[U.S. OPEN CUP] Winless in MLS since May 9, the Seattle Sounders always had the safety net of the U.S. Open Cup to fall into.

Winners of the three Open Cups they entered since joining MLS in 2009, the Sounders remained perfect in the competition with a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in a tense match played before a crowd of more than 7,000 fans at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium.

Trinidadian teenager Cordell Cato, a former Quakes trialist, had the lone goal for Seattle, and the hero in goal was San Jose castoff Andrew Weber.

The Sounders needed a security escort after the final whistle.

The victory was Seattle's first win against MLS opposition in eight games and moved it into the semifinals of the Open Cup against Chivas USA.

Cato put Seattle ahead in the 19th minute, but the Quakes had the Sounders after that. Weber's best save came when he stopped a Shea Salinas breakaway in the 34th minute.

Quakes forward Alan Gordon was red-carded late in second half, and Seattle forward Eddie Johnson was involved in an incident after the game with San Jose reserve Jed Zayner.