CHICAGO (July 10, 2024) – The 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is down to a fantastic four following two quite different contests that closed out the Quarterfinal Round on Wednesday evening … and into Thursday morning.
The extended conclusion to a memorable Quarterfinal began – and ended – with Sporting Kansas City defeating FC Dallas 2-1 in the sole match of the round pitting Major League Soccer (Div. I) squads against each other. Thunderstorms in the Kansas City area delayed the proceedings at Children’s Mercy Park for nearly two hours early in the second half, setting up a classic “Open Cup After Dark” finish featuring offsetting goals in the final 15 minutes of regulation before Dany Romero’s 111th minute winner for the four-time Cup holders from Kansas City.
The last match of the round saw its third MLS vs. USL Championship (Div. II) showdown, a meeting between both leagues’ respective Western Conference leaders that Los Angeles Football Club (MLS) captured by a 3-1 scoreline over New Mexico United (USLC). Homestanding LAFC were undaunted by NMU’s hundreds of away supporters that trekked west, using Timothy Tillman’s sixth minute goal to build a lead it would never relinquish thanks to David Martinez’s eventual 37th minute winner and a Mateusz Bogusz insurance tally in the 77th.
This week’s winners move on to the Semifinal Round, set to take place August 27 & 28; dates for each match will be announced in the coming days. The Semifinals will see Sporting KC play host to the USL Championship’s final hope in Indy Eleven, while LAFC will head up the Pacific Coast for an epic clash against another four-time tourney champ in fellow MLS side Seattle Sounders FC.
After New Mexico United and Sacramento Republic FC bowed out this round, Indy Eleven claims one prize as part of its historic Cup run, claiming the $25,000 purse awarded to Division II’s last team standing.
The Semifinals (Aug. 27-28) and Final (Sept. 25) will be available to stream for FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. With broadcasts in more than 100 countries worldwide, the conclusion of the 109th edition of the Open Cup will be available to its largest global audience to date. MLS Season Pass is available on billions of devices through the Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, as well as on the web at tv.apple.com. To learn more about MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, including how to subscribe, visit apple.co/_MLS_.
For more details on this year’s competition, including schedule details, features, and more, visit usopencup.com.
Wednesday, July 10
Sporting Kansas City (MLS) 1-1, 2-1 (aet) FC Dallas (MLS)
LAFC (MLS) 3-1 New Mexico United (USLC)
Tuesday, July 9
Atlanta United (MLS) 1-2 Indy Eleven (USLC)
Sacramento Republic FC (USLC) 1-2 Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City (MLS) 1-1, 2-1 (aet) FC Dallas (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City’s hunt for “one for the thumb” continued on thanks to a gritty effort on long, strange night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
A bit of a tepid start at Children’s Mercy Park broke when Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia was first tested after 20 minutes on Petar Musa’s dipper from distance, and immediately on the other end Agada had a pair of chances go wanting, a header high and a 1-v-1 chance saved by Maarten Paes, in as many minutes. Right on the stroke of the half hour came another low Musa effort that was steered wide by Melia, who got some help on the ensuing corner courtesy of Tim Leibold’s goalline clearance of Musa’s header from the six.
Referee Tim Ford halted the match five minutes into the second half for the weather delay, which ultimately lasted an hour and 47 minutes. When things got back underway at 11:09 p.m. local (CT), the match began to open up, signaling a more open finish compared to the tight proceedings prior to the break. Controversy came in the 65th minute, with VAR determining FCD defender Nkosi Tafari’s minimal contact on Agada came outside the area rather than inside, resulting in SKC’s penalty kick opportunity being rescinded. However, Agada’s persistence finally paid off in the 77th minute, interplay by Johnny Russell and Jake Davis finishing with the latter’s layoff for the Nigerian striker, who buried home from eight yards. The visitors still had time to claw one back and did so through Musa three minutes from time, when he accepted Asier Illarramendi’s ball at the top of the area with a turn before chipping over a sliding Melia to even things and send the match into added extra time.
After a mundane first overtime period, FC Dallas striker Eugene Ansah rang a shot off the woodwork to start the second 15 minutes. However, it was Dany Rosero that broke the stalemate in the 111th minute, the center back fighting through bodies near the penalty spot to get his head on Russell’s corner kick to power it past Paes for the go-ahead goal. Melia continued to stand tall, including a stop on Sebastian Lleget’s close-range poke in stoppage time that ensured penalties would not decide the four-and-a-half hour Midwestern marathon.
LAFC (MLS) 3-1 New Mexico United (USLC)
In a Quarterfinal clash between leading lights in their respective divisions, it was LAFC that shone brightest in a 3-1 win over New Mexico United at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. It didn’t take the hosts long to open their account as Timothy Tillman slammed home a sixth minute rebound after New Mexico goalkeeper Alex Tambakis did well to parry Mateusz Bogusz’s initial drive. Aside from the odd half chance for the visitors from the Land of Enchantment, LAFC controlled the remainder of the period, picking and choosing when to hit dangerous through balls that its players couldn’t quite finish off until David Martinez tucked home a slick Bogusz feed in the 37th minute to stake the MLS Western Conference leaders to a 2-0 advantage.
On the other side of half time, Greg Hurst gave United hope with a sizzling strike from the top of the box that nestled in the lower right corner in the 57th minute, drawing the score to 2-1. Opportunities came and went for both sides after that until Bogusz drove in the knife with a spectacular individual effort in the 77th minute. The Polish dynamo embarked on a slaloming run from midfield into the left side of the United penalty area before cutting back onto his right foot and curling an unstoppable shot into the far side netting to cement the final 3-1 margin. LAFC moves on to face the Seattle Sounders on the road in the Semifinals, matching the club’s deepest Open Cup run from its inaugural 2018 season.