TUKWILA — Defense was going to have to win the Sounders match Wednesday — as in coach Brian Schmetzer didn’t field a team with many attacking options, so it would likely be a defensive-minded player staring in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 game.
Enter Kalani Kossa-Rienzi.
The former University of Washington standout collected a ball in the box and mashed it into the back of the net for the game-winner in the 88th minute. The shot gave the Sounders a 2-1 comeback win against USL Championships side Phoenix Rising on Wednesday at Starfire Sports Complex. There were 3,314 in attendance.
Seattle will play Sacramento Republic FC in the single-elimination tournament’s quarterfinals in July.
Kossa-Rienzi’a score made sure the Cabral family didn’t have too good of a season against the Sounders.
Remi Cabral netted a penalty to help Phoenix to put the reigning USL Championship winners up early. He’s on loan from MLS side Colorado Rapids, where his twin brother Kevin is a designated player. The latter scored an equalizer against the Sounders at Lumen Field in March.
Rising, who are the reigning USL Championship winners, haven’t lost since April 20.
Seattle will return to its MLS schedule with a road match against St. Louis City SC (3-3-7) on Saturday. The side won the Western Conference in their inaugural year last season and is currently ninth in the standings — two points ahead of the Sounders (3-6-5)
The Sounders had 43% of possession in the first half and had multiple opportunities to score in the first half. The strongest was an attempt from distance from midfielder Danny Leyva in the 37th minute and a close-range look from Danny Musovski in the 43rd minute. Both were directly at Phoenix keeper Patrick Rakovsky.
The match turned in the 44th minute. Sounders defender Jon Bell suffered a right hamstring injury and was subbed off for Jackson Ragen. In stoppage time, Leyva gave up a penalty.
Remi stepped to the spot and sent Sounders keeper Andrew Thomas the wrong way to get on the board.
It was a tough concession for Thomas. In Seattle’s Round of 32 match against Louisville City, Thomas had three saves in a penalty shootout.
The Sounders equalized in the 67th minute. Phoenix was called for a handball, awarding Seattle a penalty.
Sounders defender Alex Roldan stepped to the spot and smacked a right foot shot past Rakovsky.
Schmetzer didn’t have any experienced attacking help on his bench Wednesday. Like the Round of 32 win, he started an inexperienced lineup.
Sounders defender Nouhou will serve a one-game suspension against St. Louis for being sent off in last week’s draw against Vancouver. The positive is it made him available to start at left back against Phoenix. He and midfielder Cristian Roldan were the only first-choice players in the starting XI.
The Sounders signed five players from USL Championship side Tacoma Defiance to short-term contracts and Schmetzer utilized winger Georgi Minoungou and Kossa-Rienzi in the opening lineup.
The lack of a finisher showed as Seattle pressed to win in the second half.
The Sounders hosted Republic at their facility in Renton for a preseason match in February. Sacramento won 1-0.
Republic advanced to the USL Championship Western Conference finals last season.
Whether Sacramento can host is in question. Heart Health Park is located on the grounds of Cal Expo and the site is set to hold the California State Fair from July 12-28.