Final Bound! Sporting Kansas City drop Indy Eleven in USOC Semi

Sporting Kansas City will have a chance to win their fifth Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Championship on September 25th at either Los Angeles Football Club or Seattle Sounders. The chance at a fifth – to join elite company – comes after Sporting defeated Indy Eleven 2-0 at Children’s Mercy Park. Yet, the win was not without some nervy moments, especially late, after Johnny Russell and Dany Rosero put the home side on top.

The 109^th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup once again found home in Kansas City Tuesday evening. The stormy weather vibes that prefaced the semifinal match harkened back to the 2017 final when Sporting Kansas City defeated New York Red Bulls 2-1 for their fourth Open Cup title. That night, a pre-game monsoon was followed by a fitting rainbow. This night, ominous clouds began encroaching on Kansas City near 5:00pm, and by 6:25pm (45 minutes before scheduled kickoff), the match had been delayed.

The tumultuous setting was eclipsed only by the participants: One of only eight MLS teams in the competition due to a pre-tournament negotiation between MLS and USSoccer (who organize The Cup), Sporting Kansas City reached the semifinal by turning back a USL League One, USL Championship, and an MLS side. USL Championship side Indy Eleven conquered an MLS Next Pro side, two USL Championship sides, and an MLS side on their way to their first-ever Open Cup Semifinal appearance.

On a mission for their fifth US Open Cup title, Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes scribbled down the following on the game card:

Our @OpenCup Semifinal Starting XI 🔵#SportingKC | #USOC2024 pic.twitter.com/gXnogQnAUK

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) August 27, 2024

After a delay of 2 hours and 34 minutes past intended kickoff time, the match began. Open Cup upstart v Open Cup stalwart. Semifinals. And a chance at a CONCACAF Champions Cup spot, if Los Angeles Football Club defeats Seattle Sounders in tomorrow night’s other semifinal in Seattle.

A speedy anthem and a “Save the Cup” tifo from the KC Cauldron accompanied the vocal fans that remained as Indy Eleven’s Jack Blake kicked off.

Kansas City tilted towards the left flank as Erik Thommy leaned near winger Daniel Salloi, leaving Khiry Shelton and Johnny Russell with space to go 1v1 on the right.

Off a combination between Salloi, Pulido, and Thommy in the 11th minute, the German rang Indy Eleven’s crossbar  from outside the box with a dipping effort. But it was a searching Jake Davis infiltration on the right left for Russell that opened the scoring.

Russell took the dropped pass from Davis and curled a shot into the net to the right of Indy goalkeeper Hunter Sulte in the 14th minute to grab the early lead. Kansas City had come to play, even after the extended delay. Salvaging something from the season was prominent in their intent.

Jake ➡️ Johnny ➡️ GOAL

Watch #SKCvIND FREE on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/eJuQnFAafZ pic.twitter.com/9qcD8bHFPg

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) August 28, 2024

Before the ensuing kickoff, Indy Eleven was forced to bring on former SKC man James Musa for #5 Callum Chapman-Page in central defense.

Thommy was at it again in the 21st, rattling the left post of Indy’s goal off a direct kick.

Goalkeeper Tim Melia answered his call in the 27th minute. After Kansas City right center back Dany Rosero, slipped, Augi Williams received in the box from the right wing and shot for goal only 12 yards out. Though at close range, the shot was within the lithe Melia’s ability to pounce on the roller.

A quick release from left center back Andreu Fontas put Salloi in in the 33rd minute. Cutting back on his defender, Salloi slid the ball for an onrushing Pulido. The Mexican striker hit his low shot well, but Sulte’s grasp was firm.

Sulte’s grasp of protecting his near post was not firm two minutes later. After a series of quick passes around the top of the box in the 35th minute, midfielder Remi Walter flighted a ball to the back post and teammate Rosero. Rosero waited, then drove his header downward and past the Indy Eleven netminder, much to Sulte’s chagrin.

DANY ROSERO MAKES IT TWO✌️

Watch #SKCvIND FREE on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/eJuQnFAafZ pic.twitter.com/xZYETLoPKC

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) August 28, 2024

Five minutes into the second half, Sporting continued to dominate possession and the number of good looks on goal. Save for a few half chances for each side, the half lacked the urgency of the previous. In the 61st minute, Vermes brought on Tim Leibold for Logan Ndenbe and Robert Voloder for Fontas.

Nervous moments came in the 70th minute, however, as the ball was driven not once, but twice across Tim Melia’s goal, going untouched both times. Then, the ball went out to Indy’s Blake at the arc of the eighteen. Blake’s drive was pushed over the bar by Melia to preserve the two-goal lead for Kansas City. A similar call was made on Melia in the 81st minute. Attack had been the word for Kansas City in the first half, hanging on became the theme in the latter portion of the second half.

William Agada and Zorhan Bassong entered for Kansas City’s Thommy and Walter in the 75th minute. At the 88th minute, Stephen Afrifa replaced Russell.

A Pulido penalty kick – earned by Agada being taken down just inside the right side of Indy’s box – was saved in the 96th minute by Sulte to keep the score respectable for the USL Championship side.

Kansas City did enough to hold off the upstart Indy Eleven and move on to a date with Open Cup destiny on September 25th. Can Sporting KC join Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, and Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers as the only five-time champions?