Sounders top Revolution to tune up for Cup final
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle put New England out of its misery on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Fredy Montero scored twice as Sounders FC tuned up for the U.S. Open Cup final with a 2-1 win in Major League Soccer over the Revolution, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Sixteen-year-old Diego Fagundez scored for New England (5-14-12), which is the worst team in the Eastern Conference and has just a five-point cushion against expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the worst record in the league.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Montero's 10th and 11th goals were enough to keep Seattle (16-6-9) in the hunt for first place in the Western Conference, and sends the Sounders into Tuesday night's Open Cup final against the Chicago Fire on a three-game win streak.
Sounders FC has won five of its last six, and seven of its last 10 and Montero again provided the spark after Fagundez gave New England the early lead.
Fagundez nearly set up the opening goal in his first MLS start, but his square pass to Ryan Guy was smothered by Sounders goalie Kasey Keller. But Keller was no able to deny Fagundez, who headed over the veteran in the 35th.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fagundez, who also scored in his first MLS appearance, has two goals this year in just four appearances.
But before New England's fans finished celebrating the Fagundez goal, Montero was dancing on the other end of the pitch after tying the match. Just seconds after the restart, Montero found the top-right corner to knot the score.
Montero followed with his 11th goal of the season two minutes into the second half, as he took a pass from Nate Jaqua and poked home the goal from a couple yards out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle will turn its focus to the U.S. Open Cup final at CenturyLink Field as it looks to win its third straight title. The Sounders return to MLS action on Oct. 8 against the Philadelphia Union, then plays the San Jose Earthquakes and Chivas USA in their final two regular-season matches.
New England, which lost its third straight, hosts the San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 8, and closes out the regular season with games Oct. 15 against Columbus, and Oct. 22 against Toronto FC.