The 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will kick off in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. Los Angeles FC is seeking to lift the trophy for the first time in the club’s nine-year history, while Sporting Kansas City is trying to join the exclusive five-time champions club (Bethlehem Steel FC, Maccabee AC, Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers).
The 2024 US Open Cup Final kicks off at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time and can be watched live, for free, on Apple TV.
Which Major League Soccer team will make history on Wednesday night? Two of our reporters, Ignacio Cervantes (LAFC) and Liam Keating (Sporting KC) took a closer look at the keys to victory for both teams.
Why LAFC will win the 2024 US Open Cup
by Ignacio Cervantes
Take a look at the current Major League Soccer standings, then have a glance at Los Angeles FC and Sporting KC’s rosters. The theory of an LAFC victory on Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final becomes a likelihood.
Winners of the Cup four times, SKC are at the foot of the MLS table with the fourth-least total points across the league (31 pts). LAFC (49 pts) sit nine points behind the top of the Western Conference with two games in hand.
Denis Bouanga is leading an attack alongside Mateus Bogusz and MLS newcomer/former World Cup champion Olivier Giroud that combines for 48 goal contributions on the year.
LAFC has 2-to-1 odds to win the final outright and, on its day, the squad has what it takes to beat anyone in the competition.
“On the day if we bring it we’re really confident in ourselves that we can beat anyone in this league,” said LAFC defender Aaron Long, who reached the 2017 final with the New York Red Bulls. “We are confident in ourselves. We like our roster. We like our tactics, we like our formations that we’re cooking up here.”
It’s all fun and games at LAFC — until recently.
A handful of MLS games in a row without a win (0-3-2) since its 1-0 victory against the Seattle Sounders in the Open Cup Semifinals is the most LAFC has gone without a win since going six winless games in May/June 2023.
There is also the recent championship game failures, such as in last season’s MLS Cup Final and the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League Final in December. Combined with last month’s Leagues Cup title-deciding loss and The Black and Gold are surrounded with negative energy approaching this title game.
A coy Steve Cherundolo refused to address recent form during the pregame press conference, saying that any form before this game means nothing since it’s “a different time of year” and a “one-off” game.
“The reality is every game has its own story,” Cherundolo said. “Nothing that has happened in the past can hurt us Wednesday night. It can only help. We have experiences in these games and that can only be positive. But again it’s a completely different game.”
The bad luck in title matches surrounding LAFC has been amplified as a result of its uncharacteristic September form. In the last seven games the Black and Gold has scored multiple goals just once, while failing to score in just two of those games.
The Black and Gold head into its first Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final appearance limping on the back of five games without a win with desperate need of righting the ship before the start of MLS Cup playoffs.
First, LAFC will have to overcome its spell in finals Wednesday night against Sporting KC in a championship match that can finish as the team’s fourth straight title-game loss.
Advantages over SKC lie in its lethal attack where one mistake or open lane will be taken advantage of by Bouanga, Giroud or Bogusz.
The killer instinct possessed by each of them will keep veteran goalkeeper and two-time winner of the Cup with SKC (2015, 2017) Tim Melia working — LAFC’s 15.5 shots per game in MLS leads the league while the Wizards defense gives up a top six average of 11.3 per game.
In 167 minutes played against SKC over two matches, Bouanga has one goal while Bogusz picked up an assist in 247 minutes over three appearances against the Wizards.
“We put in a lot of hard work,” Cherundolo said. “And in this industry trophies is the proof of that.
“We’re looking to be solely focused on that objective and whatever has happened prior to, or happens after, plays no role in our thinking and our preparation at the moment.”
It’s all eyes on the prize for the Black and Gold skipper and his squad.
“It’s a trophy that LAFC has not won and that’s motivation enough for us,” Cherundolo added.
“As an American, it’s really important to keep this cup alive. I know there’s a ton of MLS teams that really love this tournament and felt like they for short sided a little bit for not being able to play in it so we felt fortunate we wanted to go for it from the beginning and now we get the chance so we’re just trying to complete the job here.”
Why Sporting Kansas City will win the 2024 US Open Cup Final
By Liam Keating
Sporting Kansas City have been focused on one thing all season, a chance at the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title. The team has struggled in MLS play as they currently sit third to last in the Western Conference.
But, the league competition is then, the Open Cup is now. While some MLS teams have tried to avoid Open Cup play, Sporting have rededicated their affinity for the Cup.
“I can only say that we’ve always taken this tournament very seriously,” Sporting manager Peter Vermes said after their win in the Quarterfinals. “I always say that. I think every other team does. It’s just that sometimes it doesn’t work out for them because of the team they put on the field or the way they played that day.”
Taking the Cup seriously can only take the club so far. While play in MLS has been a struggle, Sporting has looked solid for most of their matches. They’ve outscored their opponents 8-1 in their last three matches.
Kansas City have had a favorable draw into the final. They defeated USL Championship sides Indy Eleven in the Semifinals and FC Tulsa in the Round of 16. In the Quarterfinals, Sporting defeated FC Dallas in a rain soaked match. The toughest match during their Open Cup run came in the Round of 32 when they went to extra time against USL League One’s Union Omaha. The Owls controlled a majority of the match and led 1-0 at halftime.
Marinos Tzionis equalized in the second half of that game against Omaha. For what its worth, Tzionis will not be available to play in the Final as he was transferred to Seribian team FK Čukarički this summer. Alan Pulido scored the winning goal in the closing seconds of extra time as Sporting avoided the early cupset.
Kansas City comes into the final against LAFC with little to no form. They have won just one game out of their last four matches. They suffered a disappointing MLS match loss to Minnesota 2-0 on Saturday.
“You have to put it past you because that’s not good enough on any level. You put a performance in against Colorado and then you go in the complete opposite tonight,”
Sporting captain Johnny Russell said following Saturday’s loss. “That’s been the problem with our season: inconsistency, lack of quality and then we just allowed teams to punish us,” said Sporting captain Johnny Russell. “It’s a horrible feeling but you have to get over it and you have to get over it quick. We’ve got a cup final to play on Wednesday.”
Like the captain said, inconsistency has been a major issue. It seems like a different Sporting team steps on the pitch each game. The team that struggles to string passes together could come out on Wednesday. Or, maybe the side that dominated Colorado on Sept. 18. Sporting destroyed the Rapids 4-1 as Pulido and midfielder Erik Thommy found the back of the net twice. If Pulido and Thommy are on the mark, Sporting is tough side to take down due to their high pressing ability and tactical awareness. If they are not locked-in, it could be another tough night for the Kansas club.
“It’s going to be a big challenge but we we’ll work towards that on Monday and Tuesday to get ready for Wednesday,” Vermes said on Saturday night.
When it comes to a final, you throw the records out. Vermes has been there many times, he is one of the best managers to have in the dugout when it comes to title matches.
Sporting has won four US Open Cups with the latest coming in 2017. Two players on the current roster played in that match where Sporting defeated the New York Red Bulls in front of a packed Children’s Mercy Park. Midfielder Daniel Salloi secured the win with a goal in the 66th minute. Tim Melia also featured in goal for Kansas City and was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round as well as Player of the Tournament.
These two players will be big important on Wednesday. Not just their skill, but their experience, too.
“Grind,” goalkeeper Tim Melia said on Saturday. “You have got to be super organized defensively. Going back a long time in that Philadelphia game, we defended for long, long stretches of that game and that is perfectly okay. We don’t need to drive the game.”
Melia is a referring to the 2015 US Open Cup Final where Sporting defeated the Union 7-6 in a penalty kick shootout after a 1-1 draw. Melia was also voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for that performance (and player of the 2017 tournament), something he’s earned three other times including in this year’s semifinals. Kansas City played their brand of football. A controlled one where they were organized and took their chances. That is something Sporting is hoping to accomplish in the 2024 Final.
“Everyone’s got to be in whatever position we need them in that moment. I think our team understands that and is very capable of it and we’ve shown it,” Meila said. “It’s got to be a place where we go in against a very, very good LAFC team away from home and if we have got to sit back, we sit back and defend. Who cares? All we have got to do is do everything we can to win the game.”