Cameron MacDonald looking to cause upset - and receive handshake - against Seattle Sounders

Cameron MacDonald
Old head on young shoulders: Kitsap Pumas head coach Cameron MacDonald Credit: Kitsap Sun

Cameron MacDonald is one of the brightest young coaching talents in the United States. He is also often snubbed for handshakes after matches.

Not through any malice - but simply because few opposition coaches believe the fresh-faced 26-year-old could possibly be leading the rival team.

Instead, they walk past the Scot and his fellow twentysomething assistants to greet the more mature Keith Sargent, a part-time performance analyst, thinking he must be the team's head coach.

"Two of my assistants are 26 and we have a third one who is part-time and nearly 40 and there will be times when the opposition coach will walk past the three of us and shake his hand," MacDonald, the former Livingston defender, told The Telegraph.

"It's pretty comical at times. There is no malice in it - I think people are surprised when people see the age of our full-time coaching staff. 

"There are not many head coaches who are that young - there is no offence taken."

On Wednesday evening, MacDonald will be hoping for a handshake from the coaching staff - but more importantly victory - when the lowly Kitsap Pumas take on the mighty Seattle Sounders in the fourth round of the US Open Cup.

It is a formidable challenge.

Kitsap play in the semi-pro Premier Development League, considered part of the fourth tier in American soccer, while the Sounders are Major League Soccer giants.

Moreover, the Sounders have an incredible record in the US Open Cup - winning the domestic cup competition in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014, as well as finishing runners-up in 2012.

MacDonald is just in his second year as a head coach while Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid is considered one of the greatest coaches in the States, having had a wealth of success with UCLA, LA Galaxy and the Sounders. He was inducted into US Soccer's National Hall of Fame last October.

Kitsap, who are based in Bremerton, Washington (a 60-minute ferry-ride away from Downtown Seattle), will go into the match realistic of their chances but also with some optimism, having defeated Sacramento Republic - a team with MLS aspirations - in the previous round.

It also helps that Schmid is suspended for the match, as are Sounders defender and captain Brad Evans and forward Clint Dempsey, who is also with the US national team at Copa America.

The Sounders are likely to field a team of both regular first-team players and fringe players - but with the likes of star striker Jordan Morris in the mix, they remain the overwhelming favourites.

Kitsap Pumas
The Kitsap Pumas starting XI who defeated the Sacramento Republic Credit: Kitsap Pumas

"We have an outside chance - probably the same chance Leicester had of winning the Premier League - but everyone likes an underdog story. The odds are stacked against us but anything can happen," MacDonald added.

"It will be extremely difficult but you play each game to win, it's not like we're going to go down there and lie down, we want to compete. If they're the better team on the day, then they'll win but if they're poor and we're excellent you never know what could happen."

Win or lose, the match represents an ideal chance for the Kitsap players - who are on average 23 years old and are paid a "liveable wage" for the summer - to make names for themselves and secure moves to a higher level. It also puts the spotlight on Kitsap themselves, hopefully leading to higher attendances and revenue opportunities.

"There may be some people who were not aware of our club who are now paying attention to us. The fact that we've put ourselves in this position - regardless of the outcome - is great as it's put more of a spotlight on the club," says MacDonald, who worked his way up at Kitsap from player/youth coach, to assistant coach and then head coach.

"It's not quite like the FA Cup or Scottish Cup in terms of making money for the smaller clubs but it terms of recognition levels for the players and coaching staff it's equal on that front. It could lead to more sponsorship dollars for the club - you never know.

"But it gives a chance for our players to showcase themselves and shows the fans in this region that they have us on their doorstep.

"None of the players here want this club to be their final destination. They want to come in and do well for their club but they also want to take the next opportunity. If one of our guys does well against the Sounders then it's possible they could get that big move to a higher level.

"It's a fun opportunity so early in my career to go against an MLS club. If it draws more spotlight on the players, coaches and clubs in general then I'll be happy."

Just six times in the modern era have amateur teams knocked out MLS clubs in the US Open Cup. Opportunity knocks for MacDonald and the Kitsap Pumas.

Galaxy quest for La Maquina 

Another minor-league team looking to cause a huge upset in the Open Cup this week are La Maquina, who face the galacticos of LA Galaxy on Tuesday evening.

If anything, their task is harder than that of the Kitsap Pumas as La Maquina have been banned from competing in the United Premier Soccer League since December after a mass brawl.

Since then, the Orange County-based team have been taking part in friendlies against college teams to tune up for their Open Cup matches.

It remains to be seen what kind of line up Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena fields but with the vast majority of La Maquina players being Mexican or of Mexican origin, they are desperate to face Giovani dos Santos.

"We've been working very hard to get to where we are right now," Alex Uribe, the La Maquina owner, told The Telegraph. "The young players want to be seen by MLS or Mexican clubs, so they are very anxious for the game.

"Galaxy are the favourites but you never know. We are ready. I know it will be a tough challenge but I know we can make it. 

"Right now we are in the eyes of everybody."

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