Sporting KC Crowned Champions of U.S. Open Cup
Published on August 9, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City are champions of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the second time in club history, prevailing 3-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation against the Seattle Sounders in the 2012 tournament final on Wednesday in front of a sold-out crowd at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.
After a scoreless first half, Sporting Kansas City forward Kei Kamara scored the game's opening goal in the 84th minute from the penalty spot after a Zach Scott handball inside the penalty area. Seattle responded two minutes later with a header from Scott off a Mauro Rosales free kick.
Both 15-minute extra time periods ended scoreless, leaving kicks from the spot to decide the 99th annual edition of the U.S. Open Cup. After successful attempts from Kamara, Matt Besler and Paulo Nagamura, Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper saved Seattle's final attempt, taken by former KC striker Eddie Johnson, to secure the title.
Sporting Kansas City will have the team's named engraved on the Dewar Challenge Trophy, the oldest trophy in United States team sports, and earn a berth in the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League for the opportunity to compete against the best club teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Wednesday's win snapped a streak of three-straight U.S. Open Cup titles for the visiting Sounders FC and was Seattle's first loss in the competition since joining Major League Soccer in 2009.
Sporting Kansas City last won the tournament in 2004, defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0 in extra time at Arrowhead Stadium. This year, the U.S. Open Cup featured the largest field in tournament history with 64 teams -- 32 professional, 32 amateur -- competing for the crown.
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