May 8, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Union Omaha in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at UNO Caniglia Field on Wednesday night. With the score tied 1-1 at the end of regulation, Sporting found a last-gasp winner through Alan Pulido in the final minute of extra time to advance to host FC Tulsa in the Round of 16 on May 21 or 22.
Manager Peter Vermes handed first starts of the season to defender Robert Castellanos, midfielder Felipe Hernandez and forward Khiry Shelton along with a first-ever start in Sporting blue for newcomer Zorhan Bassong at left back. In addition, Kayden Pierre, Nemanja Radoja and Willy Agada also entered the XI with only John Pulskamp, Robert Voloder, Erik Thommy and Marinos Tzionis maintaining their spots from the weekend’s match at Real Salt Lake.
Sporting KC started the match brightly with Tzionis and Pierre creating some danger on either flank before both teams began to settle as the half wore on. Sporting created the first proper chance of the match in the 27th minute with Hernandez shimmying on the edge of the area before seeing his low shot saved by Rashid Nuhu.
Two minutes later, Thommy took aim from 25 yards and his swerving effort seemed destined for the top corner but Nuhu managed to get his fingertips to the ball and push it over the bar.
Omaha, who began posing more of a threat on the counter as the half wore on, took the lead in the 31st minute as former Atlanta United Homegrown player and U.S. Youth National Team member Lagos Kunga pounced on a loose ball following a scramble in the box and saw his effort deflected into the back of the net.
Looking to pull level before halftime, Thommy fed Bassong on the edge of the area in the 42nd minute but he saw his half-volley corralled by Nuhu in the Omaha goal.
Sporting got off to the perfect start in the second half when Tzionis won the ball back high up the field and rifled a left-footed effort off the post and in to level the score at 1-1 in the 48th minute.
The visitors began pushing for a go-ahead goal and three minutes later almost found it when Voloder rose highest to meet Bassong’s corner kick but directed his header narrowly wide. Omaha almost landed a counterstrike of their own seconds later as Aaron Gomez latched onto a long ball over the top but lofted his finish over the bar with only Pulskamp to beat.
Sporting kept probing throughout the second half and…
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