Business Handled in the Open Cup, Now the Real Test Begins in Seattle

Business Handled… But Let’s Not Throw a Parade: CITY took care of business with a clean, no-drama 4-0 win over FC Tulsa and punched a ticket to the Round of 16. Exactly what should happen when an MLS team hosts a USL side. No nonsense, no embarrassment, no “how did this happen?” texting frenzy. Looking directly at you, Sporting KC. This is how it is supposed to go: control the match, finish your chances, rotate the squad, move on. Professional, efficient, and refreshingly adult. And yes, before anybody starts framing this as some huge breakthrough, let’s stay grounded. A couple of those goals probably do not go in against an MLS back line. But that was never the assignment. The assignment was simple: win comfortably and do not become the team getting laughed at nationally. Mission accomplished.

Depth Actually Showed Up: The real positive from this one was not just the scoreline, it was that the bench was finally part of the conversation. We got lineup changes, fresh legs, and actual contributions from players who have mostly been afterthoughts so far this season. That matters. Ostrak comes back and scores in his season debut with the first team, which is not just a nice story, it is a real reminder that this roster may finally have a little more life to it. Suddenly this squad does not feel quite so thin. And then, of course, there was the other glaring development: Wallem sat, and surprise, we looked better. The attack looked more direct, more dangerous, and much less interested in slowing itself down for no reason. I am not saying that explains everything, but I am also not ignoring it.

Nice Goals, But Let’s Be Honest: All four goals were good and deserved, and it was genuinely nice to watch City finish chances without turning every attack into a graduate thesis on missed opportunities. But let’s not kid ourselves either, this was Tulsa, not Seattle, not LAFC, not a playoff-caliber MLS defense. You still take the goals, you still take the confidence, and you still take the clean sheet. But this was a game City was supposed to win, and win comfortably. The real value was not the score itself, it was seeing some different players make the most of their minutes and reminding fans that maybe, just maybe, the bench should not be treated like an emergency-only option.

The Crowd Deserved a Callout Too: We do need to talk about the turnout, because it was disappointing. Yes, I was on the road for work, but I would have been there if I was home. Tickets were affordable, the opponent was beatable, and this felt like one of the more obvious games on the calendar where you could reasonably expect City to score some goals and get the win. So where was everybody? I remember all the noise a couple years ago when people were up in arms about the Open Cup and how much it mattered. Remember the protests? Remember all the speeches about tradition and history and respect for the competition? Great. So where were those people on a weeknight when the team was actually playing in it? I get it, it was midweek, people have jobs, kids, life, all of that. Still, it would have been nice if the crowd showed up with a little more energy for a competition they once claimed to care deeply about.

Chicago Awaits in the Next Round: And now the reward is Chicago away in the next U.S. Open Cup match. That is where things get a little more serious. No more lower-division opponent at home, no more margin for cruising through on talent and depth alone. Road match, MLS opponent, and a club that would love nothing more than to send City packing. If we are really going to treat the Open Cup like it matters, that is the kind of game where you have to prove it.

Now Let’s Get to Seattle: But before we start dreaming too far ahead, tonight is the one that really matters. I changed my flight and left Mexico at the crack of dawn so I could be home to watch this game, which is either dedication or evidence that I need better hobbies. City is unbeaten in its last four in all competitions, and that sounds good on paper. It absolutely sounds better than where we were a couple weeks ago. But if you have actually watched those matches, you know there are still real questions here. So which City team shows up tonight? The team that got worked in NYC and still escaped with a draw? The team that dominated long stretches in Dallas but could not finish early? Or some better version of this squad that actually puts together a complete road performance?

Lineup Decisions Matter Again: Seattle already beat us in St. Louis earlier this season, so this is not some mystery. They are a good team, they are organized, and they are not going to hand us anything. Orozco is out, so I am assuming Totland or McNaughten gets the start. Lowen is available, Ostrak is back, and he already put one in the net midweek. So does Damet reward some of those performances with more game time, or do we go right back to the usual setup? And yes, the question everyone wants answered: is Wallem right back in the lineup? If so, let’s all count the backwards passes together like it is a community service project. Hell, make it a drinking game.

We Need Goals, Not Moral Victories: At the end of the day, the math on this one is pretty simple. Can we score 2+ goals tonight? Because that is what it is going to take if City wants a real shot at all three points. You are not going into Seattle, squeaking out one goal, and expecting to walk away with a win unless everything breaks perfectly. This team has to start rewarding itself for strong stretches with actual end product. We have seen enough promising movement, enough solid possession, enough “they looked better than the scoreline” commentary. It is time to score.

Seattle Already Gave Us This Lesson Once: It is also worth remembering that Seattle already came into St. Louis on March 7 and left with all three points in a 1-0 win, even though CITY had stretches where it looked like the sharper team. St. Louis outshot the Sounders 8-2, moved the ball well early, and controlled long portions of the second half, but none of that mattered because the finishing was not there. Same old song, different sad little guitar solo.

That match also marked Sergio Córdova’s debut and Cedric Teuchert’s first start of the season, which feels relevant now as City still tries to figure out who its best attacking answers really are. Since then, Seattle has looked like one of the steadier teams in the West. They came into this week sitting near the top of the conference, they do not give up much defensively, and even after getting knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Tigres on aggregate midweek, they are still the kind of team that punishes you if you waste chances. Paul Rothrock has been finishing, Jesús Ferreira has been creating, and CITY is going to need a much more clinical performance than it got in the first meeting if it wants a different result tonight.

Is Another Draw Fine, Or Is It Starting to Become a Problem? That is the uncomfortable question hanging over tonight. If City draws again, is that acceptable? Are we just weathering the storm a bit until we can play at home again, until the schedule softens, until the squad gets healthier and more settled? Or are we wasting too many points early in the season and dressing it up as patience? Because there is a difference between surviving a rough stretch and sleepwalking through one. At some point, these draws stop feeling useful and start feeling like missed opportunities with better PR.

Final Thought: The Tulsa win was exactly what it needed to be: dominant, professional, and controlled. It did the job. Now prove it meant something. Go into Seattle, score goals, and show that this team is actually building toward something real. Because if not, we are right back where we started, talking about “good moments,” “encouraging signs,” and “things to build on.” And brother, this fanbase has heard that song enough already.