There's no Mauro Rosales for the Seattle Sounders. The MLS MVP candidate was listed as questionable for the match as he recovers from a MCL sprain, but he has been left out of the team for the U.S. Open Cup final. It's a blow to the Sounders, who are in search of the first Open Cup three-peat in the professional era of the United States' oldest soccer tournament, but they will have the advantage of a crowd expected to be around 35,000 at CenturyLink Field.
Seattle Sounders Vs. Chicago Fire, 2011 U.S. Open Cup Final: Lineups
The Chicago Fire are matching the Sounders' 4-4-2 formation and have a first choice team ready to go as they look for a record-tying fifth Open Cup. Sebastian Grazzini is in the team, a big boost considering how much better they have been with him in the team. Marco Pappa, Dominic Oduro and Pavel Pardo are all starting, the trio responsible for the bulk of the Fire's creativity in the last two months that has seen them play some of the better soccer of any team in MLS.
Seattle Sounders (4-4-2): Kasey Keller; James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke, Leonardo Gonzalez; Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Alvaro Fernandez, Lamar Neagle; Fredy Montero, Mike Fucito
Chicago Fire (4-4-2): Sean Johnson; Dan Gargan, Josip Mikulic, Corey Gibbs, Gonzalo Segares; Pavel Pardo, Daniel Paladidi, Marco Pappa; Sebastian Grazzini; Dominic Oduro, Patrick Nyarko
For more on the two teams, check out Seattle Sounders blog Sounder At Heart and Chicago Fire blog Hot Time In Old Town. For live coverage throughout the U.S. Open Cup Final, keep it on our MLS Super Tuesday StoryStream.
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