(Sports Network) - Seattle Sounders FC became the second expansion franchise in Major League Soccer history to capture the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in their inaugural season, beating D.C. United 2-1 at RFK Stadium on Wednesday.

Fredy Montero's goal in the 67th minute provided Seattle with a 1-0 lead, and United goalkeeper Josh Wicks made things even worse when he stomped on the arm of Montero after the goal, earning himself a red card.

The visitors then took a two-goal lead with four minutes to play through Roger Levesque, and although United fought back to get a goal in the 89th minute from Clyde Simms, their bid to win back-to-back U.S. Open Cups fell short.

The first half produced plenty of chances but zero goals as both teams squandered good opportunities to seize the advantage.

Chris Pontius fired wide from six yards for United just five minutes into the game, while Montero was stopped at point-blank range by Wicks.

Seattle's Freddie Ljungberg was then handed a golden chance in the 19th minute when he was set up by Sebastien Le Toux, but fired straight into the keeper's legs from eight yards.

Wicks then came up with a nice reaction stop on Montero right before the break as Le Toux's right-wing cross found the head of the striker at the top of the six-yard box, but he saw his effort tipped over the crossbar.

The second half started slowly but picked up in the 67th minute when Steve Zakuani nodded a ball into the path of Ljungberg and he fired a shot on goal. The ball was stopped by Wicks, but he spilled a rebound that Montero pounced on to put his team ahead.

However, it was what happened after the play that was equally important as Wicks stomped on the arm of Montero as he lay on the turf, earning himself a straight red card.

The actions of Wicks put his team down a man with 20 minutes left, but that lead grew to two goals when Le Toux found an open Levesque at the back post for an easy finish.

The game looked to be over, but D.C. fought back and pulled to within a goal when Santino Quaranta's free kick was deflected into the path of Simms, although they would be unable to find the net a second time in the final few minutes.















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