A new champion will be crowned on Wednesday when the Philadelphia Union hosts Sporting Kansas City in the 102nd edition of the U.S. Open Cup at PPL Park at 7 p.m. (ESPN2, WatchESPN, UDN). Not only is the Dewar Cup at stake, but the U.S. Open Cup victor will also receive an automatic 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League berth.
Philadelphia, hosting their second consecutive final after falling to last year’s champions Seattle Sounders FC 3-1, will be seeking their first ever major trophy. SKC, on the other hand, will be looking to add a third U.S. Open Cup to their trophy case after having won titles in 2004 and 2012. The Union booked their place in the final with a goal from Sebastian Le Toux in their 1-0 win over four-time champions Chicago Fire on August 12 at PPL Park, while Sporting KC advanced to the final behind goals from Soni Mustivar, Benny Feilhaber and Krisztian Nemeth in their 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on August 12.
Philadelphia, hosting their second consecutive final after falling to last year’s champions Seattle Sounders FC 3-1, will be seeking their first ever major trophy. SKC, on the other hand, will be looking to add a third U.S. Open Cup to their trophy case after having won titles in 2004 and 2012. The Union booked their place in the final with a goal from Sebastian Le Toux in their 1-0 win over four-time champions Chicago Fire on August 12 at PPL Park, while Sporting KC advanced to the final behind goals from Soni Mustivar, Benny Feilhaber and Krisztian Nemeth in their 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on August 12.
The Union enter the final having gone 2-1-1 in their last four MLS regular season matches and are coming off of an incredible performance from goalkeeper Andre Blake. Last week in their 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution, Blake turned in a sensational 10-save performance. The first overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft turned in the type of outing that has everyone raving about his future in MLS and with the Jamaican national team. With his game-winning goal in the win over the Fire, Sebastian Le Toux took his career U.S. Open Cup tally to 15, a record in the Open Cup’s modern era.
Sporting KC enter the match coming off a gutty come-from-behind 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC last week, in which nine regular starters missed the match. Dom Dwyer came off the bench in the second half to net his 11th league goal of the season and his 35th goal in 77 matches in four seasons in MLS. Dwyer’s five goals scored during this year’s U.S. Open Cup campaign lead’s all scorers. League MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber will be pulling the strings in midfield for SKC, posting career-highs in goals scored (10) and assists (14) this season while also notching two goals and five helpers in Open Cup play.
The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in U.S. soccer history, with the first round of the tournament held in 1914. The competition is open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States. For more information, click HERE.
Sporting KC enter the match coming off a gutty come-from-behind 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC last week, in which nine regular starters missed the match. Dom Dwyer came off the bench in the second half to net his 11th league goal of the season and his 35th goal in 77 matches in four seasons in MLS. Dwyer’s five goals scored during this year’s U.S. Open Cup campaign lead’s all scorers. League MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber will be pulling the strings in midfield for SKC, posting career-highs in goals scored (10) and assists (14) this season while also notching two goals and five helpers in Open Cup play.
The U.S. Open Cup is the oldest cup competition in U.S. soccer history, with the first round of the tournament held in 1914. The competition is open to all affiliated amateur and professional teams in the United States. For more information, click HERE.
By: Editor
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