Sporting KC to Visit Houston in Open Cup
Published on June 16, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City will face the Houston Dynamo at 7:30 p.m. CT on June 29 at BBVA Compass Stadium in the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16, U.S. Soccer announced Thursday.
U.S. Soccer unveiled the Round of 16 as well as the potential quarterfinal pairings and host scenarios for the U.S. Open Cup on Thursday. A regional bracket placed Sporting Kansas City, Houston, Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas into the Plains Region. The remaining field consists of 14 MLS sides plus the New York Cosmos and Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the NASL.
Sporting Kansas City progressed to the Round of 16 with a 2-1 extra time victory at Minnesota United FC on Wednesday at National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota, receiving a penalty kick from Benny Feilhaber and a late winner from Diego Rubio. The club is a three-time U.S. Open Cup winner and the defending champion of American soccer's longest-running tournament.
Manager Peter Vermes' men will continue their U.S. Open Cup title defense in two weeks' time against rivals Houston, who defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-0 in the MLS regular season on May 7 at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo are currently last in the Western Conference with 13 points from 14 games.
Houston advanced to the Open Cup Round of 16 after defeating San Antonio FC 4-0 on Wednesday. Sporting Kansas City has played the Dynamo twice all-time in Open Cup play, most recently claiming a 3-1 quarterfinal victory last season en route to the 2015 championship. The sides also met in a 2011 qualifying match as Sporting KC notched a 1-0 road win in extra time.
The winner between Sporting Kansas City and Houston will earn a berth in the tournament quarterfinals and meet the victor from the Colorado Rapids - FC Dallas matchup. If Sporting Kansas City prevails, the quarterfinal contest would be played on July 19 or 20 at Children's Mercy Park.
2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Round of 16: June 28-29
Quarterfinals: July 19-20
Semifinals: Aug. 9-10
Final: Sept. 21
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has been held annually since 1914 and is open to all professional and amateur soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. The 2016 edition boasts the largest field in the modern era (1995-present) with 91 teams in contention when the first round began last month. This year's winner will earn $250,000 and a spot in the 2017-18 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
Major League Soccer Stories from June 16, 2016
- Sounders FC to Face Real Salt Lake on the Road in Fifth Round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Seattle Sounders FC
- Sporting KC to Visit Houston in Open Cup - Sporting Kansas City
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- Union and Vincent Nogueira Mutually Terminate Contract - Philadelphia Union
- Revolution to Face New York Cosmos in 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 - New England Revolution
- Timbers to Host LA Galaxy in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on June 29 - Portland Timbers
- New York Red Bulls Travel to Philadelphia for U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 - Red Bull New York
- Columbus Crew SC's Federico Higuain Undergoes Successful Hernia Surgery - Columbus Crew SC
- Orlando City to Host Fort Lauderdale Strikers in U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on June 29 - Orlando City SC
- Chicago Fire Host Columbus Crew SC in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 - Chicago Fire FC
- Real Salt Lake Hosts Seattle Sounders FC in Fifth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - Real Salt Lake
- New York Red Bulls to Host Club America in Summer Friendly - Red Bull New York
- New York City FC Celebrates Copa America Centenario with Special Ticket Offer - New York City FC
- Match Preview: Quakes Take First Trip to Face Orlando City SC - San Jose Earthquakes
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- Rave Green Advance in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with 2-0 Win in Fourth Round over Kitsap Pumas - Seattle Sounders FC
- Chicago Fire Advance on Penalties in the U.S. Open Cup - Chicago Fire FC
- Rubio Lifts Sporting KC over Minnesota United FC - Sporting Kansas City
- Dynamo Advance in U.S. Open Cup with 4-0 Win over San Antonio FC - Houston Dynamo FC
- FC Dallas Advances to Round of 16 in Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with Shootout Win over OKC Energy FC - FC Dallas
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