Fredy Montero has been known in Seattle for his pinpoint, laser-fast finishers accumulating eight goals in the MLS's regular season thus far.
So after being taken down in the box late in last night's U.S. Open Cup match and being awarded a penalty kick, why didn't Montero take the shot instead of Sebastien Le Toux, who wound up netting it for the 1-0 win against Kansas City?
"Sebastian [Le Toux] is the official kicker in this tournament and had scored two penalty’s before," Montero said via translator. "I had wanted to kick it and had asked him but ultimately the decision is up to him. It what was best for the team and we scored and that is all that counts."
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Le Toux gave a little insight into his decision.
"Coach has told it is not good to take the penalty shot when the foul is you," Le Toux said. "Of course there is always pressure on you. I knew I had score. I was confident and lucky the keeper did not stop it."
The goal was Le Toux's 11th in Open Cup play.
With the win, the Sounders advance to the semifinals and will host the Houston Dynamo July 21 in USOC play.
Notes:
Scoring Summary:
SEA -- Sebastien Le Toux (penalty kick) 89
Kansas City Wizards -- Kevin Hartman, Jonathan Leathers (Lance Watson 46), Aaron Hohlbein, Rauwshan McKenzie, Matt Besler, Herculez Gomez, Santiago Hirsig, Jack Jewsbury, Michael Harrington, Josh Wolff, Abe Thompson (Claudio Lopez 70).
Substitutes Not Used: Michael Kraus, Matt Marquess, Kurt Morsink, Boris Pardo, Graham Zusi.
TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (6 tied with 1); SHOTS ON GOAL: 1 (Herculez Gomez 1); FOULS: 14 (Herculez Gomez 4, Santiago Hirsig 4); OFFSIDES: 4 (Josh Wolff 2); CORNER KICKS: 7 (Herculez Gomez 3, Jack Jewsbury 3); SAVES: 2 (Kevin Hartman 2)
Seattle Sounders -- Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl, Sanna Nyassi (Roger Levesque 78), Stephen King, Nathan Sturgis (Peter Vagenas 89), Steve Zakuani (Sebastien Le Toux 71), Fredy Montero, Nate Jaqua.
Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Evan Brown, Zach Scott, Lamar Neagle.
TOTAL SHOTS: 12 (Fredy Montero 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Fredy Montero 2); FOULS: 9 (Fredy Montero 2, Tyson Wahl 2); OFFSIDES: 1 (Sanna Nyassi 1); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Nathan Sturgis 3); SAVES: 1 (Kasey Keller 1)
Misconduct Summary:
KC -- Santiago Hirsig (caution; Reckless Tackle) 76
SEA -- Fredy Montero (caution; Shirt Removal) 79
KC -- Santiago Hirsig (caution; Reckless Foul) 93+
KC -- Santiago Hirsig (ejection; Second Caution) 93+
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Referee's Assistants: -Mike Rottersman; Jeff Hosking
4th Official: Josh Wilkens
Attendance: 4,352
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Partly Cloudy-and-66-degrees
Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
