Sounders advance to the semis with a 1-0 win, the lone goal coming on a Sebastien Le Toux PK after Fredy Montero was dumped in the box (following a sweet pass from Stephen King). (Here's my game story.)

It all played out before a crowd of 4,352 at Starfire.

“It took long enough for sure,” Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. “Overall, in the run of play, we created a lot of chances. We were a little bit unfortunate. … I was happy that defensively we didn’t break down. We didn’t give anything away; and that put us in a position when we were awarded the penalty we take advantage and turn it into a win.”

So, why didn't Montero take the kick?

Le Toux is the official kicker in this tournament, and had scored two penalties before," Montero said. "I did ask, I wanted to kick it, but ultimately it’s a technical decision and what’s best for the team. And it was a score, so that’s what counts. ... Sure, I’m always pushing myself to score and would have preferred to, but what counts is that I at least forced a penalty, and that resulted in a score and brought us to the semifinal."

“I was feeling like I had to take it,” Le Toux said. “As the coach tells us, it’s not good to maybe take a shot when you’ve had a foul on you. … Of course, there is a little pressure. I knew I had to score if I decide to take the PK. I was confident.”

The win makes the Sounders one of three Major League Soccer teams advancing to the semifinals of the Open Cup, which is open to all levels of soccer in this country.

Seattle will return to Starfire at 7 p.m. July 21 for its semifinal match against Houston. The Dynamo advanced by beating the Charleston Battery, 4-0, Tuesday in South Carolina.

In the other bracket, D.C. United of MLS will meet Rochester of USL-1.

The championship game will be played Sept. 1 at a site to be determined.

“It’s always about titles, and you always want to win games,” Schmid said. “… It’s something that’s exciting. Word on the street is that it might lead to a CONCACAF Champions League spot as well; so that’s important to the club. I think our guys for sure can smell it now and taste it, and obviously the next round is Houston and that’s going to be another tough game. But I think our team is looking forward to that. We’re basically two steps away from trying to bring a title to Seattle.”

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The Sounders are teaming with famed Tacoma glass artist Dale Chihuly.

On Thursday, general manager Adrian Hanauer, goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Chihuly gather for the unveiling of a commemorative art piece to be presented to visiting international soccer teams.

(Given all the art critics who read this blog -- judging from the comments below on the MLS Cup and logo -- Chihuly must be quaking in his boots.)

The long countdown to that 7 p.m. kickoff has begun.

Meanwhile, little reading material to pass the time:

Here's my preview story from today's paper.

Here are some basics from the MLS site.

Here's a game preview from the Kansas City Kansan, and a player feature from the Kansas City Star.

And finally, a bracket and other basics from the U.S. Open Cup site.

I'll pick up again with our ususal running gameday blog from Starfire tonight ... unless news breaks before then.