nearly

…

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