We’re down to our Final Four, folks.
The top-tier Major League Soccer (MLS) trio of LAFC, Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City are joined by USL Championship (Div. II) darlings Indy Eleven in our Semifinal Round with two places in the 109th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final on the line.
The Semifinals will take place over two days. Tuesday, August 27th sees the Round’s curtain raiser between four-time Open Cup Champions Sporting KC and tournament sensation Indy Eleven, who are the lone remaining flag-bearers for the USL Championship. Wednesday, August 28th will put another four-time Open Cup Champion, the Seattle Sounders, up against a powerhouse LAFC, chasing a first Open Cup to slip into the trophy cabinet alongside their 2022 MLS Cup.
The Magic of the U.S. Open Cup lies in the opportunity for teams from lower divisions to fight it out against their so-called betters in direct competition. Indy Eleven’s presence in our Final Four, one step away from becoming the second USL Championship side to reach a Final in the space of two years, proves out the old chestnut that starts On Any Given Day…
Indy Eleven, coming off a road loss in league play in Las Vegas, currently sit fifth in the USL Championship’s eastern conference standings. A 2024 with its share of off-field distractions, including a potential MLS franchise bid for the city of Indianapolis that threatens the 11-year-old club’s very existence, has been challenging to say the least.
Even so, and perhaps spurred on by these challenges, the Hoosiers managed to beat league mates San Antonio FC, Detroit City and Atlanta United of MLS in their best-ever run in a U.S. Open Cup.
“Things like that [the possible MLS bid] can impact the players, of course, but we’re professionals and we have to do our job. That’s what we’re here to do. Regardless of the circumstances, you have to perform,” said Indy Eleven striker Augustine ‘Augi’ Williams, who scored the opener in a 2-1 upset of former Open Cup and MLS Champions Atlanta United in the Quarterfinal Round.
Williams’ coach, who’s occupied the technical area in both MLS and the Division II USL Championship, knows the stresses of the underdog and the top dog both in circumstances like these. “There’s anxieties on both sides,” said Sean McAuley, before adding with a laugh: “I’d much rather be on the team with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo and all them – they’ve got a slightly better chance!”
Aside from the significant obstacle of being the underdog, and all that goes with it, Indy Eleven will play their Semifinal on the road at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
It’s s the venue of the last trophy-lift Sporting KC performed as a club. That was the 2017 U.S. Open Cup. Things have changed much since then, though SKC’s boss remains one Peter Vermes (the longest-serving coach in MLS history). The Kansans currently sit third-from-bottom in MLS’ West with only four wins from 26 games.
Many of the SKC players who’ll line up against Indy Eleven on Tuesday will remember losing a recent Open Cup Semifinal to a lower-division team. Connoisseurs of marquis Cupsets will recall Sacramento Republic’s run to the 2022 Final went through Sporting Kansas City.
“It’s been a difficult season, everyone can see that,” said SKC captain Johnny Russell, who scored his penalty in the shootout loss to Republic FC in the 2022 Final Four. “So, to add another trophy to a very successful side through the years, to put yourself in being a part of that history, is huge for me as a player, as a captain.
“Opportunities to win trophies don’t come around that often,” Russell added.
The Seattle Sounders punctuated their start to life in MLS in 2009 by lifting our U.S. Open Cup trophy. They then went on to win three more of them in the next four years. In many ways, the Washington State-based club built a modern identity on the foundations of this country’s oldest and most historic tournament.
Ten years on since lifting their last Open Cup, and with only goalkeeper Stefan Frei remaining from that 2014 Champion team of a decade ago, the Sounders are two wins away from becoming the first MLS side to lift the U.S. Open Cup five times (Sporting Kansas City are also in the race to make that same MLS-Era Open Cup history).
In the Sounders’ way stand mighty LAFC, who recently finished runners-up the Leagues Cup and are very much in contention to claim their second MLS title as one of the top teams so far through the regular season. The 2022 MLS Champions have never won an Open Cup – the closest they came was way back in their inaugural year of 2018 when they reached this same Semifinal Round.
“I love the Open Cup and I would love to top this year off with a trophy,” said Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock, a local kid-turned-starter who’s having a breakout 2024. “We’re two wins away from lifting another Open Cup and that’s the way we’re looking at.
“I think our odds are better [against LAFC] this time,” Rothrock added ahead of Wednesday’s Semifinal, which will be played at the intimate environs of Starfire Sports Complex (the Sounders normal venue of Lumen Field is unavailable for the date). “There’s only so many times they can beat us!”
Rothrock is referring to the Sounders’ recent record against LAFC. The SoCal club have won the three previous meetings between the sides this year by a cumulative score of 8-1.
But stats and past glories won’t matter when the whistle blows amid the piney wonders of Tukwila, Washington for the second of our two 2024 Semifinals. LAFC boss Steve Chereundolo knows it to be so and will be relying on a tested method when the two teams meet for the first time in U.S. Open Cup play.
“We are a difficult side to beat when you go down to us in the scoreline,” said the LAFC coach and former USMNT star. “Getting up early on Seattle is imperative for us and we’ll try to do it again [in the Open Cup].”
Be sure to WATCH both Semifinals LIVE and FREE on Apple TV.
Fontela is editor-in-chief of usopencup.com. Follow him at @jonahfontela on X.