The 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is down to the final four teams, all of them chasing history. Indy Eleven, the last lower division team left in the competition, are not only seeking to be just the second USL team to lift the trophy, but the state of Indiana has never had a team reach the championship game. They will travel to face Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday who are trying to win a record-tying fifth US Open Cup title.
UPDATE: Sporting KC works late to shutout Indy Eleven, advance to USOC Final
Another team looking to join the five-timers club is the Seattle Sounders FC and they will host Los Angeles FC, who are trying to bring the trophy back to the City of Angels for the first time since 2005. That game will take place on Wednesday.
The Semifinal winners are scheduled to face off in the US Open Cup Final on Sept. 25.
TheCup.us will have reporters at both Semifinal games and will be providing live updates on X (Twitter), @USOpenCup.
Both matches will be broadcast live on Apple TV with links provided below.
A full round preview can be found below with video links and detailed info on each team’s 2024 US Open Cup run and history throughout the years.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
vs.
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, KS
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (Apple TV)
To say there is plenty on the line for both Sporting Kansas City and Indy Eleven is an understatement. For SKC, not only is there a chance for a season-saving trophy in the US Open Cup Final, but there’s also a chance to write their name in the record book with some of the greatest clubs in US Soccer history. Lifting the trophy this year would be a fifth tournament title. Only three clubs in the 109-year history of the tournament have won the Cup five times, Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, and Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers.
For Indy, not only could they become the first Indiana-based club to ever win the tournament, but they would be just the second lower division club since 1996 to lift the trophy. But on top of that, just reaching the Open Cup Final could potentially send them to next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. Should Los Angeles FC win their US Open Cup Semifinal over the Seattle Sounders, Indy Eleven would get the CONCACAF Champions Cup spot allocated to the Open Cup winner, as LAFC has already qualified as a finalist in this year’s Leagues Cup.
It would mark the first time a USL team would participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup since the Puerto Rico Islanders did so from 2008-2009 to 2010-2011. The USL First Division Islanders qualified each time by participating in the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship. CF Montreal, known then as the Montreal Impact, also qualified for the 2008/09 CONCACAF Champions Cup by winning the inaugural Canadian Championship.
Indy Eleven has already won the tournament’s $25,000 prize money for being the Second Division team to advance the furthest in the competition.
Heading into the Open Cup Quarterfinal, Sporting were languishing near the bottom of the MLS Western Conference. However, since the Quarterfinal win over FC Dallas, SKC have gone 2-1-1 in league play, good enough to pull them to within seven points of the playoff line. An early elimination in the Leagues Cup no doubt provided a much-needed rest and may have allowed the club to regroup. William Agada currently leads Kansas City with nine goals, followed by Erik Thommy (5), Alan Pulido (4) and Johnny Russell (4). Agada has four goals in SKC’s last five MLS games. Memo Rodriguez leads the team with six assists, with Pulido and Russell adding five each.
After starting the season 1-1-4, Indy Eleven caught fire with a nine-game unbeaten streak. Indy have since cooled off, going 1-4-1 in league play, including three losses in their last four games.
In the middle of all this was the off the field drama with the mayor of Indianapolis meeting with MLS Commissioner Don Garber to discuss a future expansion team.
Powering Indy’s offence is Jack Blake with eight goals, followed by Augustine Williams and Sebastian Guenzatti with five each. Aedan Stanley is tops in assists with seven. Williams also has a shot at the Open Cup goalscoring lead, his three goals leaves him just one behind the leaders.
OPEN CUP PEDIGREE
Initially known as the Kansas City Wiz, then the Kansas City Wizards, and now Sporting Kansas City, along with the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders, are on the cusp of joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen as five-time Open Cup champions. After a slow first few years, KC hit their stride in the Open Cup, and since 2002 they’ve never gone more than two years between reaching at least the Quarterfinals. Sporting is also 8-2-3 (1-2 PKs) against Division 2 opponents, with their last outright loss coming to the Minnesota Thunder in the 2005 Quarterfinals. SKC are on a nine-game Open Cup home winning streak, and a 15-game home unbeaten streak going back to 2014. KC’s last Open Cup home loss was a 3-1 defeat by the Portland Timbers in the 2014 Fifth Round. It’s the second longest home unbeaten streak of the Modern Era (1995-present), behind Seattle Sounders FC and the Chicago Fire FC, who both hold the record at 19.
Indy Eleven does not have much Open Cup history to speak of. Making their first appearance in 2014, the club had never advanced to a third game before this year. Indy have faced MLS opposition in the Open Cup just three times: a 2-1 extra time loss to Columbus in 2014, a penalty kick elimination by the Chicago Fire in 2016, and a 1-0 loss to Columbus last year. Indy also has just one road win in seven games, a 1-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC II (MLS NEXT Pro) in this year’s Third Round.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Indy Eleven
Third Round >> Indy Eleven 1:0 Chicago Fire II (MLS NEXT Pro)
Indy Eleven opened its 2024 tournament with a 1-0 win over Chicago Fire II of MLS NEXT Pro. Douglas Martinez scored the lone goal in the 6th minute, and goalkeeper Yannik Oettl (who was a finalist for TheCup.us Player of the Round) kept Chicago out of his goal with 11 saves from 22 shots faced. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Fourth Round >> Indy Eleven 2:0 San Antonio FC (USL Championship)
Before the Fourth Round, news broke that the city of Indianapolis had been in conversations with Major League Soccer (MLS) about bringing an expansion franchise to the market. This caused plans for “Eleven Park”, a brand new 20,000-seat stadium for the USL side to be halted while the city discussed details of a different plan, tailored to a potential new MLS club with an unnamed group of investors. Despite the drama, Indy Eleven proceeded to eliminate San Antonio FC 2-0 on the strength of goals from Augustine Williams and Jack Blake in the first ten minutes.
Fifth Round >> Indy Eleven 3:0 Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
Indy Eleven’s Round of 16 match against Detroit City FC looked to be their toughest hurdle yet, but it turned out to be the opposite. A 14th minute own goal from DCFC was followed in the first half by scores from Augustine Williams and Ben Ofeimu which gave Indy a 3-0 lead at the half. Despite being outshot 17-6, Indy goalkeeper Hunter Sulte made seven saves to keep Detroit off the board and preserve a third straight shutout win giving Indy Eleven their first quarterfinal appearance in club history. It also marked the first time that a team from Indiana has reached the Quarterfinals since the Indianapolis Inferno did it in 1992. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Quarterfinals >> Indy Eleven 2:1 Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Facing their first MLS opponent in this year’s tournament, Indy Eleven traveled to Kinnesaw, Ga. to face Atlanta United FC. Augustine Williams got Indy started on the right foot in the 31st minute and slotted home a pass from Douglas Martinez from outside the penalty area. As Indy continued to hold on to their slim lead, Atlanta’s Dax McCarthy accidentally padded that lead by deflecting a pass into his own net in the 83rd minute. Nick Firmino scored for Atlanta in second half stoppage time to make the final minute a bit more exciting, but Indy held on for the win. Augustine Williams was voted TheCup.us’s Player of the Round for his performance. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Fourth Round >> Sporting Kansas City 2:1 (AET) Union Omaha (USL League One)
In their rematch from the 2022 Quarterfinals, Sporting Kansas City narrowly avoided a penalty shootout with Union Omaha, snatching a 2-1 win at the end of extra time. Omaha held a 1-0 lead at halftime, but Marinos Tzionis equalized for SKC just after the break. The teams battled through over 70 more minutes of scoreless play and just as it looked like a penalty shootout was necessary, Alan Pulido snuck a shot by Omaha goalkeeper Rashid Nuhu from the top of the penalty area to give Sporting the win. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Fifth Round >> Sporting Kansas City 4:0 FC Tulsa (USL Championship)
In the Round of 16, KC dominated FC Tulsa 4-0 at home. Felipe Hernández scored on both sides of halftime and Stephen Afrifa and Marinos Tzionis provided the other goals as Sporting outshot Tulsa 34-3. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Quarterfinals >> Sporting Kansas City 2:1 (AET) FC Dallas (MLS)
Looking to go 6-0 in the Open Cup against FC Dallas, SKC hosted their MLS rivals where they hadn’t lost an Open Cup game in 14 tries. After 51 minutes of scoreless play, thunderstorms rolled into the area causing the match to pause for almost an hour and a half due to lightning. When the game finally resumed, most of the 12,943 fans in attendance were chased away. SKC’s Willy Agada opened the scoring in the 77th minute, and to make the night just a bit longer, Petar Musa equalized for FC Dallas with three minutes remaining. Finally, at 12:32 a.m. local time, Dany Rosero headed home a Johnny Russell corner kick for a 2-1 lead SKC would not give up. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Kansas City in the Semifinals
SKC are making the seventh trip to the Semifinals (2002, 2004, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2022), advancing to the Final in the middle four. Only nine teams in the history of the tournament have more Semifinal appearances than Sporting.
2002: In their first Open Cup Semifinal, the Kansas City Wizards dropped a 3-2 golden goal decision to the Columbus Crew. KC jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a Chad McCarty own goal (2′) and a Chris Brown goal in the 62nd minute. Columbus came back with John Wilmar Perez tying the game in the 90th minute, then winning it in the 108th minute.
2004: KC’’s run to the first of four Open Cup titles began in 2004, Igor Simutenkov’s 45th minute penalty was all the Wizards needed to beat the San Jose Earthquakes 1-0. Simutenkov would also score an extra time golden goal a month later to give KC their first Open Cup title.
2012: With their name changed to Sporting Kansas City, SKC would beat the Philadelphia Union 2-0. Jacob Peterson’s 65th minute goal was doubled by Graham Zusi’s stoppage time score.
2015: SKC’s third Open Cup championship was helped by a 3-1 triumph over Real Salt Lake. Soni Mustivar put SKC level at 1-1 in the first half, and Benny Feilhaber (80’) and Krisztián Nemeth (85’) scored five minutes apart to seal the win.
2017: Title #4 was made possible by a Semifinal shootout win over the San Jose Earthquakes. In the 32nd minute Diego Rubio countered San Jose’s opening goal. With no scoring the rest of the way, Sporting won the penalty shootout 5-4, converting all five kicks after Benny Feilhaber missed the first attempt.
2022: Kansas City’s most recent Semifinal appearance ended on a down note, dropping a penalty kick shootout to the USL Championship’s Sacramento Republic after a scoreless extra time draw.
MLS vs Division 2
Since 1996, MLS clubs have faced teams from Division 2 of US Soccer 10 times in the Semifinals
1996 >> Rochester Raging Rhinos 0:3 Colorado Rapids
1996 was the very first tournament to feature MLS clubs, although there were just 12 teams across all leagues entered. The A-League Rhinos were the darlings of soccer outside MLS, regularly drawing crowds in excess of 10,000, which was more than some MLS clubs. In front of 12,179 at Rochester’s Frontier Field, the Rhinos powered past the Colorado Rapids 3-0, getting two goals from Doug Miller (56’, 85’) and one from Lenin Steenkamp (32’).
1999 >> Charleston Battery 0:3 Colorado Rapids
1999 >> Rochester Ragin Rhinos 3:2 Columbus Crew
By 1999 the Open Cup field expanded, and for the first time two Division 2 clubs reached the Semifinals. With the games played as a doubleheader at Virginia Beach, Va., the Charleston Battery joined the Rhinos in facing their MLS foes. First up was Charleston challenging the Colorado Rapids, and fortune did not go the way of the Battery. Colorado got two goals from Jorge Dely Valdez (55’, 87’) and another from Paul Bravo (82’) to prevail 3-0. The second game between the Rhinos and Columbus Crew would turn out to be much more exciting. Columbus took a 1-0 lead through Robert Warzycha (56′), but Darren Tilley tied it for the Rhinos in the 68th minute. Brian West (77′) gave the lead back to Columbus minutes later, only for Scott Schweitzer (86′) and Tim Hardy (90’) to score for the Rhinos in the final four minutes for the dramatic win.
2004 >> Chicago Fire 1:0 (ASDET) Charleston Battery
While the Battery finished second to last in the nine-team A-League Eastern Conference, a 1-0 Quarterfinal triumph over the Rhinos sent them to the Semifinals. There they met the Chicago Fire, who had already won three Open Cup titles since their 1998 debut. Charleston took the Fire to extra time tied 0-0, but Dipsy Selolwane ended the Battery’s dreams with a golden goal in the 107th minute.
2005 >> Los Angeles Galaxy 5:2 Minnesota Thunder
While the league changed its name to the USL First Division, for the second year in a row one of its clubs reached the Semifinals. Like the Battery the year before, the Minnesota Thunder found themselves in the bottom half of the league standings. Upset wins over Real Salt Lake (6-4 after extra time), Colorado Rapids (4-1) and the Kansas City Wizards (3-1) allowed the Thunder a shot at salvaging their season. The Los Angeles Galaxy didn’t co-operate with the Thunder’s Cinderella run. Landon Donovan (29′) and Herculez Gomez (44′) gave LA a 2-0 halftime lead. Thunder legend Johnny Menyongar cut the lead in half at the 54th minute, but the Galaxy pulled away near the end of the second half with goals from Tyrone Marshall (77′), Gomez (81’) and Joseph Ngwenya (82′). Chad Dombrowski got a consolation goal in the 85th minute for the Thunder to make it 5-2.
2007 >> New England Revolution 2:1 (AET) Carolina RailHawks
2007 >> FC Dallas 2:1 (AET) Seattle Sounders
2007 saw another pair of Division 2 clubs claim semifinal spots, the end result of a historic Third Round in which five of the eight MLS teams were upset by their lower league opponents. First up, the Carolina RailHawks traveled to New Britain, Conn. to face the New England Revolution. Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the 6th minute through Anthony Maher but Jeff Larentowicz put the Revs level in first half stoppage time. A scoreless second half led to extra time, where Pat Noonan struck for New England in the 94th minute, and the Revs held on to avoid an upset.
Later that night, FC Dallas faced the Sounders at Seattle’s Quest Field. After 90 minutes of scoreless play Carlos Ruiz put Dallas ahead in the second minute of extra time. In the 119th minute, Dallas went up 2-0 on an Abe Thompson penalty, but Leighton O’Brien kept it interesting until the very end with a goal for Seattle one minute later.
2009 >> D.C. United 2:1 Rochester Rhinos
After a 10-year absence, the Rochester Rhinos returned to the Semifinals in 2009 to face D.C. United. Jaime Moreno converted a penalty kick minutes before halftime, but Taiwo Atieno pulled the Rhinos level in the 68th minute. With extra time on the horizon, Thabiso Khumalo put D.C. ahead for good in the 83rd minute. It would be the last time the Rhinos, winners of the 1999 tournament, advanced this far in the Open Cup.
2017 >> FC Cincinnati 2:3 (AET) New York Red Bulls
2017 was the year FC Cincinnati became legends. Their run to the Semifinals was preceded by a memorable penalty kick win over the Chicago Fire in the Round of 16 in front of a then-record 32,287 at Cincy’s Nippert Stadium and aired live on ESPN, a rare occurrence for a non-final Open Cup game. FC Cincinnati hosted the New York Red Bulls, the 33,250 fans breaking the non-final attendance record set just a month earlier. Cincinnati got off to a dream start as Corben Bone (31’) and Austin Berry (62’) put them up 2-0. The Red Bulls stormed back as Gonzalo Veron (75’) and Bradley Wright-Phillips (78’) tied the game. Wright-Phillips would strike again in the 101st minute in extra time to end FC Cincinnati’s dream run.
2022 >> Sacramento Republic FC 0:0 (5:4 PKs) Sporting Kansas City
Before this year, the Sacramento Republic were the last Division 2 team to reach the Semifinals. Riding a remarkable 11-game Open Cup home winning streak stretching back to 2017, Sacramento welcomed Sporting Kansas City to the California state capital. Sacramento goalkeeper Danny Vitiello wound up as the hero of the match. After 120 minutes of scoreless play, Vitiello saved the final penalty shot from SKC’s Graham Zusi, then Sacramento legend Rodrigo Lopez converted the final penalty kick to put the Republic into the Open Cup Final, the first time a non-MLS club achieved that feat since the Charleston Battery in 2008.
Indy Eleven (USL-C)
9th US Open Cup appearance (2014-2019, 2022, 2023)
1st Semifinal appearance
Overall: 8-7-1 (0-1 PK)
Away: 2-5-1 (0-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 1-2-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Fourth Round (2014, 2016)
Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
24th US Open Cup appearance (1996-98, 2000-06, 2008-19, 2022-23)
7th Semifinal appearance
Overall: 35-16-7 (4-3 PK)
Home: 26-7-2 (2-0 PK)
vs. Div. 2: 8-2-3 (1-2 PK)
Best finish: Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
vs.
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO (APPLE TV)
Like Sporting KC, Seattle is looking to write their names in the history books with a fifth Open Cup title, joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, and the Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers. In their way is Los Angeles FC, seeking their first ever Open Cup championship and the first for the city of Los Angeles since 2005.
Seattle and LAFC have met three times this season, twice in MLS and once in the Leagues Cup. The first meeting almost feels like it happened last season, as it took place all the way back on Feb. 24 to open the MLS season for both clubs at LAFC’s BMO Stadium. LAFC opened the scoring just before the halftime break when Omar Campos sent a cross into the penalty area to Timothy Tillman, who beat Seattle’s Open Cup Round 4 hero GK Andrew Thomas for the first of his four goals this year. Ten minutes after halftime Dennis Bouanga and Mateuz Bogusz teamed up to double LAFC’s lead, as Bouanga fed Bogusz who dribbled to the top of the penalty area and fired a rocket past Thomas. Seattle finally got on the board in the 72nd minute when the Sounders were awarded a penalty via VAR after Jordan Morris was brought down in the area. Pedro de la Vega, who Seattle acquired from Argentine club Lanus, stepped up and converted the spot kick. de la Vega has managed to play just seven games this year, as the 23-year-old has been plagued with hamstring and groin injuries. LAFC held on the rest of the way for a 2-1 season opening win.
By the time the two teams met again on July 20 the two clubs were in vastly different situations. LAFC had just come off a 15-game unbeaten run over all competitions, propelling them to the top of the MLS Western Conference standings. Seattle was in the middle of their own unbeaten run, eight games in MLS and Open Cup play, but the Sounders needed that run to pull themselves out of the bottom half of the standings and over the playoff line. Unfortunately for Seattle, LAFC would stop the Sounders streak cold in the Final game before the Leagues Cup with a 3-0 at Lumen Field in Seattle. It was the Bouanga and Bogusz show for LAFC, as the team leaders in goals and assists accounted for all three scores. Bouanga struck first in the 16th minute, and Bogusz followed ten minutes later. Bouanga finished the scoring in the 74th minute, defeating Seattle despite the Sounders having 63.6% of possession and outshooting LAFC 20-6.
The third meeting came on Aug. 17 in the Quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, and LAFC repeated their 3-0 victory from a few weeks prior. Ryan Hollingshead (14’) and Kei Kamara (25’) gave LAFC a 2-0 halftime advantage, and Bouanga added to the score in the 53rd minute. The win pushed LAFC’s unbeaten streak versus Seattle to nine games in all competitions, going back to May 16, 2021.
LAFC are currently battling their El Traffico rivals LA Galaxy for the top spot in the MLS Western Conference, currently five points behind but with three games in hand. LAFC will have a short turnaround from their previous game, their 3-1 Leagues Cup Final loss to Columbus on Aug. 25. The scoring duo of Bouanga and Bogusz sit atop the MLS scoring charts with 16 and 13 goals respectively, and they also lead LAFC in assists with 9 and 6. Led by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, LAFC have the third-fewest goals allowed in MLS with 30.
Seattle started their season slow, remaining just outside the playoff line. The Sounders then took off in June. After opening the month with a 2-1 loss to Kansas City, Seattle reeled off a five-game unbeaten streak which is still ongoing. The run has propelled Seattle to fifth place in the Western Conference, and after the Leagues Cup break they resumed with a 3-2 win over Minnesota United on Aug. 24.
Veterans Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz lead the offense with ten and eight goals each, accounting for almost half of Seattle 37 goals in MLS play. Albert Rusnak is among the league leaders in assists with 12. Stefan Frei leads a Seattle defense almost as stingy as LAFC, allowing just 31 goals in 26 games, and backup Andrew Thomas has been the Open Cup hero for the Sounders.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Both Los Angeles and Seattle have the unique distinction of becoming the first MLS clubs to reach the Open Cup Semifinals without facing another MLS team since Real Salt Lake in 2013. Each team faced three USL Championship sides, although LAFC won each game by two of more goals, all three contests were nail-biters for the Sounders.
LOS ANGELES FC
Fourth Round >> Los Angeles FC 3:1 Las Vegas Lights (USL Championship)
LAFC kicked off their tournament in the Fourth Round, putting away the Las Vegas Lights 3-1. After the teams traded goals early in the second half, Cristian Olivera came through with a pair of scores in the 70th minute and stoppage time.
Fifth Round >> Los Angeles FC 3:0 Loudoun United (USL Championship)
In the Round of 16, LAFC had little trouble with Loudoun United, who traveled across the country to the west coast. LAFC defeated the USL Championship side 3-0. Timothy Tillman opened the scoring in the 8th minute and Cristian Olivera and Tomas Angel added second half goals. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Quarterfinals >> Los Angeles FC 3:1 New Mexico United (USL Championship)
Waiting for LAFC in their first Open Cup Quarterfinal since 2019 was a home matchup with the USL Championship’s New Mexico United. Timothy Tillman put the home side ahead early with a 6th minute goal, collecting the rebound off a save from New Mexico goalkeeper Alexandros Tabakis. David Martinez doubled the lead in the 37th minute and then after his initial shot was saved by Tabakis, Martinez scored off the rebound. Greg Hurst pulled New Mexico to within one in the 57th minute with a blast from just outside the top of the penalty area. Then, Mateusz Bogusz snuffed out any hope of a comeback for New Mexico in the 77th minute with his first goal of the tournament and a 3-1 lead. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Fourth Round >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:2 (5:4 PKs) Louisville City FC (USL Championship)
Seattle had a bit more work on their plate in eliminating Louisville City FC in front of a Seattle-friendly crowd at Starfire Soccer Complex. Up 2-0 midway through the second half on goals from Paul Rothrock and Danny Musovski, Louisville clawed their way back. After a successful penalty kick from Sean Totsch in the 67th minute, Jorge Gonzalez pulled Louisville level in the 89th minute. After 30 minutes of scoreless extra time, goalkeeper Andrew Thomas stepped up in the penalty tiebreaker, saving three attempts from Louisville before converting a PK of his own to win the shootout 5-4. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Fifth Round >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship)
Seattle’s Round of 16 game was another nailbiter, as they squeezed past Phoenix Rising 2-1. A 68th minute Alex Roldan penalty kick canceled out a PK from Phoenix’s Rami Cabral in the first half. With just two minutes remaining, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi ensured Seattle would avoid extra time and penalties this time around with the game winning goal. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
Quarterfinals >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
The Sounders had yet another tough task waiting in the Quarterfinals, needing to travel to Northern California to face a Sacramento Republic team that almost never loses Open Cup games at home. Josh Atencio opened the scoring for Seattle in the 16th minute with a bouncing shot from the top of the penalty area. In the 31st, Jordan Morris beat Sacramento goalkeeper Daniel Vitiello when Vitiello came out to challenge Morris at the top of the box. Just four minutes after the break Sebastián Herrera pulled the hosts to within one when he headed home a Jack Gurr corner kick. Seattle would hold on to escape with a 2-1 win. (VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS)
OPEN CUP PEDIGREE
Seattle and LAFC have never met in Open Cup play, although the clubs would have met in the 2018 Round of 16, but Seattle were upset in the previous round by the Sacramento Republic 2-1 after extra time. LAFC made a splash in their inaugural Open Cup appearance in 2018, reaching the Semifinals where they were ousted by the Houston Dynamo on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Since then, a Quarterfinal finish in 2019 is the deepest LAFC has gone, getting eliminated by “El Trafico” rivals LA Galaxy in 2022 & 2023. LAFC are the first MLS club since Real Salt Lake in 2013 to reach the semifinals without playing another MLS team in previous rounds. LAFC has not beaten another MLS club in the Open Cup since their 2-0 win over the Portland Timbers in the 2022 Fourth Round.
Like Sporting Kansas City, Seattle is entering this year’s Open Cup looking to make history, as they are one championship away from joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC and the Fall River Marksmen as five time Cup champions.
The last five Open Cup tournaments haven’t been very successful for the Sounders, going “one-and-done” three times, and the other two lasting just two games. Seattle has had four teams in the Open Cup over the years. While Seattle is an impressive 30-4-4 at home in the Open Cup, their road record is a dreadful 8-14-4. Seattle also holds a nice record versus fellow MLS clubs in Open Cup play, going 15-5-3 since joining the league in 2009. However, they have lost 3 in a row to their league mates, with the last win being a 2-1 triumph over their arch-rivals Portland Timbers in the 2017 Fourth Round.
LOS ANGELES AND SEATTLE IN THE SEMIFINALS
Since California began entering Open Cup play in 1953, the city of Los Angeles has been a fixture in the Semifinals. 38 times teams from the Southland have reached this point in the Open Cup. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Maccabee AC are tied with seven Semifinal appearances among LA clubs, followed by the Los Angeles Kickers with four. Twenty-four times a Los Angeles team advanced to the Open Cup Final, although LA hasn’t seen a team make it that far since the Galaxy fell to the Chicago Fire in 2006. Seattle has seen the Semifinals 10 times, eight by the Sounders, and two from Mitre Eagles
Some memorable Semifinal moments for Los Angeles and Seattle include:
1955 >> Simpkins Ford 2:5 (AET) Danish American SC
Teams from Los Angeles and San Francisco had just begun Open Cup play in 1954. After finishing 90 minutes at 1-1. In extra time Danish American SC’s Sven Martensen, Billy Agnew, George Kay, and Hugh Johnston countered Butch Cook’s lone extra time goal for DASC to prevail 5-2. The St. Louis-based Simpkins had won the Open Cup title in 1950.
1966 >> Orange County SC 5:0 Chicago Kickers
Fred Cameron netted a second half hat-trick (70′, 72′, 85′) to power Orange County to the first of two consecutive Open Cup Final appearances. Cameron also assisted on Manual Abunza’s 10th minute goal, and Werner Mata interrupted Cameron’s hat trick with a 78th minute goal.
1971 >> Yugoslav American SC vs. Hamm’s (St. Louis)
Hamm’s forfeit, failed to appear
Hamm did not show for the game against Yugoslav American SC at Rancho Cienega Stadium in Los Angeles because there was no guarantee (for a traveling party of 18) offered to Hamm. The previous rule of the hosts covering the away team travel costs had recently been eliminated. Hamm’s had offered the Los Angeles-based club $2,000 to play the game in St. Louis, but that offer was rejected.
1973 >> Maccabee AC 1:0 Croatian SC (Chicago)
The dynasty of the mighty Maccabees gets started in 1973. Hans Gudegast’s 65th minute penalty kick goal is enough to send the Maccabees through to their first Final, where they would claim the first of their record-tying five Open Cup championships.
1983 >> New York Pancyprian Freedoms 4:2 FOE Eagles No. 1
The first ever Semifinal appearance by a Seattle club may be more memorable for what happened leading up to the game. After beating San Francisco’s Greek American AC in the Region IV Final (National Quarterfinals), FOE Eagles No. 1 were disqualified for using an ineligible player. Feeling wronged, the Eagles managed to secure a court order to replay the Region IV final in Houston before the Semifinals. The Eagles once again prevailed 1-0 to move on to the Semis to face the powerhouse New York Pancyprian Freedoms, winners of two of the last three Open Cup titles (1980, 1982). Perhaps weary from playing the night before, the Eagles fell 4-2 to the Freedoms.
1987 >> Mitre Eagles 5:4 (AET) Busch U22 (St. Louis)
Four years later, the Eagles would return to the Semifinals, and finish with a better result. Facing St. Louis’ Busch u22, the Eagles held a 2-1 halftime lead, only for Busch to tie the game in the 87th minute. Busch then fought back to overcome a 4-2 hole in extra time. As penalties drew near, John Klien fired a shot that snuck under the crossbar in the 119th minute to send the Eagles to their one and only Open Cup Final.
1995 >> El Paso Patriots 1:0 Seattle Sounders
In the first semifinal of the Modern Era, the A-League’s Seattle Sounders could not overcome the 100 degree heat of El Paso, and were upset by the USISL Pro League’s Patriots 1-0. Knowing they were facing one of the better teams of the A-League, the Patriots employed world class gamesmanship. The hosts allowed the grass at Dudley Field to grow a bit longer and elected to set a mid-day kickoff time. By game time temperatures in El Paso soared to 103 degrees, something the Sounders, from the mild and wet Pacific Northwest, struggled with. Gabino Amparán’s 36th minute goal was all the Patriots needed for the upset.
2000 – Los Angeles Galaxy 1:2 (asdet) Chicago Fire
2001 – Los Angeles Galaxy 1:0 (asdet) Chicago Fire
In the Galaxy’s first ever Semifinal appearance, the Chicago Fire played rude guests, beating LA 2-1 in golden goal extra time. Cobi Jones (79′) and Ante Razov (85′) traded goals late in the second half, and in extra time Josh Wolff won it for Chicago in the 112th minute.
A year later the Galaxy would get their revenge on the Fire with their own golden goal no less. After a scoreless 90 minutes, Alexi Lalas scored off a corner kick four minutes into extra time, then famously celebrated by running up the hill behind the goal at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Stadium.
2018 >> Los Angeles FC 3:3 (6:7 PKs) Houston Dynamo
LAFC’s first semifinal appearance against the Houston Dynamo in 2018 may not have ended how they wanted, but it was memorable. Diego Rossi scored all three goals for LAFC, including goals in the 78th minute and second half stoppage time to overcome a 3-1 deficit. After a scoreless extra time, both teams converted 4 of 5 penalty kicks, and in the eighth round Latif Blessing missed his attempt and Houston advanced to the Final winning the penalty shootout 7-6. Despite being eliminated, Diego Rossi’s individual performance was impressive enough to be voted TheCup.us Player of the Round.
2009 >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 (AET) Houston Dynamo
The Sounders capped off their first season in MLS with their first Open Cup title and on the way needed a 2-1 extra time win over the Houston Dynamo in the Semifinals. Nate Jaqua’s 89th minute goal forced extra time, and Stephen King’s 94th minute tally put the Sounders up 2-1. Seattle was then forced to defend the lead with 10 men when Jhon Hurtado was sent off after his second caution in the 110th minute, but held on to go to their first Open Cup Final.
2014 >> Seattle Sounders FC 6:0 Chicago Fire
With three open Cup championships already under their belt, Seattle stormed their way to a fourth title on the heels of a 6-0 Semifinal thrashing of the Chicago Fire, who were four time winners themselves. Two goals apiece from Andrew Rose (33’ 58’) and Kenny Cooper (83’ 84’) were accompanied by solo efforts from Chad Barrett (6’) and Obafemi Martins (79’). It remains one of the most lopsided Semifinal games in tournament history. Only three Semifinal matches have been separated by more than six goals with the last one coming in 1981 when the Brooklyn Dodgers blanked Atlanta’s Datagraphic 7-0.
Los Angeles FC (MLS)
5th US Open Cup appearance (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
2nd Semifinal appearance
Overall: 10-3-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 2-1-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS: 4-3-1 (0-1 PK)
Best finish: Semifinals (2018)
Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
26th US Open Cup appearance (1995-97, 1999-2003, 2005-19, 2022-23)
7th Semifinal appearance (5th in MLS)
Overall: 39-18-8 (5-3 PK) | 23-7-6 (4-2 PK) as MLS
Home: 30-4-4 (3-1 PK) | 19-2-3 (2-1 PK) as MLS
vs. MLS: 19-12-4 (2-2 PK) | 15-5-3 (1-2 PK) as MLS
Best finish: Champions (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014)
