2015 US Open Cup

2015 US Open Cup: Krisztian Nemeth of Sporting KC voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

October 22, 2015 by Matthew De Witt

Krisztian Nemeth of Sporting KC, dribbles against the Philadelphia Union in the 2015 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Bob Larson

This year’s new face is fast becoming a household name.

Krisztian Nemeth’s record-tying four-game goal-scoring streak played a big role in Sporting Kansas City’s third US Open Cup title and as a result, he was voted the TheCup.us Player of the Tournament.

Nemeth, nearing completion of his rookie year with Sporting, tallied five goals and one assist in the final four games in the tournament, including the game-tying goal in the 65th minute of the final. His goal output ties teammate Dom Dwyer for most goals and points (11) in the tournament. Dwyer notched four goals in the fifth round and added the fifth goal in the next.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters. Also, receiving strong consideration was Dwyer, who finished runner-up, and teammate Benny Feilhaber and Philadelphia Union goalkeeper John McCarthy for the honor.

“(The US Open Cup) is very difficult with all of the games in a short period of time,” said Nemeth about his impressions of the tournament. “But we said from the beginning that we were going to take the tournament seriously and that we wanted to win it. I think every game we showed that and we deserved to win the trophy.”

After not playing in Round 4, Nemeth entered the fifth round having scored seven goals on seven shots during league play. Making his US Open Cup debut against FC Dallas on July 1, he scored two goals on two shots to continue his hot streak.

That day, Sporting thrashed Dallas, 6-2, with Nemeth knocking in his first just before halftime. Nemeth then one-touched a Jacob Peterson cross to cap off a four-goal first half. Nemeth’s effort in the second half was more spectacular.

Less than a yard from the end line, Nemeth chipped a volley over FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz. The chip had just enough curl to get underneath the crossbar and over the goal line before Dallas could knock the ball away from its own net. Nemeth said it was the best goal he scored in the 2015 tournament.

The three-week break from the Open Cup did not deter Sporting and Nemeth. Having fallen behind to 10-man Houston, Sporting roared back with three goals in the final 10 minutes, including two goals Nemeth played a part in. The forward’s lone assist came on the game-winning goal in Kansas City’s quarterfinal win.

Receiving a ball in the attacking third, Nemeth had plenty of space to move the ball as he pleased. Before taking his touch, the Hungarian looked around and one-touched a pass into Dwyer. The Englishman slid his shot between Joe Willis’ legs for the go-ahead goal before returning the favor to Nemeth a couple minutes later.

Moving the ball from the right wing toward the center, Dwyer slotted the Hungarian through on net from 20 yards out. Nemeth’s shot, headed for the far corner, ricocheted off a Houston player and bounced into the open goal to make it 3-1.

Another 3-1 win sent Sporting into its third Open Cup title game. Its last 3-1 win came against 2013 runner-up Real Salt Lake. Nemeth’s goal was the team’s last, as he capitalized on a mistake from the RSL backline. The Hungarian collected the ball at the top of the penalty area, danced around goalkeeper Nick Rimando, and powered a rocket into the open net.

While the rest of his goals seemed to be the goal that shut the door, Nemeth’s tally in the championship game against the Philadelphia Union pushed the game into extra time and penalty kicks. A ball played on the ground from the right wing was helped on by Graham Zusi to Nemeth. The forward powered a low, curling effort just inside the far post for the equalizer. Even though Nemeth had his attempt saved, Sporting claimed the title in the eighth round of the penalty kick shootout.

“It was great experience, especially in the final,” said Nemeth about taking part in his first US Open Cup. “All of the home games were amazing and we thank all the fans for their support.

“The Salt Lake game was a special win because they are one of our rivals. It was an important win not only for our players but for the fans. The whole tournament was a great experience and I’m just happy to win another cup for the club.”

With that goal in the final, which Nemeth described as his most memorable goal of the competition, he joined a select group of players in the Modern Era (1995-present) who have scored a goal in four straight games. Diego Serna was the first with the Miami Fusion in 2000, followed by Herculez Gomez of the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2006. Last year, Kenny Cooper of the Seattle Sounders scored four straight en route to the club’s fourth title.

What was the key to the team’s offensive success?

“I think because it’s a single-elimination tournament, you put a little more into each game,” Nemeth said. “You don’t want to lose and have your tournament be over. We have very good players on the team and I think that showed during the tournament.”

Nemeth joins three teammates as 2015 award winners. Dom Dwyer (Round 5), Benny Feilhaber (semifinal) and Tim Melia (final) all earned Player of the Round honors. Nemeth is the first player in the modern era to win a US Open Cup award and the first Hungarian to lift the trophy.

“It was unbelievable,” said Nemeth, who finished with five goals and one assist and 11 points. “The team worked so hard to get to that point and it was great to be able to win the trophy for the team and for the fans.”

Past TheCup.us Player of the Tournament winners

2014: Kenny Cooper (Seattle Sounders FC)
2013: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders FC)
2010: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC)
2009: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
2008: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders, USL)
2007: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
2006: Andy Herron (Chicago Fire)

Krisztian Nemeth: Post game interview

Highlights: 2015 US Open Cup Final

US Open Cup championship celebration

Sporting KC lifting the trophy

Sporting KC fans celebration/reaction

Sporting KC bring trophy back home (winners rally)

2015 US Open Cup: Michael Salazar of PSA Elite narrowly voted TheCup.us Lower Division Player of Tournament

October 21, 2015 by Dennis Pope

Michael Salazar of PSA Elite celebrates his goal against the LA Galaxy during the 2015 US Open Cup. Photo: PSA Elite

Michael Salazar practiced little but perfected a lot in earning TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament honors after helping lead the Irvine (Calif.) amateur club PSA Elite (USASA) to its second consecutive appearance in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup fourth round.

The award is voted on by the staff at TheCup.us and a select of panel of members from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Salazar had three goals in four games, and finished tied for the tournament lead with four assists despite spending little time with the team aside the 90 minutes in between the lines.

“I thought PSA gave me a great opportunity to showcase my talent, and Jon (Spencer), Alex (Lujan) and all the guys that have been a part of it, they believe in me,” said Salazar, who narrowly edged Chula Vista FC’s Alberto Diaz for the award by two first-place votes. Also receiving strong consideration was Leo Fernandes of the New York Cosmos (NASL) and Alex Martinez of the Charlotte Independence (USL).

Salazar, already a full national team player for Belize after appearing in four games at the 2013 Gold Cup, is currently playing his senior season at UC Riverside and intends to enter the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

“He already had the experience of playing big matches in front of big crowds (but) we’ve been able to see him bloom into a top-level talent,” PSA Elite president Alex Lujan said. “I actually expected him to be our leading scorer but he also led us in assists, so to have a player who is so fast, strong, creative and quick was phenomenal to have.”

Michael Salazar of PSA Elite celebrates one of the team's seven goals in a 7-1 win over the Golden State Misioneros in the First Round of the 2015 US Open Cup. Photo: PSA Elite — Michael Salazar of PSA Elite celebrates one of the team’s seven goals in a 7-1 win over the Golden State Misioneros in the First Round of the 2015 US Open Cup. Photo: PSA Elite

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound forward/winger had a goal and two assists as PSA Elite defeated Golden State Misioneros (PDL), 7-1, the first round. He then added another goal and an assist in a 2-1 upset win over the USL’s Orange County Blues in Round 2. He assisted on the game-winner in a 2-1 win over Ventura County Fusion (PDL) in the third round, which earned the club a date with defending MLS champion LA Galaxy.

“Mike brings energy to the field. He’s fast, he’s quick, he’s aggressive (and) he has a really good soccer mentality,” said Jon Spencer, PSA Elite’s head coach and technical director. “He simply comes to play his best every game. He’s been very reliable in that regard.”

Salazar saved his best goal for last, scoring the opening goal against the Galaxy but PSA Elite went on to lose that game, 6-1.

Despite the loss, the performance earned him a trial with Galaxy.

“They wanted me to be successful and put me in the best position. I felt like in every game I contributed and I did the best I could,” Salazar said. “(The Galaxy game) was a huge moment for me. Growing up as a kid I always admired the Galaxy and to score against them was a dream for me, and I hope it’s the start of something special.”

Past TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament winners

2015: Michael Salazar, PSA Elite (USASA)
2014: Scott Goodwin, Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
2013: Ty Shipalane, Carolina RailHawks (NASL)
2012: Danny Barrera, Cal FC (USASA)

Who should win TheCup.us Player of the Tournament for 2015 US Open Cup?

October 13, 2015 by Josh Hakala

Sporting Kansas City celebrates the club's third US Open Cup title. Photo: Bob Larson — Sporting Kansas City celebrates the club’s third US Open Cup title. Photo: Bob Larson

Since 2006, TheCup.us has awarded a Player of the Tournament award for the most outstanding player of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. This year’s voting, conducted by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, is expected to be dominated by Major League Soccer (MLS) players since this was just the third year since MLS joined the tournament in 1996 that a lower division team failed to reach the Quarterfinals. Not to say that there weren’t exceptional performances, but no lower division team won more than three games, so it will be difficult to overcome performances that led to teams reaching the Semifinals, Final or resulting in the lifting of a trophy.

Last year, Kenny Cooper led the tournament in scoring and won the award despite not playing in the Final. In 2013, Dwayne De Rosario carried DC United to one of the most improbable Open Cup titles in history. Osvaldo Alonso won in 2012 despite the Sounders not winning the championship, proving that the award is usually given to players based on their body of work and not necessarily given to a player that wins the title.

Here are a list of candidates below (listed alphabetically). Take a look at each resume and tell us who you think should win in the comments or on social media (Twitter / Facebook). Please consider the lower division nominees as well, (you can find that list HERE).

————————-

Matt Besler (Sporting KC, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and held the opposition to just 2 shots (0 saves made) in a 1-0 home win vs. Saint Louis FC (USL).

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes, defense allowed two goals, while allowing nine shots and forcing three saves in a 6-2 home win vs. FC Dallas (MLS).

QUARTERFINALS: Played all 90 minutes, assisted on the opening goal, defense only allowed four shots and only two saves needed to be made in KC’s 3-1 home win vs. Houston Dynamo (Who received a red card in the 30th minute).

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes, and held opposition to just seven shots (two saves made) in a 3-1 home win vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS).

FINAL: Played all 120 minutes and held opposition to 13 shots (eight saves made) in a 1-1 road draw vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS). KC won 7-6 in PKs and Besler converted his fourth round attempt.

NOTE: Played every minute of every game in 2015 tournament.

————————-

Dom Dwyer (Sporting KC, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 home win vs. Saint Louis FC (USL).

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes, scored four goals (1st-ever KC hat trick in USOC play, 12th Modern Era player to score 4+ goals in a game) in a 6-2 home win vs. FC Dallas (MLS) – Voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.

QUARTERFINALS: Played all 90 minutes, scored one goal and assisted on another in KC’s 3-1 home win vs. Houston Dynamo (Who received a red card in the 30th minute).

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 home win vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS).

FINAL: Played all 120 minutes in a 1-1 road draw vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS). KC won 7-6 in PKs and Dwyer converted his second round attempt.

NOTE: Played every minute of every game. Tied for the tournament lead in goals (5) and points (11) with Krisztian Nemeth

————————-

Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 120 minutes in a 0-0 home draw vs. Rochester Rhinos (USL). Philly won 3-1 in PKs and Edu converted his first round attempt.

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 home win vs. DC United (MLS) — Note: Philly’s CJ Sapong received a red card in the 24th minute.

QUARTERFINALS: Played all 120 minutes in a 1-1 road draw vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS). Philly advanced 4-3 in PKs and Edu scored on his third round attempt — Note: Philly’s Conor Casey received a red card in the 40th minute.

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes and held opposition to three total shots (two saves made) in a 1-0 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS).

FINAL: Played all 120 minutes, held opposition to 10 total shots (four saves made) in a 1-1 home draw vs. Sporting KC (MLS). KC won 7-6 in the shootout and Edu missed his third round attempt.

————————-

Benny Feilhaber (Sporting KC, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and assisted on the game-winning goal in KC’s 1-0 home win vs. Saint Louis FC (USL).

FIFTH ROUND: Started, played 62 minutes and assisted on the first two goals in KC’s 6-2 home win vs. FC Dallas (MLS).

QUARTERFINALS: Played all 90 minutes and scored the opening goal in KC’s 3-1 home win vs. Houston Dynamo (MLS).

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes, scored one goal and assisted on another in KC’s 3-1 home win vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS). Voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.

FINAL: Played all 120 minutes in KC’s 1-1 road draw vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS). KC won 7-6 in PKs and Feilhaber converted his first round attempt.

NOTE: Tied for the tournament lead with four assists

————————-

Cristian Maidana (Philadelphia Union, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 120 minutes in a 0-0 home draw vs. Rochester Rhinos (USL). Philly won 3-1 in PKs.

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 home win vs. DC United (MLS). Note: Philly’s CJ Sapong received a red card in the 24th minute.

QUARTERFINALS: Started and played 77 minutes in a 1-1 road draw vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS). Philly advanced 4-3 in PKs. Note: Philly’s Conor Casey received a red card in the 40th minute.

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS).

FINAL: Started and played 77 minutes in a 1-1 home draw vs. Sporting KC (MLS). KC won 7-6 in a PK shootout

————————-

John McCarthy (Philadelphia Union, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and made five saves (10 shots faced) in a 0-0 home draw vs. Rochester Rhinos (USL). Philly won 3-1 in PKs and he made 3 saves. (5th Modern Era GK to make 3 saves in a shootout)

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and made six saves (14 shots faced) in a 2-1 home win vs. DC United (MLS). Note: Philly’s CJ Sapong received a red card in the 24th minute.

QUARTERFINALS: Played all 120 minutes and made nine saves (34 shots faced) in a 1-1 road draw vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS). Philly advanced 4-3 in PKs and McCarthy made 1 save in the shootout. Note: Philly’s Conor Casey received a red card in the 40th minute) – Named TheCup.us Player of the Round

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes and made two saves (three shots faced) in a 1-0 home win vs. Chicago Fire (MLS).

FINAL: Came off the bench in the final minute of extra time to take part in the PK shootout with the game finishing 1-1. In the PK shootout, he made 1 save but KC prevailed 7-6.

NOTE: McCarthy is just the 4th Modern Era GK to win multiple PK shootouts in one tournament

————————-

Tim Melia (Sporting KC, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and earned the clean sheet while only facing two shots and not making a single save in a 1-0 home win vs. Saint Louis FC (USL).

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and allowed two goals while making three saves on nine shots faced in a 6-2 home win vs. FC Dallas (MLS).

QUARTERFINALS: Played all 90 minutes and allowed one goal while making two saves on four shots faced in a 3-1 home win vs. Houston Dynamo (MLS).

SEMIFINALS: Played all 90 minutes and allowed one goal while making two saves on seven shots faced in a 3-1 home win vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS).

FINAL: Played all 120 minutes and allowed one goal while making eight saves on 13 shots faced in a 1-1 road draw vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS). KC won 7-6 in PKs and Melia made two saves in the PK shootout. Melia was voted the Player of the Round.

NOTE: Eighth goalkeeper in the Modern Era to start every match and win a US Open Cup title (first since Kasey Keller in 2009). Also, he is the first goalkeeper in the Modern Era to play for an amateur team (Long Island Rough Riders) in the tournament and later win a US Open Cup title with a MLS team

————————-

Krisztian Nemeth (Sporting KC, MLS)

FOURTH ROUND: Did not play

FIFTH ROUND: Started, played 75 minutes and scored two goals in KC’s 6-2 home win vs. FC Dallas (MLS).

QUARTERFINALS: Started, played all but one minute, scored one goal and assisted on another in KC’s 3-1 home win vs. Houston Dynamo (MLS).

SEMIFINALS: Started, played 87 minutes, scored one goal in KC’s 3-1 home win vs. Real Salt Lake (MLS).

FINAL: Played all 120 minutes, scored KC’s lone goal in a 1-1 road draw vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS). KC won 7-6 in PKs and Nemeth had his third round attempt saved.

NOTE: Tied a Modern Era record by scoring in four straight USOC games. Tied for the tournament lead in goals (5) and points (11) with teammate Dom Dwyer.

————————-

Past winners of TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

2014: Kenny Cooper (Seattle Sounders)
2013: Dwayne De Rosario (DC United)
2012: Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders)
2011: Fredy Montero (Seattle Sounders)
2010: Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders)
2009: Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders)
2008: Chris Eylander (Seattle Sounders)
2007: Pat Noonan (New England Revolution)
2006: Andy Herron (Chicago Fire)

Who should win 2015 TheCup.us Lower Division Player of the Tournament?

October 12, 2015 by Josh Hakala

Chula Vista FC (USASA) celebrate their upset win over Arizona United (USL). Photo: Chula Vista FC

UPDATE: Michael Salazar of PSA Elite was narrowly voted TheCup.us Player of the Tournament

Despite the fact that the Quarterfinal round of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup did not feature a single lower division team for just the third time in the Modern Era (1995-present), there were still a number of outstanding individual performances among the underdogs.

Every year, the staff at TheCup.us and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters vote on the Lower Division Player of the Tournament. Since the lower division professional and amateur teams are the heart and soul of the competition, beginning in 2012 we thought it was necessary to highlight the top performances by teams below Major League Soccer (MLS).

Last year, Scott Goodwin of the Carolina RailHawks won the award, with his teammate Ty Shipalane winning it in 2013. The first year the award was voted on was in 2012 when Cal FC’s Danny Barrera.

Here are a list of candidates below (listed alphabetically). Take a look at each resume and tell us who you think should win in the comments or on social media (Twitter / Facebook).

Andres Cuero (Austin Aztex, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the opening goal in the 29th minute in Austin’s 2-0 home win vs. Laredo Heat (PDL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and assisted on the second goal in the 77th minute in Austin’s 2-0 road win vs. San Antonio Scorpions (NASL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes in Austin’s 2-0 road loss to the Houston Dynamo (MLS).

————————-

Alberto Diaz (Chula Vista FC, USASA)

FIRST ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and assisted on an 82nd minute equalizer in a 2-1 OT road win over FC Tucson (PDL).

SECOND ROUND: Started, played 83 minutes and was involved in all three goals (2 goals, 1 assist) in the team’s 3-0 road upset win over Arizona United SC (USL). He was named TheCup.us Player of the Round.

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and contributed to all three goals (2 assists, set up the play that led to a PK) in a 7-3 road loss to the Sacramento Republic (USL).

————————-

Leo Fernandes (New York Cosmos, NASL)

THIRD ROUND: Started, played 83 minutes, scored one goal, assisted on another in New York’s 3-0 home win vs. Jersey Express (PDL).

FOURTH ROUND: Came off the bench in the 63rd minute, scored two minutes later and assisted on the stoppage time equalizer in New York’s 2-2 home draw vs. New York City FC (MLS). Cosmos advanced 4-3 in PKs, despite Fernandes missing his attempt.

FIFTH ROUND: Started, played 62 minutes, assisted on the Cosmos’ only goal in a 4-1 road loss to the New York Red Bulls (MLS).

————————-

Kenardo Forbes (Rochester Rhinos, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 39th minute in a 1-0 home win vs. Greater Binghamton Thunder (NPSL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and scored an 108th minute equalizer in Rochester’s 3-1 extra time road win vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL).

FOURTH ROUND: Started and played 86 minutes in a scoreless draw on the road against the Philadelphia Union (MLS). The Union would advance 3-1 on penalty kicks.

————————-

Ricky Garbanzo (Charleston Battery, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Started, played 87 minutes and assisted on the game-winning goal in the 40th minute in a 1-0 home win over Miami United (NPSL).

THIRD ROUND: Started, played 87 minutes, scored a first half equalizer and assisted on the game-winning goal in the 80th minute in the Battery’s 3-2 home win over Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (NASL).

FOURTH ROUND: Started and played 87 minutes in the Battery’s 4-4 draw with Orlando City SC (MLS). Orlando advanced 8-7 on penalty kicks.

————————-

Zac Gibbens (Harpo’s FC, USSSA)

PRELIM. ROUND: Earned a clean sheet with five saves in a 2-0 home win over the KC Athletics (USASA). It was the first-ever US Open Cup win for a USSSA team in their brief three-year history with the tournament.

FIRST ROUND: Earned a second straight clean sheet, this time over 120 minutes as Harpo’s earned a scoreless draw on the road against the PDL’s BYU Cougars. He made four saves, along with another one in the PK shootout to help Harpo’s advance to the Second Round.

SECOND ROUND: Harpo’s run came to an end with a 2-1 road loss at the Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL). Gibbens made four saves on 19 shots faced.

————————-

Chris Karcz (Jersey Express, PDL)

FIRST ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored an 87th minute goal to put Jersey up 2-0 en route to a 3-0 home win over the New York Greek American SC (USASA).

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the lone goal (57th minute) in Jersey’s 1-0 home upset win over the New York Red Bulls 2 (USL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 road loss to the New York Cosmos (NASL).

————————-

Alex Martinez (Charlotte Indepedence, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Did not play in a 4-1 home win vs. Upward Stars (NPSL).

THIRD ROUND: Started, played 80 minutes, assisted on the game-winning goal in the 81st minute in Charlotte’s 1-0 road win vs. Carolina RailHawks.

FOURTH ROUND: Started, played 80 minutes, assisted on the game-winning goal in the 55th minute in Charlotte’s 1-0 road win vs. New England Revolution (MLS).

FIFTH ROUND: Started, played 80 minutes, assisted on Charlotte’s only goal in a 3-1 road loss to the Chicago Fire (MLS).

————————-

Lucky Mkosana (New York Cosmos, NASL)

THIRD ROUND: Came off the bench and played the final seven minutes of the game in New York’s 3-0 home win vs. Jersey Express (PDL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 120 minutes, assisted on the first goal and scored the stoppage time equalizer in New York’s 2-2 home draw vs. New York City FC (MLS). Cosmos advanced 4-3 in PKs and Mkosana converted his attempt.

FIFTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes, scored the Cosmos’ only goal in a 4-1 road loss to the New York Red Bulls (MLS)

————————-

Pablo Rossi (Seattle Sounders 2, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored two goals in Seattle’s 4-2 home win vs. Kitsap Pumas (PDL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 120 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 104th minute in Seattle’s 2-1 extra time home win vs. Portland Timbers 2 (USL).

FOURTH ROUND: Started and played 74 minutes in Seattle’s 2-1 road loss to Real Salt Lake (MLS).

————————-

Michael Salazar (PSA Elite, USASA)

FIRST ROUND: Played all 90 minutes, scored a goal and dished out two assists in a 7-1 home win over Golden State Misioneros (PDL).

SECOND ROUND: Started and played 75 minutes, scored the opening goal and assisted on what would prove to be the game-winner in the 61st minute in a 2-1 home win over the Orange County Blues (USL).

THIRD ROUND: Started and played 86 minutes while assisting on the game-winning goal in the 80th minute in a 2-1 road win over the Ventura County Fusion (PDL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the team’s only goal in a 6-1 road loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS).

————————-

Matthew Turner (Jersey Express, PDL)

FIRST ROUND: Earned a clean sheet and made three saves in a 3-0 home win over the New York Greek American SC (USASA).

SECOND ROUND: Earned a clean sheet and made three saves in a 1-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls 2 (USL).

THIRD ROUND: Made four saves in a 3-0 road loss to the New York Cosmos (NASL).

————————-

Rob Vincent (Pittsburgh Riverhounds, USL)

SECOND ROUND: Started and scored a goal and assisted on another in a 3-0 home win vs. West Virginia Chaos (PDL).

THIRD ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored the game-winning goal in the 90th minute in a 1-0 home win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL).

FOURTH ROUND: Played all 90 minutes and scored Pittsburgh’s only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 24th minute in a 3-1 home loss to DC United (MLS).

Tim Melia’s heroics for Sporting KC earn him 2015 US Open Cup title, TheCup.us Player of the Round honors (video)

October 7, 2015 by Josh Hakala

Tim Melia of Sporting KC makes a save in the penalty kick shootout in the 2015 US Open Cup Final. Photo: Mark Shaiken | Sporting KC

Entering the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final, Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia’s workload was relatively light. Before the championship game against the Philadelphia Union kicked off at PPL Park, Melia had only made seven total saves en route to his team’s third title game appearance. However, in US Open Cup Final, Melia was called upon several times, making eight saves as the two teams finished extra time tied at 1-1. In the penalty kick shootout, Melia made a pair of saves to help Sporting lift the trophy.

For his efforts, Melia was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Final. He edged teammate Krisztian Nemeth, who scored KC’s only goal in regulation, but missed his spot kick attempt in the shootout. Philadelphia’s Sebastien Le Toux also received consideration for scoring his 16th career Open Cup goal, extending his Modern Era record.

The award is voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters.

While Melia won the award based on his performance in the Final, it’s been a history-making tournament for the netminder. He becomes just the eighth Modern Era (1995-present) goalkeeper to start every game of the tournament en route to a title and the first since Kasey Keller did it for the Seattle Sounders in 2009.

Tim Melia of Sporting KC collects the ball in traffic during the 2015 US Open Cup. Photo: Henry Hauck Jr. | Sporting KC

The Long Island native made his Open Cup debut in 2007 with the Long Island Rough Riders of the Premier Development League (PDL) when they lost a narrow 1-0 game to the Rochester Rhinos. By lifting the trophy on Sept. 30 with Kansas City, Melia becomes the first goalkeeper in the Modern Era to represent an amateur club and move on to win the tournament with a MLS team.

Over the course of his career, he has represented four different teams in the Open Cup, starting with the Rough Riders, and then moving up to the professional level to play for the Rochester Rhinos (2009), the Charleston Battery (2010), Chivas USA (2012) and this year with Sporting Kansas City where he won his first title.

After backing up Dan Kennedy at Chivas USA, and then Nick Rimando at Real Salt Lake before being plucked from the MLS goalkeeping pool by an injury-plagued Sporting KC team in 2014 and earning himself a contract for 2015.

Since making his debut in 2007, Melia has put together a solid Open Cup career. In 15 games, he is 9-3-3 with a 1.00 goals against average and is undefeated (3-0) in penalty kick shootouts.

This is the second time Melia has won the award. As part of the Charleston Battery in 2010, he shut out the Chicago Fire in the Third Round over 120 minutes before making a save in a 3-0 penalty kick shootout win.

Melia becomes just the second goalkeeper to win TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Final. Bill Hamid of DC United won the award in 2013. He’s just the fourth Sporting Kansas City player to win, and the third this season (Benny Feilhaber in Semifinals; Dom Dwyer in Round 5; Matt Besler in 2012 Final)

Tim Melia: Post game interview

Highlights: 2015 US Open Cup Final

US Open Cup championship celebration

Sporting KC lifting the trophy

Designated Players in US Open Cup: Evolution of DPs from David Beckham to Steven Gerrard, Philadelphia Union duo

September 30, 2015 by Josh Hakala

Steven Gerrard made his LA Galaxy debut in the US Open Cup against Real Salt Lake in the Quarterfinals. Photo: Tino Arana | Prost Amerika

When David Beckham arrived in Los Angeles to join the Galaxy in 2007, the next game on the schedule was a US Open Cup match against the Richmond Kickers of the United Soccer Leagues. To see a player of his caliber, the one that ushered in the Designated Player era of Major League Soccer, make his debut in a Galaxy uniform on the road against a third division team in Richmond, Va. wasn’t going to happen. The league wanted his first game in this country to be a major television event.

Times have changed.

On July 14, in a game that was only available to watch on YouTube, the latest international star to join MLS, Steven Gerrard, made his competitive debut for the LA Galaxy, on the road at Rio Tinto Stadium against Real Salt Lake. Unfortunately for the former Liverpool legend, he would taste defeat in his first competitive game as a MLS player, losing to RSL 1-0 on an 87th minute game-winner by Aaron Maund. Gerrard entered the game at halftime and created a few chances as he continued to work toward full match fitness.

Designated players for MLS teams in the Open Cup had been extremely rare for a while, but with the addition of the CONCACAF Champions League slot to the winner of the US Open Cup, more and more DPs have worked their way into tournament games as more teams are making the Open Cup more of a priority. Not to mention, there have been vastly more DPs created since 2007.

As of the Quarterfinals this year, Out of the 39 eligible designated players (excluding the newly-signed Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo, Canadian-based players and including Omar Gonzalez who recently had his status altered), 28 of them have played in at least one Open Cup game. Considering DPs are paid the big money to be a major contributor to the team’s starting lineup in league play, it might be asking a bit much to think they would see time in an Open Cup game that usually falls in between two league fixtures, but we’re seeing more and more of it.

Fredy Montero raises the Open Cup trophy amidst the post-game celebrations

It’s difficult to judge the quality of Open Cup gameday rosters and starting lineups because so much of it is on a case-by-case basis. If you have a league game a few days before an Open Cup game or have one a few days after, then the head coach usually has to get creative with who he puts on the field and when. It’s part of managing a club at this level. If you combine the complication of international call-ups, it’s hard to predict which players are going to see the field.

Of the designated players who have played in the US Open Cup since 2007, a few of them have made significant impacts.

The Seattle Sounders enjoyed a lot of success winning four Open Cup titles (2009-2011, 2014) and much of that was due to the help of DPs, but one stood out during the team’s three-peat from 2009-2011. Before leaving Major League Soccer, Fredy Montero scored seven goals which is tied with Nate Jaqua for second in the Sounders’ all-time Open Cup scoring chart (Sebastien Le Toux is on top with 11 goals). Montero scored at least one goal in every tournament he played in as he led Seattle to four straight Finals (2009-2012) something only two other clubs have ever done in the history of the tournament. (Stix, Baer & Fuller from 1932-37 and Bethlehem Steel from 1915-19) Montero, along with Sanna Nyassi remain the only players in the Modern Era (1995-present) to score more than one goal in championship games in a career. Montero scored the opening goals in the 2009 and 2011 Finals. The Sounders also received contributions from Alvero Fernandez who started five of seven matches during his time with the club, while Freddie Ljungberg’s only Open Cup game was in the team’s 2009 Final win over DC United.

Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso used the Open Cup to springboard himself to earning a DP contract for the Seattle-based club. After helping the USL’s Charleston Battery finish runner-up in 2008, he signed with the Sounders and helped them win three straight and finishing runner-up in 2012, leaving him as the first player in the Modern Era to play in five straight Finals. Not only that, but he played every minute of every championship game and later earned a DP contract in 2014 and led the Sounders to their fourth Open Cup title that year. He played all 90 minutes of the Final in 2014 and lifted the trophy for the fourth time after playing in a Modern Era record sixth championship game.

The most impressive single-tournament performance by a DP in the Modern Era comes from Dwayne De Rosario of DC United in 2013 who carried his club to the US Open Cup title despite finishing at the bottom of the MLS table that season. He started all five games for United that year, scored five goals (including the Modern Era’s first hat trick by a Canadian) to help DC win their third title as one of the biggest underdog stories in tournament history. For his efforts, De Rosario was named TheCup.us Player of the Tournament.

There have been some impressive contributions from some big-name newcomers in 2015. Kaka scored a goal in his Open Cup debut for Orlando City in a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew and then started and played the entire game in their 3-1 road loss at the Chicago Fire. Another standout was Kaka’s teammate Carlos Rivas who, in his tournament debut, became the first player in the Modern Era to score three penalty kick goals at the Charleston Battery (USL). Oddly enough, the match finished 4-4 and ended up going to penalty kicks, but when his turn came up, his fourth trip to the spot, he had his attempt saved. Rivas followed that up in the next round with a goal in Orlando’s 2-0 home win over Columbus.

Outside of Seattle, the DP duo that has made the biggest impact has been Maurice Edu and Cristian Maidana of the Philadelphia Union.

Here are the best current designated players in US Open Cup play:

1. Cristian Maidana / Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union)

The Philadelphia Union celebrate their penalty kick shootout win over the New York Red Bulls in the 2015 Quarterfinals. Photo: Bob Larson

Among the current DPs with Open Cup experience, there’s no contest that this Philadelphia Union duo is the best of the bunch. Maurice Edu has played every minute (960 minutes played) of every Open Cup match for the Union in the last two years (nine games) and on top of scoring a pair of goals and playing solid defense, Edu has also scored on all three of his penalty kick attempts in the team’s three successful shootouts.

While Cristian Maidana hasn’t quite been the iron man that Edu has been for the Union, he has played in every game, starting eight of the nine contests (835 minutes played) and dishing out two assists. The two have led the Union to a 5-1-3 (3-0 in PKs) record over the last two years, including two straight Final appearances.

2. Diego Valeri (Portland Timbers)

Diego Valeri has started five of the Timbers’ six Open Cup games over the last three seasons. The Argentinian has scored three goals, all against MLS opposition on the road, while helping Portland to a 3-2-0 record and helping the team reach a franchise-best Semifinal appearance in 2013.

3. Obafemi Martins – Seattle Sounders

Martins’ first taste of the US Open Cup was in 2013 when he came off the bench late in the Sounders’ upset loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL). That snapped the club’s all-time record 22-game unbeaten streak, but he produced in his limited minutes in last year’s Semifinal and Final. He scored a goal and dished out an assist in the final 16 minutes of Seattle’s 6-0 win over the Chicago Fire in the Semifinals. Next, he came off the bench in the second half of the championship game and assisted on Clint Dempsey’s game-winner in the 101st minute of extra time and then clinched the Sounders’ fourth trophy with an insurance goal of his own in the 114th minute

4. Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)

The U.S. international defender has played three games in 2015 since recently joining the DP club. He has started all three and Sporting Kansas City is 3-0-0, including a home shutout against the USL’s Saint Louis FC in Round 4. His defense led Sporting to the Final and has made goalkeeper Tim Melia’s job a lot easier. In four games this year, Melia has only faced 22 shots and of those shots, he’s only had to make nine saves.

5. Joao Plata – (Real Salt Lake)

One of the top young players in MLS is one of the main reasons Real Salt Lake reached the Semifinals for the second time in three years. He has started all three games this year, playing in all but seven minutes. While he has just one goal and one assist to his credit (both earned in the team’s 2-1 home win over the Seattle Sounders 2 (USL) in Round 4, he has been a thorn in the side of opposing defenses and has been a big part of the reason why RSL are 3-0-0 with back-to-back shutouts over the Timbers and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Which goalkeeper should Union start in US Open Cup Final? The guy who got you there or the hot hand?

September 29, 2015 by Josh Hakala

John McCarthy of the Philadelphia Union in a PK shootout againt the Rochester Rhinos in Round 4. Photo: Greg Carroccio | Philadelphia Union

On Wednesday, Sept. 30, the 102nd Lamar Hunt US Open Cup will come to a close with either the Philadelphia Union winning its first title or Sporting Kansas City lifting the trophy for the third time. Based on their largely second-choice lineup selections in their last league games, both teams plan to field their best eleven players to earn themselves a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The question is: Who should start in goal?

Peter Vermes and Sporting Kansas City has a much easier decision as Tim Melia is the most experienced netminder on the roster. Melia has started every US Open Cup game for KC and has played well due, in large part, to the defense in front of him making his job easier. In four matches, he’s only faced 22 shots and has only had to make nine saves.

On the other side, there’s a much more difficult call to make as Andre Blake and John McCarthy have both earned the right to start the game and Union head coach Jim Curtin said it will be a “huge decision.”

McCarthy has started every Open Cup game for the club and has been exceptional throughout, earning TheCup.us Player of the Round once (Quarterfinals vs. New York Red Bulls) and nearly winning it a second time. He has two clean sheets, a pair of shootout victories and on two seperate occasions, the Union played shorthanded for most of the match after first half red cards. Whether he starts the Final or not, McCarthy’s 0.43 goals against average will certainly earn him some votes for TheCup.us Player of the Tournament.

Blake, a Jamaican international, is coming into the Final after posting a single-game club record 10 saves in a 1-1 draw on the road against the New England Revolution. Combined with games on international duty, the former No. 1 overall pick looks to be back in form after missing most of the season due to injury.

“In the past six games or so, they’ve gotten an equal share if you add up Andre’s Jamaica games in there,” said Curtin. “We wanted to get a fair look at both of them. It’s a good situation because both are playing well – John as recently as Houston gets a shutout and Andre puts in what was a pretty darn impressive performance vs. New England.”

Does loyalty play a role in this goalkeeping dilemma? Since 1995, just seven goalkeepers have started every game for their team en route to a US Open Cup title. The last time a team stuck with the same keeper throughout and lifted a trophy, Curtin was a player with the Chicago Fire in 2006. Matt Pickens was the starter from start to finish as the Fire won their fourth Open Cup championship. In fact, the goalkeeper opposite him, Kevin Hartman of the Los Angeles Galaxy also played the entire tournament. If Melia and McCarthy start on Wednesday, it will be the first time since that year that both finalists featured netminders who had started every game of the tournament.

In the end, Curtin says that loyalty is secondary.

“Coaches make decisions to win games,” Curtin said. “You have one opportunity to win a final, and we’ll field our top team – our best 11 guys and the guys that we believe can go out there and do a job. Everything during the buildup happens for a reason, everyone plays a role in getting you to the final. But, from there, you have to select the team that gives you the best chance to win.”

This isn’t the first difficult goalkeeping decision for the second-year manager. Last year, during their run to the Final, the Union started Blake in the first two games and Zach MacMath in Quarterfinals and Semifinals. Even with new signing Rais Mbolhi in the mix, Curtin went with MacMath in the championship game.

“There’s a big decision to make there and I’m confident that both of them can get us a win, whichever one I decide.”

TheCup.us Notes: Finals featuring GKs who started every game

(Modern Era: 1995-present)

1995
Richmond Kickers (Jeff Causey) vs. El Paso Patriots (Jake Arrambide)
Kickers won 4-2 in PKs after 1-1 draw

2002
Columbus Crew (Jon Busch) vs. LA Galaxy (Matt Reis)
Crew won 1-0

2006
Chicago Fire (Matt Pickens) vs. LA Galaxy (Kevin Hartman)
Fire won 3-1

2015 US Open Cup Final: Ted Unkel to referee Wednesday’s championship game

September 28, 2015 by Josh Hakala

Ted Unkel was the center referee for the New York Cosmos vs. New York Red Bulls match in Round 5. Photo: Bob Larson

The United States Soccer Federation announced the referee assignment for Wednesday’s 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final between the Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kansas City at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. American official Ted Unkel will be the referee the match along with assistants Ian Anderson and James Conlee, and Chris Penso as the 4th official.

This will be the second championship game that Unkel has officiated in his six years as a professional. The 37-year-old was the center referee for the 2014 North American Soccer League championship game between the San Antonio Scorpions and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Other notable games include a 2011 NASL Semifinal (Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Puerto Rico Islanders), a 2011 WPS Semifinal (Philadelphia Independence vs. MagicJack FC) and a 2009 WPS Semifinal (Saint Louis Athletica vs. Sky Blue FC).

Unkel has been the center official for four career US Open Cup games. His first came in the 2012 Fourth Round as the Carolina RailHawks hosted Chivas USA. His next two were a pair of Orlando City SC home games: a 2013 Third Round match against the Colorado Rapids and a 2014 Third Round match against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. His most recent Open Cup outing was the referee for the highly-anticipated New York Cosmos vs. New York Red Bulls Fifth Round match at Red Bull Arena earlier this year. In those four games has has averaged 4.25 yellows per game and has given out three total red cards (One to an assistant coach).

2015 US Open Cup Semifinals: Benny Feilhaber’s MVP form for Sporting KC earns him TheCup.us Player of the Round

August 19, 2015 by Matthew De Witt

Benny Feilhaber of Sporting KC celebrates his goal against Real Salt Lake in the Semifinals. Photo: Graham Green | Prost Amerika

When the stage was set, the playmaker stepped up and gave a performance to remember.

Benny Feilhaber’s game-winning goal and an assist against rival Real Salt Lake gave Sporting Kansas City a ticket to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final and as a result was voted TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Semifinals.

“The bigger the games that we played, the more that he stepped up in those games. I think that’s now something that’s becoming a part of his makeup, and I think the majority of it is that he’s able to do it consistently,” Sporting manager Peter Vermes said of Feilhaber. “He’s a guy that just always plays in the big moments.”

The award, as voted on by TheCup.us staff and a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, is the second for Sporting KC this year and just the third such award since 2006 (Matt Besler was named POTR for the 2012 Final).

Feilhaber received almost all of the first place votes with the Modern Era’s leading scorer Sebastien Le Toux of the Philadelphia Union finishing second and Union goalkeeper John McCarthy also receiving strong consideration.

Kansas City had to dig themselves out of a hole midway through the first half. Trailing 1-0 in the 35th minute, Feilhaber produced a gem of a free kick, knocking the set piece into the penalty area where teammate Soni Mustivar beat Nick Rimando to the ball, and tallied his first-career goal.

“Getting in even at halftime was a really big things for us,” Vermes said. “They would have been able to pack in it, and now it’s about them trying to catch you on the counter attack. But us getting that goal back was huge for us, to start the second half even and go from there.”

Benny Feilhaber finished the Semifinals tied for the tournament lead with 4 assists. Photo: Jamila St. Ann | Sporting KC

Feilhaber was not done, as the midfielder provided what would prove to be the game-winner in the dying moments of the second half. After Sporting had applied relentless pressure to a lagging Salt Lake defense, the breakthrough came as both Feilhaber and Dom Dwyer worked from the buildup in the 80th minute.

Dwyer had done most of the leg work, driving past two Salt Lake defenders, all while getting his heels clipped. Despite him being off balance, Dwyer rocketed a shot from the top of the penalty area around a diving Rimando and off the post. Cue Feilhaber.

The midfielder had been following the play for nearly 80 yards and found space on the right side of the net, near the top of the penalty area as the RSL defense moved with Dwyer to the left. Feilhaber, sprinting the final 10 yards, smashed the rebound just over a sliding Elias Vasquez for the game-winner.

“You know, that’s not an easy finish,” Sporting manager Peter Vermes said of Feilhaber’s goal. “He hits it with a lot of confidence and demand. He was just like ‘Listen, I’m going to stick thing in the back of the net as hard I can.’”

Feilhaber was also involved in the team’s third goal but was not credited with an assist. He played a long ball from KC’s half of the field toward Nemeth but RSL defender Aaron Maund beat him to the ball in the air. Unfortunately for Maund, the ball glanced off his head and got behind him where Nemeth collected it, danced around Rimando and put the game away in the 85th minute.

Feilhaber, now in his third season with Sporting, has been lighting up the scoring column all season. He is sitting on two goals and four assists in the Open Cup this year – good enough to tie for the lead in the latter and tie for fifth in overall points with eight. He trails teammates Dwyer and Krisztian Nemeth in goals and points for the Open Cup (Dwyer: five goals, 11 points; Nemeth: four goals, nine points) while league form has Feilhaber atop the team standings with eight goals and 13 assists – second in the league (Union’s Cristian Maidana, 14 assists).

“I feel good, feel confident, obviously the team’s performing at a high level right now, makes it a lot easier,” Feilhaber said following the match. “But to answer your question, I’ve not felt this good, this confident, this fit, in my whole career.”

The Player of the Round award goes to another Kansas City player, and the third consecutive player which we’ll see in the Open Cup Final. The Round of 16 was a runaway, with Dwyer stealing the show. His four-goal performance beat out the likes of Mike Magee (Chicago Fire) and Joe Willis (Houston Dynamo).

Philadelphia Union’s John McCarthy’s penalty kick heroics split the Sporting players for the Quarterfinal round. Nine saves throughout the 1-1 draw and the decisive goal line save in the penalty kick shootout, eliminated the New York Red Bulls and sealed McCarthy’s honors for the award. Now, McCarthy will take on Sporting Kansas City at PPL Park on Sept. 30 for the 102nd edition of the Open Cup championship game.

2015 US Open Cup Semifinals: Benny Feilhaber, Sporting KC beat RSL to earn spot in 102nd Final

August 12, 2015 by Matthew De Witt

One game separates Sporting Kansas City from a third Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title, and this time, they will have to earn it on the road.

The final stage is set, as Kansas City defeated Real Salt Lake 3-1 to earn a date with the Philadelphia Union in the championship game at PPL Park on Sept. 30. Benny Feilhaber assisted on Soni Mustivar’s first half equalizer and scored one of his own in the 80th minute before Krisztian Nemeth put the game away five minutes later.

“We want to win. It’s what we’re all about,” Sporting manager Peter Vermes said. “It’s what we start the season off thinking about. It’s obvious, it’s very pleasing, but we’ve been here before. We know, at the end, you have to be prepared for the game.”

With a spot in the title game on the line, the semifinal opened with ome up-tempo play on both sides. Sporting came out firing on all cylinders, but it was Real Salt Lake who opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Olmes Garcia, beating the back line on an over-the-top ball from Tony Beltran, tallied his Open Cup goal with an easy slot into the back of the net.

Kansas City tied the game up nearly 10 minutes later as Soni Mustivar beat RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando to a Benny Feilhaber free kick and nodded home the equalizer. His goal – the first of his career – seemed to take the wind out of Salt Lake’s sails.

“When we got even at halftime, I knew the second half was going to be full of opportunities,” Vermes said. “I think one of the things that our guys sensed was that they were breathing pretty heavy going into the locker room. Our whole objective in the second half was to turn up the heat for them.”

Vermes was correct, but it took a bit of patience to produce results. The breakthrough came in the 80th minute. Open Cup goalscoring leader Dom Dwyer broke into the RSL backline, fought off a defender and fired a shot that struck the far post. Feilhaber made an alert run on the backside and smashed the follow-up into the back of the empty net for his second goal of the competition.

Feilhaber has been on fire lately having scored five goals in his last six games across all competitions, including two in the Open Cup. The MLS co-leader in assists is now the Open Cup’s co-leader in assists with four, which is one shy of the single-tournament Modern Era record.

The final dagger came as Krisztian Nemeth finished off his final of five shots. A miscue from the backline gifted the forward with a one-v-one against Rimando. Nemeth got the better of the goalkeeper, dancing around the outstretched arms and putting a shot into the near corner for his fourth goal of the tournament.

“I knew we were going to score because we were the better team,” said Nemeth, who is one goal behind Dwyer for the tournament lead.

Sporting’s victory sets up a rematch of the 2012 Semifinal match at PPL Park that KC won 2-0 en route to winning their second Open Cup title. Sporting is undefeated in Open Cup Final, while Philadelphia is hunting for its first trophy with a repeat appearance hosting the final.

Philly’s final appearance in last year’s Open Cup ended in an extra-time thriller. Seattle got the better of the Union, 3-1.

Sporting has hoisted the trophy twice, under the name of the Kansas City Wizards in 2004 (1-0 AET vs. Chicago Fire) and under their current name, they won a penalty kick shootout with the Seattle Sounders after a 1-1 draw. Both wins came in front of a home crowd, making this year’s final the first ever Final for Sporting on the road.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: REAL SALT LAKE AT SPORTING KC

FULL MATCH REPLAY: REAL SALT LAKE AT SPORTING KC