NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Earns Thrilling 3-2 Open Cup Win over FC Dallas

June 16, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release


A Daniel Salloi brace and a world-class volley from substitute Yohan Croizet propelled Sporting Kansas City to a wild 3-2 victory over FC Dallas in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Saturday at raucous Children's Mercy Park.

The dramatic win sends reigning Open Cup champion Sporting KC to the quarterfinals of the 2018 tournament, where they will travel to face the winner of Monday's match between the Houston Dynamo and Minnesota United FC on a date to be determined.

FC Dallas landed the first punch through Carlos Gruezo in the 18th minute, but Salloi equalized just before halftime and gave his side the lead in the 66th minute. Roland Lamah's deflected effort drew FC Dallas level on 77 minutes, but Croizet's jaw-dropping strike in the 89th minute capped an instant classic and preserved Sporting KC's dreams of hoisting a fifth Open Cup title.

The result extends Sporting KC's home unbeaten streak against FC Dallas to 10 games in all competitions and marks the third time in four years that FC Dallas' Open Cup run has ended in defeat at Children's Mercy Park. In each of the three previous seasons Sporting KC has eliminated FC Dallas from the Open Cup, the club has proceeded to win the tournament championship-doing so in 2004, 2015 and 2017.

Manager Peter Vermes shuffled his lineup to the tune of three changes from last Saturday's scoreless draw at the Portland Timbers. Center back Emiliano Amor, forward Diego Rubio and goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas earned starting nods in place of injured defender Matt Besler and rested duo Johnny Russell and Tim Melia, respectively. Roger Espinoza donned the captain's armband in his 20th career U.S. Open Cup appearance, tying Besler for the most in club history.

A thrilling battle between the top two teams in Major League Soccer's Western Conference saw head coach Oscar Pareja's men start brightly, and their early dominance was rewarded on 18 minutes when Maximiliano Urruti sprung Michael Barrios free down the right channel. The diminutive forward's first-time strike was saved by Zendejas, but Barrios lobbed the rebound over Sporting KC's outstretched goalkeeper and allowed Gruezo to tap home from point-blank range.

The hosts slowly gained a foothold and conjured their first chance in the 33rd minute as Espinoza's tackle allowed Salloi to scoop up the loose ball and play to Rubio, who weaved into the penalty area and sent a shot straight at goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez. Eight minutes later, Gonzalez lept at full extension to palm Espinoza's header wide following Graham Zusi's set piece delivery.

Sporting KC restored parity in the 43rd minute, but not before hitting the woodwork twice in the 60 seconds prior to pulling even. Amor's powerful header off Zusi's corner kick rattled the crossbar, then Ike Opara's rebound attempt struck the left post. An exasperated crowd turned joyous, however, when the ball recycled back to Zusi on the left wing. His pinpoint service to the far post was nodded back across the face of goal by Opara and slammed into a gaping net by Salloi.

The second half unfolded in electrifying fashion as both sides traded jabs in a vintage Open Cup clash. Sporting KC almost surged ahead in the 49th minute when Ilie's delectable long ball over the top was cushioned down by Gerso Fernandes into the path of Espinoza, who rifled narrowly wide with his patented left boot.

Salloi struck again halfway through the second period on a well-worked move involving three Sporting KC homegrown players. Outside back Jaylin Lindsey worked his way into the attacking third and played the ball to Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, who then picked out Salloi in a small pocket of space at the top of the box. The 21-year-old forward promptly unleashed a low piledriver that left Gonzalez no chance.

FC Dallas responded positively, however, and knotted the score when Zendejas' punch off a floated ball into the box fell to the feet of Lamah. The forward cut onto his left foot and fired low through traffic, the ball taking multiple deflections before nestling into the far left corner.

The final twist in Saturday's plot ignited euphoric celebrations across Children's Mercy Park, as Croizet produced one of the greatest goals in the stadium's history. Khiry Shelton's drive into the box was halted by Maynor Figueroa, who steered the ball high into the air. Stationed 25 yards from goal, Croizet, who had entered the match just four minutes earlier, caught the ball perfectly on a blazing, first-time volley that sailed into the upper left corner. The Frenchman's magisterial strike would be enough to separate the sides and vault Sporting KC to the quarterfinals.

Vermes' men will remain home next Saturday for the resumption of their MLS regular season campaign against rivals Houston Dynamo (6-5-3, 21 points) at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for the contest-a rematch of last year's Western Conference Knockout Round in which Houston prevailed 1-0 after extra time-are on sale now at SeatGeek.com. FOX Sports Kansas City, FOX Sports Midwest Plus and FOX Sports GO will air three hours of live television coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT, while the Sporting KC Uphoria app will provide in-game updates.

QUOTES Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes

Thoughts on the match...

I thought that we were pressing, meaning that we wanted to get a goal. We were also being very smart with the ball. At the end, it was a wonder goal. That's like Zinedine Zidane's goal. What a fantastic finish. What a great way to stick one in the back of the net. That's big time. That ball is in the air. He hits it first time. It's great for us to go onto the next round. I think we deserve it. We were good tonight. Don't get me wrong, Dallas is a great team. They had their full lineup out there. It was a tough match. We managed the team really well over the last couple weeks, especially with injuries. It's a big result for us.

On fighting back after the 1-0 deficit...

I'll be honest with you, I felt really comfortable. I felt that we were playing well and I thought we were going to get some chances. I'm really happy that we got the goal before half because I think that gave us a chance to make some good decisions at halftime on how and what we wanted to do. It worked out well.

On Daniel Salloi's two goals...

We were talking about how we were going to make a sub, we weren't sure yet. I think it was the right move to push Daniel inside. It got him in some really good positions. He's got an ability to find the net. Credit to him, as well.

Sporting Kansas City defender Ike Opara

Thoughts on the match...

We survive and advance. I thought we had a lot of good moments after the first 15 minutes. We started out slow and then we rebounded and we got into our game and really started putting them under. An unfortunate second goal for them, but we showed our character again to fight through and getting the winning goal. The young guns came through again for us, as well.

On Daniel Salloi's two goals...

One and a half. It was big for us. Obviously to tie the game, it gave us momentum going into the half. I don't know how he gets it off so quickly but that second goal was wonderful. It gave us breathing room to really put them under. We had opportunities for a third goal but an unfortunate mistake led to their goal. We showed our character to finish off the job.

On Yohan Croizet's goal...

I had the perfect angle. I saw him winding up. He hit it great with contact. Well, maybe sliced it a little bit, but it was good contact to begin with. The keeper had no chance. That's a goal that wins a game right there.

Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi

On the team's performance...

That's big time. We know how to compete in this Cup competition. I think this is huge. We had a big advantage that we played at home. I think we had a great performance. Nice goals. Yohan, wow - that was unreal. I've never seen a goal like that. I'm super happy that we could win, especially that we didn't have to go into overtime. I think this is big and hopefully we can go all the way.

On the assist from Ike Opara...

Yes, I watched it back. I told him sorry. In the game, I didn't realize it's going in. You know what? I'm a forward. I have to steal goals sometimes.

On his second goal...

I only remember the end to be honest. I have to watch it back. Kuzain played me the ball. I knew I could turn and hit it as fast as I can. That was a good shot. I'm super happy. That's my first brace ever in my career. I'm very happy for that.

On advancing in the tournament...

It's very important. As I said, it's something that we are capable of. I think we compete well in this Cup competition. I hope our schedule will be fine and we can win the next games and we can go all the way. Winning something is already making the year successful. We take it seriously.

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Yohan Croizet

On his goal...

Seriously, it's my best goal in my career. In the last minute. I'm really, really happy tonight.

Thoughts on the match...

It was a difficult game. I think so. All game we had a good position. After the second goal, it was my time. I was so happy to score my goal and to help the team.

On the home crowd...

The fans are really amazing. I just want to say thank you for the support. Now we keep going for the future rounds.

FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja

Thoughts on the match...

Obviously, I'm disappointed with the end after such a good game we played. We scored two goals in a difficult place. We tied the game in a moment where we were putting a lot of things together and finishing strong. Kansas City is a good side, they found ways as well. What just frustrated us was the end in a play that was controlled by us and then suddenly the goal came. I thought we did a good job today, obviously disappointed with not advancing in the Cup that we like to put all that we have into. But the effort by the players was good, finding the ways around, starting the first half leading the game and all the time competing and we were in the game all the time. We came out of the locker room thinking that we left everything on the field.

Thoughts on the comeback goals...

We were in the game all the time. First leading then Kansas City found ways, then balls that were controlled by us, and then at the end when we tied the game I thought we were with more muscle in the middle and the front. I was very optimistic about going to extra time if it was necessary. The team was playing really well. But it was a great shot .It was just through the upper 90 and we couldn't save it. Congratulations to Kansas City for advancing in the Cup.

On the challenges Kansas City presented...

I think both teams fought a lot. We gave them a lot of trouble up front and in the first half we got in behind them a lot and we had some clear opportunities early in the game. After that in the middle, they had players that are very good, experienced players who can put things together and then they made us drop more than we wanted. But the game was controlled and still we wanted to have those transitions, and we had it. I would say that in the middle with (Roger) Espinoza and (Ilie) Sanchez, they found ways just to get behind and we coped with them and sometimes I thought we got over it and we created problems for them, but it was a good battle.

Getting over this loss for League play...

I say all the time, I don't like the rankings, I don't like any of those things, but I will say to our team to just keep working and keep aiming for the next game, next game, next game. The League is long. It's wild and at this time of the year, with respect to everybody, it is not time to make any analysis. This is a team who has ran it, this is a team who is working. We need points. We've got to get back into the League to get into a good spot. We will fight for every point in there as we did today and we hope we can accomplish the next goal which is just getting into the playoffs.

FC Dallas defender Reto Ziegler

Overall thoughts on the match...

It was a battle and we lost, so we are really disappointed. I think it was a good game because I think to come here and play like we played is not easy, but on the other hand they scored three goals so we have to be disappointed, especially with the third goal. It was a fantastic goal but this is what happened.

On the team continuing to fight throughout...

I think the second half was not so good but when you look at the first half, we created a lot of chances and I had the feeling that we could win this game. It was really physical and we have to learn from that game. We know this opponent now really well and they are in our conference and we're going to play better next time against them in the League.

On moving past this loss...

We are professional players. We always want to win but in football sometimes you lose but now we have to learn from these mistakes. I think we can go away with our heads up. We gave everything. It was not perfect but you cannot blame anybody because we fought for 90 minutes.

Check out the Sporting Kansas City Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board...

Major League Soccer Stories from June 16, 2018


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.

Other Recent Sporting Kansas City Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central