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SANDY — Real Salt Lake's move through the Pacific Northwest for the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will continue at least one more week.
After rallying past USL side Seattle Sounders 2 on Tuesday, RSL will host former midfielder Will Johnson, defender Nat Borchers and the rest of the Portland Timbers on June 30 or July 1 in the Open Cup's round of 16, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday morning after a random draw.
RSL drew the top seed in the four-team West regional, earning the right to host the Timbers. The winner of RSL-Portland will face the winner of the San Jose Earthquakes and Los Angeles Galaxy in the tournament quarterfinals on July 21 or 22.
In the Central region, FC Dallas will visit Sporting Kansas City and the Colorado Rapids will play at the Houston Dynamo. The winner of the Central regional will host the West regional winner in the semifinals on Aug. 11 or 12, and the championship game is scheduled for Sept. 29 or 30.
In the East region, NASL upstart New York Cosmos will play at the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United will travel to the Philadelphia Union.
In the South region, the Chicago Fire will host USL's Charlotte Independence and Columbus Crew SC will travel to Orlando City SC.
The Timbers handed rival and defending Open Cup champion Seattle its first loss in 20 trips to Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington, with a 3-1 victory after extra time over the seven-man Sounders. Portland's Rodney Wallace scored the match-winner Tuesday off a header in the 100th minute, and Diego Valeri and Maxi Urruti also scored for the Timbers.
Three Sounders received red cards in the match, and striker Obafemi Martins was pulled off with an injury after coach Sigi Schmid had already exhausted his three substitutions. Seattle forward and U.S. international Clint Dempsey was sent off with two yellow cards in extra time after grabbing the head official's notebook and tearing it up.
Under U.S. Soccer bylaws, Dempsey could potentially receive a three-month ban from the sport — putting his Gold Cup eligibility for the U.S. men's national team in jeopardy. He will be ineligible for the Sounders' first 2016 Open Cup match as a result of the red card, but his discipline could be extended if his actions are determined to be "misconduct toward officials."
"The person committing the referee assault must be suspended as follows: (a) for a minor or slight touching of the referee or the referee's uniform or personal property, at least 3 months from the time of the assault," U.S. Soccer's policy manual reads under section 531.9.
Such a suspension would have Dempsey removed from soccer activities until Sept. 16. RSL hosts the Sounders in MLS play Aug. 22.
