A goal three minutes into overtime from second half substitute CJ Sapong proved to be the difference as Sporting Kansas City registered their first Major League Soccer qualification victory for the US Open Cup in team history.
Sporting Kansas City/Kansas City Wizards
US Open Cup qualifying: Wells Thompson brace gives Rapids qualifying win over Wizards (Video)
In 74 career Major League Soccer matches, Wells Thompson has scored two goals. But on Tuesday night, the midfielder continued his successful scoring record in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, scoring twice to lead the Colorado Rapids to a 2-1 comeback victory over the Kansas City Wizards in an MLS play-in game at Stanley H. Durwood Stadium on the campus of the University of Kansas City-Missouri.
Notable upsets in the Second Round of the US Open Cup
The Mid-Michigan Bucks have always been one of the lower division troublemakers of the US Open Cup, and this match against the New England Revolution at Foxboro Stadium helped build that reputation. Goalkeeper Eric Pogue was the early hero for the Bucks, saving a Shaker Asad penalty kick in the 7th minute to keep the score 0-0. The Bucks stayed with the Revolution for 90 minutes using a high-tempo style of play and eventually sending the sparse crowd of 1,857 Revolution fans home disappointed.
Notable upsets in the Quarterfinals of the US Open Cup
There have only been seven “upsets” in the Quarterfinal round of the US Open Cup since 1995, therefore all of them are, in fact, “notable.”
2009 Quarterfinal recap: Rochester Rhinos last USL team standing
The Rochester Rhinos may be the only USL team left in the tournament, but they have been here before. The Rhinos will make their third appearance in the Semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after a 2-1 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads of the USL Second Division. For the Rhinos, it will be their first appearance in the final four since 1999, the year they won the Open Cup.
2009 Quarterfinals: Late penalty helps Sounders overcome Kansas City (again)
It took a penalty kick once again for the Seattle Sounders to eliminate the Kansas City Wizards in the Quarterfinals, but this year, instead of settling the game after extra time like in 2008, it was taken at the end of regulation. Sebastien Le Toux scored on an 89th minute spot kick to give the Sounders a 1-0 win, which booked them a spot in the Semifinals. It marks the third year in a row that a Sounders team has advanced to the final four, the last two years it was the USL First Division version of the Seattle-based club.
2009 Third Round recap: Portland, Seattle renew rivalry, Houston face Battery (again)
The underdogs of the USL ruled on day one of the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, but the Seattle Sounders and the Houston Dynamo each earned wins on Wednesday to level the tournament with four MLS teams and four USL teams in the Quarterfinals. For the second year in a row, the USL will have at least one team in the Semifinals.
The Houston Dynamo defeated the Austin Aztex 2-0 on Wednesday to set up a date with the Charleston Battery next Tuesday at Blackbaud Stadium. This will be the third year in a row that the Battery and the Dynamo square off in the Open Cup with Charleston eliminating Houston in both years.
2009 Third Round: Wizards need penalty kicks to survive extra time thriller with Minnesota Thunder
The nightcap of the first day of the Third Round turned out to be arguably the most exciting of them all. Six goals, including two in extra time, weren’t enough to settle this battle between the Kansas City Wizards and the Minnesota Thunder, so in penalties, the Wizards emerged triumphant as Boris Pardo made two saves to lead Kansas City to the Quarterfinals.
2008 Quarterfinals: Sounders’ Chris Eylander unanimous as Player of the Round
Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Chris Eylander was a unanimous selection as the TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Quarterfinals. The award was voted on by the TheCup.us staff and members of the North American Soccer Reporters.
Eylander was challenged for the award by Jamie Moreno of DC United, along with goalkeepers Doug Warren of the New England Revolution and Eric Kronberg of the Kansas City Wizards.
2008 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Sounders create all-USL Semifinal with upset of Wizards
With the steady hands of goalkeeper Chris Eylander leading the way, the Seattle Sounders are on their way to a second straight US Open Cup Semifinal appearance.