Riley Maleitzke

2017 US Open Cup Final will be broadcast live on ESPN networks

August 15, 2017 by Riley Maleitzke

Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. Photo: Sporting KC — Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS. Photo: Sporting KC

For the third year in a row, the ESPN family of networks will broadcast the championship game of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The United States Soccer Federation announced that the 2017 US Open Cup Final, scheduled for Sept. 20 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan. will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

The game will feature Sporting Kansas City hosting the New York Red Bulls and kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. EST. The Red Bulls will be seeking the club’s first Open Cup title, while Kansas City are aiming to become just the eighth team in tournament history to lift the trophy for a fourth time.

This will be the fourth time that ESPN will air the championship game on its family of networks (1999, 2015-17). The first time, ESPN2 broadcasted the 1999 Final which featured the Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League, Div. 2 pro) making history by upsetting the Colorado Rapids 2-0 to become the first and, to date, only lower division club to lift the trophy since MLS was founded in 1996. The championship game would not return to ESPN until 2015 when Sporting Kansas City edged the Philadelphia Union 7-6 in PKs to win the tournament for the third time. Last year, FC Dallas defeated the New England Revolution 4-2 to claim its first US Open Cup trophy since 1997.

This will be the second time ESPN2 will feature the 104th edition of the US Open Cup on its airwaves. Earlier this year, ESPN2 aired an Open Cup game prior to the Semifinals for the first time in the network’s history by broadcasting FC Cincinnati’s Round of 16 penalty kick upset of the Chicago Fire in front of a record crowd of 32,287. It was the earliest Open Cup game that a major network broadcasted since Fox Soccer Channel aired the 2012 Fourth Round match between amateur side Cal FC that was coached by US international Eric Wynalda and the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS).

US Open Cup Championship Match Broadcast Networks
(Modern Era, 1995-present)

2017 – ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes
2016 – ESPN2 / Univision Deportes
2015 – ESPN2 / Univision Deportes
2014 – GolTV
2013 – GolTV
2012 – GolTV
2011 – Fox Soccer Channel
2010 – Fox Soccer Channel
2009 – Fox Soccer Channel
2008 – Fox Soccer Channel
2007 – Fox Soccer Channel
2006 – Fox Soccer Channel
2005 – GolTV
2004 – GolTV
2003 – Fox Sports World
2002 – Fox Sports World
2001 – Fox Sports World
2000 – Fox Sports World
1999 – ESPN2
1998 – Fox Sports Net
1997 – Fox Sports Net
1996 – No broadcast
1995 – Prime network

2017 US Open Cup Round 2: Jacksonville Armada overcome slow start, beat Miami United 2-1

May 21, 2017 by Riley Maleitzke

The Jacksonville Armada FC struck twice late in the first half to erase an early deficit and defeat Miami United FC in the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup 2-1 Wednesday night.

The first half started slow both teams were trying to figure each other out. Early in the first half Jacksonville tried to get comfortable with the turf. Many plays in the first 45 minutes ended with an Armada player slipping on the turf.

After being unable to capitalize on numerous chances throughout the first half and having an 8-0 edge in corners in the first half, the NASL’s Armada FC scored twice in a seven-minute span after Jacopo Camilli scored off a beautiful pass from Ezequiel Tejera in the 32nd minute for Miami United of the NPSL.

Three minutes after falling behind, Armanda FC leveled on a goal by veteran Aaron Pitchkolan after a Jake Black corner. A controversial penalty was awarded three minutes before halftime following a slide tackle in the box. Miami goalkeeper Carlos Alcantara dived to the right, but Blake finished for what proved to the eventual game-winner.

Miami United countered quickly with a great chance in stoppage time as Tejera booted a ball from beyond the 18-yard box, but the ball bounced off the right bar inches away from an equalizing goal.

Jacksonville goalkeeper Kyle Nasta, who had to wear a baseball cap in the first half due to the intense sunlight on his side of the pitch, made a pair of saves.

In the second half, Miami moved David SantaMaria to the middle of the field. Needing an equalizer, they also played more up-tempo in the second half, but both teams squandered opportunities after halftime.

The match was heated late with three of the nine bookings coming in second-half stoppage time. Miami United had one last chance late, but their possession ended with the offside flag raised.

Jacksonville Armada will move onto the third round of the US Open Cup, and will face Charleston Battery. Charleston beat the Atlanta Silverbacks 2-1 earlier on Wednesday.