MLS Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Advances in U.S. Open Cup

Published on May 29, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


Sporting Kansas City advanced to the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-0 win over the Des Moines Menace on Tuesday night at Sporting Park. Sporting will next host Orlando City Soccer Club in the tournament's Fourth Round at 7:30 p.m. CT on June 12 at Sporting Park.

Kei Kamara opened the scoring in the 12th minute off of a cross from Chance Myers. Claudio Bieler doubled Sporting KC's lead in the 73rd minute when he slotted in a cross from Jacob Peterson.

The eighth minute saw Sporting Kansas City's first chance of the game when Kamara sent in a low cross to Myers, who took one touch and shot but it was blocked by Menace defender Albert Edward. Four minutes later, Myers played the ball across the mouth of the goal to Kamara, who tapped it in past goalkeeper Scott Angevine.

The Des Moines Menace weren't content to sit back and responded with a chance of their own in the 28th minute when Edward played a through ball to Abel Sebele at the far post. His ensuing shot was just wide of the left post. The Menace had another chance six minutes later when Sebele took a free kick that was just wide of the near post.

The second half commenced with no shortage of action from the Kamara-Myers tandem. In the 52nd minute, Myers floated in a cross to Kamara at the far post but the Sierra Leone international couldn't make contact with the ball. Seven minutes later, C.J. Sapong took a dangerous crack from 25 yards out that Angevine made a diving save to block.

The Menace were back at it in the 66th minute when Taylor Diem drove the ball down the left flank and put his attempt just over the crossbar.

Sporting Kansas City doubled their lead in the 73rd minute when Peterson crossed the ball from the right to Bieler, who cooly tapped it into the back of the net.

The 78th minute saw two chances in short succession for the home team when Peterson's flick hit the crossbar and fell to Feilhaber, whose volley also struck the crossbar from close range. Four minutes later, Josh Gardner made his way into the box and squared the ball to Bieler, whose one-touch effort was saved by Angevine.

Sporting Kansas City returns to MLS play when the team hosts the Montreal Impact at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Sporting Park. Tickets are available in limited supply through Ticketmaster and Sporting Park Box Offices.

FAST FACTS

Sporting Kansas City played the Des Moines Menace for the third time in U.S. Open Cup competition on Tuesday after previous meetings in 2005 and 2006.

Sporting KC is 3-0-0 against the Des Moines Menace all-time in U.S. Open Cup competition.

In the previous two meetings, Sporting Kansas City won 6-1 on August 3, 2005 at Julian Field and 2-1 on July 12, 2006 at Blue Valley District Activity Center.

Sporting KC has scored 10 goals against the Menace and conceded 2 all-time.

With the shutout, Sporting Kansas City has 14 shutouts in U.S. Open Cup competition all-time.

Eric Kronberg earned his fifth shutout in U.S. Open Cup competition on Tuesday, which is the most shutouts for a goalkeeper in club history in the tournament.

Kronberg has allowed eight goals in nine Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup starts in his career.

With the start, Kronberg moves into a tie for third most all-time with Jimmy Conrad and Michael Harrington (9).

The appearance was Kronberg's first competitive appearance since June 12, 2011, which also came in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Sporting KC is 18-12-5 all-time in the U.S. Open Cup.

With two goals in tonight's match, Sporting KC has scored 69 goals all-time in U.S. Open Cup play.

With the win, Sporting KC moves to 11-4-3 versus non-MLS opponents.

Sporting KC are 12-5-2 when playing at home in the competition.

Sporting KC are 4-0-1 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup round of 32 all-time.

Seth Sinovic was the only player on Sporting KC to start in all five matches during the 2012 USOC run. Sinovic was not on the bench for Tuesday's match.

The Des Moines Menace are 10-8-0 all-time in U.S. Open Cup competition. Des Moines are now 6-6-0 versus professional teams and 4-4-0 on the road in the competition.

Sporting Kansas are defending champions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after defeating the Seattle Sounders in a penalty kick shootout in the 2012 final.

Sporting Kansas City also lifted the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2004 defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 at Arrowhead Stadium.

Des Moines Menace goalkeeper Scott Angevine played as a League Pool Goalkeeper for MLS in 2012. Angevine predominantly trained with Sporting KC during that time period. Angevine also trained with Sporting KC during the 2013 preseason.

Angevine graduated from Blue Valley North West High School in 2006 and is a Sporting KC Academy product.

Des Moines Menace captain Brandon Fricke also played for the Sporting KC Academy. Fricke scored the game-winning goal for the Menace in their 1-0 upset victory against Minnesota United FC in the second round of the tournament.

Kei Kamara scored the first goal of the match in the 12th minute. It is Kamara's third goal in U.S. Open Cup competition, tying him for with Teal Bunbury and Ivan Trujillo for fifth place on the club's all-time chart for goals scored in U.S. Open Cup play.

Chance Myers earned the assist on Kamara's goal. He now has five points all-time in U.S. Open Cup competition and becomes the 31st Sporting KC player to record an assist in U.S. Open Cup competition all-time.

Myers made his 10th appearance in the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, tying Jimmy Conrad and Chris Klein for sixth most in club history.

Myers started his ninth U.S. Open Cup match, tying him with Michael Harrington and Jimmy Conrad for third most in club history.

Claudio Bieler scored the second goal of the match just three minutes after entering the match as a second-half substitute.

The match was Bieler's first appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament.

Sporting KC has had 38 different players score in U.S. Open Cup competition all-time.

Jacob Peterson earned the assist, his second in U.S. Open Cup competition while playing for Sporting KC. He's now tied with Scott Sealy, C.J. Sapong, Seth Sinovic and Graham Zusi for fourth most in club history in the tournament.

Mikey Lopez started the match for Sporting Kansas City, marking his competitive debut for the club.

Michael Thomas started his first competitive match for Sporting KC in 2013. The start marks his first start in a competitive match since August 11, 2012 in a 2-1 victory over D.C. United at Sporting Park.

Mechack Jerome, Josh Gardner, Benny Feilhaber and Oriol Rosell made their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup debuts for Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday.

Sporting Kansas City has played 133 different players all-time in U.S. Open Cup competition.

Sporting Kansas City hosts Orlando City SC on June 12, 2013 at Sporting Park in the fourth round of the Tournament.

Sporting KC last faced affiliate side Orlando City SC in competitive play on May 29, 2012 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round. Sporting KC earned a 3-2 victory in the match.

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from May 29, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central