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Miller Stands Tall as Sounders Advance in Open Cup

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 06/29/16, 9:45AM EDT

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Former S2 standout comes up big in penalty shootout win against Real Salt Lake


Photo courtesy Seattle Sounders FC

SANDY, Utah – A little less than a year ago, goalkeeper Tyler Miller signed with Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the USL.

On Tuesday night, now as a member of the Sounders’ MLS squad, Miller played the pivotal role in Seattle continuing its pursuit of a fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as his eight-save performance in regulation and overtime and pair of saves in a penalty shootout keyed his team’s advancement against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium.

“I had to commend the team on a good, hard-fought game,” Miller said, deflecting praise somewhat following the game. “For 120 minutes we really put in the work, and it comes down to PKs and it’s kind of a little bit luck, and a little bit doing your research. It was good. I had two saves, and then I can’t ask anything more from the guys. They buried their PKs and we come away with the win.”

The Sounders took a 4-1 win in the shootout after Seattle and RSL had finished deadlocked 1-1 after 120 minutes of action. After both teams converted their first shots from the spot, Miller saved from Joao Plata and Kyle Beckerman in the second and third rounds, while Jordan Morris, Zach Scott and Erik Friberg all converted to send Seattle through.

That the game had even reached a shootout was thanks to Miller, who made a number of massive saves to keep his side alive. RSL had a 30-16 advantage in shots, and dominated possession, but Miller and center backs Scott and fellow S2 standout Tony Alfaro held firm against the likes of Plata, Yura Movsisyan and Juan Manuel Martinez.

“They played amazing today,” Miller said of Scott and Alfaro. “There was a lot to deal with today – the heat, the altitude – and for the whole game they really put in the work and shut down Salt Lake’s top line.”

Miller had made seven appearances this season for Sounders FC 2, splitting time with Charlie Lyon for the side after Lyon had played the bulk of the minutes in S2’s inaugural season last year. Tuesday night’s game offered a little redemption for the U.S. U23 international, who gave up a late game-winner in the same stadium against RSL in his MLS debut on March 12.

“Tyler was solid. I think the last time he was here, he was obviously disappointed,” said Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “I think he got rid of those demons tonight.”

With the Sounders currently seven points out of the playoff positions sitting ninth in the MLS Western Conference, Miller’s hope was the win would give the side a big jolt of confidence as it looks to turn its season around.

“This is a huge boost of confidence for the team, and for the fans, too, looking at this game,” he said. “I think that we’ll take this game and really run with it, and it will show in MLS and in the Open Cup next round.”

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