The Seattle Sounders FC will face the Atlanta Silverbacks, a second-tier American soccer team and a member of the North American Soccer League, in the first match of their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title defense. The game will take place — as of now — next Wednesday in Atlanta at 4:30 p.m., Pacific Time.
The Silverbacks earned the right to face the Sounders, winners of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in each of the past three years, in the next round of the tournament by defeating the Georgia Revolution of the NPSL 1-0 Tuesday in Conyers, GA.
Tacoma native Raphael Cox, who played for Stadium High School, Highline Community College and the University of Washington, scored Atlanta’s goal.
The Sounders have looked into the possibility of purchasing rights to the game so that it can be held in Seattle instead of Atlanta. But for now, the game is scheduled for Atlanta.
Before the Sounders open defense of their U.S. Open Cup title next week, either in Atlanta or Seattle, the club will face the Columbus Crew in an MLS match Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field.