Sporting KC Suffers Semifinal Loss in Open Cup
Published on July 28, 2022 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City was eliminated from the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night, suffering a heartbreaking shootout loss after a 0-0 draw against Sacramento Republic FC in a tense semifinal at Heart Health Park. Despite Sporting attempting a season-high 31 shot attempts over the course of 120 minutes, a delicately poised encounter in the California capital was decided from the spot as Sacramento, a second-division side from the USL Championship, prevailed 5-4 on penalties to continue their Cinderella run into the Open Cup Final against Orlando City SC on Sept. 7.
Sporting Manager Peter Vermes fielded a formidable lineup on Wednesday as wingers Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi flanked Khiry Shelton in attack, newcomer Erik Thommy joined Roger Espinoza and Remi Walter in midfield, and goalkeeper John Pulskamp was protected by a veteran back four of Graham Zusi, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Andreu Fontas and Ben Sweat.
Both sides went agonizingly close to landing the first punch inside three minutes. The visitors were first to threaten as Shelton dragged a breakaway shot inches wide off Russell's clever through ball before Sacramento's Jack Gurr hammered a left-footed strike marginally over the crossbar from near the penalty spot.
A few minutes later, Shelton and Russell pressed to create a turnover and afford the Sporting captain a clear look on goal, but Russell was unable to get a clean shot off as multiple Sacramento defenders converged on him. The Scottish forward was on the end of another fleeting chance at the quarter-hour juncture, glancing his header narrowly wide after latching onto Thommy's corner kick. Shelton then asked further questions of the Sacramento defense by forcing goalkeeper Danny Vitiello into a save and setting up Thommy for a shot at the top of the box that sailed high.
Russell was next to give Sacramento a close shave, buccaneering down the right and trying to chip the keeper only for Vitiello to punch the ball away.
Having weathered an early storm, Sacramento settled into the game and conjured a scare in the 26th minute when Spanish forward Keko Gontan sent a curling effort just beyond the far left post. Shortly thereafter, Republic striker Douglas Martinez poked a close-range shot inches off target.
The end-to-end contest continued to entertain and in the 34th minute, Sporting put Sacramento on the back foot once more. Sweat and Salloi combined neatly along the left flank before the latter found a pocket of space inside the box, only to see his low drive blocked through traffic. Closer to halftime, Salloi slalomed past a pair of Sacramento defenders and cannoned a shot that Vitiello dropped left to cast aside.
The final flashbulb moment of the first half saw Thommy surge into the attacking third from a central position and unleash a 22-yard blast that prompted Vitiello to make another save.
Sporting orchestrated a lovely attacking move nine minutes into the second stanza as Zusi overlapped Russell and pulled a cutback pass across the face of goal to Thommy, who swiveled and had a left-footed shot blocked from 10 yards.
At the opposite end, Pulskamp spared Sporting's blushes on the hour mark by making a world-class save to deny Gontan from close range, dropping low to his right and sticking out a fist to ping the ball over the bar in the 62nd minute.
As both sides traded jabs into the late stages, Sporting substitute Felipe Hernandez made a quick impact from off the bench in the 87th minute by darting into the final third and uncorking a venomous 24-yard blast that Vitiello parried over the bar. The intervention ensured the sides would end regulation level at 0-0.
Three minutes into the first extra session, an intricate Sporting buildup culminated with Salloi cutting past a defender on the edge of the box and curling a right-footed shot a yard wide of Vitiello's left-hand post. Salloi was at it again in the 95th minute, unloading a 25-yard sledgehammer that lacked the direction to beat Sacramento's keeper, then rattled the woodwork with a screaming effort that beat Vitiello but caromed off the underside of the bar before Republic FC managed to clear the danger.
Sporting's extra-time dominance carried into the 103rd minute when Sweat measured an inch-perfect diagonal ball over the top to Russell, but his subsequent shot fizzed straight into Vitiello's thankful mitts. The Sacramento gloveman came up big again in the 116th minute, spreading himself to block Russell's shot from a tight angle to keep the game goalless and seal the fate of a penalty shootout.
Both teams buried their first four spot kicks before Vitiello conjured the decisive save, diving left to cast away Zusi's well-struck attempt. Captain Rodrigo Lopez then clinched the win for Sacramento by finding the back of the net and condemning Sporting to Open Cup heartache.
The 2022 MLS regular season campaign will resume Saturday when Sporting hosts Supporters' Shield contenders Austin FC at Children's Mercy Park. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT with tickets available at SeatGeek.com and live coverage on 38 The Spot, the Sporting KC app and SportingKC.com.
QUOTES
Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match...
We had a lot of chances in the game, especially early on in the first half. We had a ton of chances. We just didn't put them away. It's unfortunate because we played well. We moved the ball well. We created some very, very good chances. We turned them over in their half of the field which we thought we could do. We just, at the end of the day, couldn't stick it away. We hit the crossbar. Just a lot of little, different things - we just couldn't finish it.
On Sacramento's run in the tournament...
It's what happens all around the world. I don't know why it would be different here in the United States. It's not the first time a lower division team has played and made it into a final. It's normal. It happens around the world. This is why this cup is such a great competition. I think it's an awesome competition personally speaking. I've always thought it was. I loved playing in it as a player and I love coaching in it. Congratulations to Sacramento. They played hard. They fought for everything. They were throwing their bodies around. They were blocking shots. They worked really hard in the game so congratulations to them.
On the frustration of the result...
I thought that we did more than enough to get the result that we needed but that's the game sometimes. I thought we played well. I'm proud of our guys. It hasn't been easy. They've had to do it in a lot of different ways and a lot of guys have had to play in a lot of games. We've had so many different lineups going through this competition. I'm proud of the guys and we'll move on to our next game.
Sporting KC captain Johnny Russell
Thoughts on the match...
Just disappointed. Gutted. We did enough in the 90 minutes and then in the extra time to win it, I felt. We created so many chances. We just weren't good enough in taking them, myself included. The longer that goes on and you let it go to penalties, then you give a team hope. We should have had it over and done with before it even got to penalties.
On not finding a goal in the game...
We created more than enough. We got in great space, great opportunities. We just were nowhere near good enough tonight in that department. It sucks. It really does. We really wanted this one. It's not been a good season for us. We know that. This was our chance to get to a final and try and win some silverware this year. We've let ourselves down and we've let our fans down back home as well and the ones that have traveled out here. Just really disappointing to be honest.
On Sacramento's defense...
They defended well. They defended deep and defended in numbers like we know they were going to. We watched a lot of footage on it. We knew it was going to happen. They defended well. I thought the goalkeeper was brilliant. He made some big saves for them and then obviously made a big save for the PK as well. They were definitely tough to play against, but I felt that we did create enough chances to win the game in the 90 and then extra time as well.
On how tough the loss is on the team...
It's definitely up there with one of the toughest. There's been a few in my time, but this is definitely up there. Like I said, we created enough chances to win this game. We didn't take them. They defended well and we continued to give them hope and then when it gets into penalties it can go either way. Unfortunately, someone has to lose. Tonight it was us.
On the remaining games...
It's going to be difficult but we know the challenge ahead of us. Most people are probably going to count us out but we can't think like that. This is a really tough one to take but we have to turn it around quickly. We've got a massive game at the weekend now. It's going to take a huge effort to get us into the playoffs from where we are right now, but there's no other option. We have to go out, believe that we can do it and that's it. The guys are hurting right now. It's definitely not the time to speak right now, but I'll be speaking to everyone and try to get them back mentally. We've got a mountain to climb and it starts at the weekend.
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