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The fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is well underway and the Seattle Sounders are set to take on the Portland Timbers tonight in Tacoma, WA at Cheney Stadium. The Sounders have announced short-term agreements with six players from the Tacoma Defiance, allowing them to be a part of the lineup for Seattle. Defiance players Josh Atencio, Alec Diaz, Azriel Gonzalez, Shandon Hopeau, Danny Robles and Ray Serrano will all be available for selection tonight by head coach Brian Schmetzer.
MLS clubs may sign players from their USL affiliate to short-term agreements (up to four-day contracts) for Concacaf Champions League, AMWAY Canadian Championship, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and exhibition matches. An MLS club may sign a player to a maximum of four short-term agreements each season (maximum of 16 days). Sounders FC utilized this mechanism to add USL players for each of the last three seasons’ U.S. Open Cup fixtures.
Should the Sounders advance tonight against the Timbers, the next round of Open Cup play will take place between June 18th and June 23rd.