Three-year-old MLS club Seattle Sounders FC aims for its third straight U.S. Open Cup title. Tonight it hosts FC Dallas in the semifinals.

"We want to accomplish something that no MLS team has done by winning three in a row," said coach Sigi Schmid. "Any time we can make an achievement that sets us apart, it's important to our club."

Last year, Seattle became the first back-to-back winner of the 97-year-old knockout-style tournament in the MLS era. Tonight's game concludes a laborious six-game stretch over 18 days, but is arguably the most important due to its do-or-die nature.

The Sounders would host the Oct. 4 championship game at CenturyLink Field for a second straight year if they beat Dallas. Seattle submitted a winning bid to U.S. Soccer for the right to host, beating out both the Chicago Fire and Richmond Kickers of the USL-Pro league, who face off in the other semifinal.