Sporting Eliminated from U.S. Open Cup

May 10, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Sporting Kansas City News Release

Sporting Kansas City saw their 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run come to an end on Wednesday night as the team was eliminated in the Round of 32 with a 1-0 loss on the road to Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium. Thor Ulfarsson’s 12th-minute goal was enough for the Dynamo, who had to see out the final 55 minutes a man down following a red card to Chase Gasper.

Sporting made 10 changes from the team that beat Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, with Gadi Kinda the only player maintaining his spot in the lineup. John Pulskamp was back in goal with veterans Graham Zusi and Roger Espinoza at outside back, while Nemanja Radoja made his return from injury in the midfield and Stephen Afrifa earned his professional debut up front.

Sporting began the match on the front foot and should have taken the lead in the sixth minute. Graham Zusi played a delightful ball over the top to find Marinos Tzionis streaking down the right wing and his low cross picked out Afrifa in front of goal but the 22-year-old was unable to hit the target on his debut.

Houston took the lead in the 12th minute as Ulfarsson picked up a second ball 25 yards from goal and lashed a powerful low effort into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Sporting center back Chris Rindov made his first start for the club and he had two opportunities in the matter of three minutes to equalize off almost carbon copy set piece situations. In the 20th minute, he headed Kinda’s corner kick over the bar and three minutes later, he again met a Kinda set piece and this time planted his header against the crossbar.

Sporting continued to pile on the pressure and Tzionis was the next player to go close, meeting Espinoza’s delivery on the volley but his effort bounced into the arms of Andrew Tarbell.

The match turned on its head in the 35th minute when Espinoza’s stunning pass picked out Tzionis whose first touch took him in on goal only for the winger to be tugged back just outside the area by Chase Gasper, who was shown a straight red card for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Kinda stepped up to take the free kick and forced an excellent save out of Tarbell with a shot that was destined for the top corner.

Sporting came out with intent to start the second half with both halftime sub Daniel Salloi and Zusi both forcing Tarbell into diving stops within the first three minutes of the half.

Sporting spurned a golden…