2000 May 20
Seattle forward Ian Chursky scored twice to lead the Seattle Sounders Select to a 3-2 win over the Willamette Valley Firebirds in a match played before about 100 fans at Corvallis High School. Chris Farnsworth scored the match winner for Seattle, while Jared Fitzgerald and Jason Crevar tallied for the Firebirds.
This match doubled as a US Open Cup qualifier. The Sounders Select have finished the Open Cup qualification round with a 3-0-1 (W-D-L) record and 14 points, counting 4 per win and a pair of Bogus Points. That won't quite be enough because San Gabriel Valley are in the same qualifying group of 14 western PDL teams, and that Californian side have 14 points with a match in hand and better goal differential.
The Firebirds came out firing at the opening whistle, and found the back of the net in the very first minute. A quick attack forced a corner kick, and JP Capodanno's corner kick curled in perfectly to midfielder Jared Fitzgerald, who tallied with a well-placed header to put the Firebirds up 1-0. But Seattle didn't take long to reply, as just one minute later Ian Chursky found his way behind the Firebirds defense, then after losing control of the ball then regaining control, he placed a low shot to the left corner that beat Firebirds goalkeeper Bryan Hill to even the score at 1-1.
Neither team was doing much threatening to the opponent's net until the 30th minute when Ian Chursky once again found himself with the ball behind the Firebirds last line of defense. Chursky played the ball a little too far ahead of him as he attacked the net, and Bryan Hill charged out of the box to attempt to clear the ball before Chursky regained control, but Chursky got to the ball first and dribbled it past Hill and scored into an open net to give Seattle a 2-1 lead.
Just five minutes later, Seattle added to its lead when Chris Farnsworth scored on a free kick from 30 yards out to give the visitors a 3-1 lead at the half.
The home side brought in forward Jason Crevar and midfielder Jack Wheeler at halftime, and this seem to energize the 'Birds. They were keeping better control of the ball, and producing more chances, but often failing to get a good shot when the attack would break down in the attacking third. In the 65th minute, the Firebirds appeared ready to draw one goal closer, but a shot from JP Capodanno was cleared off the line after beating Sounders Select goalkeeper Chad Olsen, and the referee ruled that the ball had not completely crossed the line and the score remained 3-1.
But their pressing finally paid off in the 75th minute. Midfielder Jack Wheeler made a good run down the right side, and his cross found the head of Jason Crevar, who headed perfectly into the upper left corner of the net to make the score 3-2.
The Firebirds remained on the attack, and Firebirds goalkeeper Bryan Hill and the 'Birds defense held firm against the counterattacks that the push forward was producing. In the 85th minute, the Firebirds had their last good chance on a free kick from 20 yards out, but Jason Crevar's shot missed the upper left corner by about a yard, and the Firebirds were not able to threaten again and fell to 0-3 on the season on the short end of a 3-2 final.
Bryan Hill had seven saves for the Firebirds, while Seattle keeper Chad Olsen registered three saves for the visitors.
Statistics:
| Willamette Valley | Seattle | |
| Shots: | 6 | 11 |
| Saves: | 7 | 3 |
| Corners: | 7 | 5 |
| Fouls: | 11 | 17 |
| Offsides: | 2 | 7 |