Sporting KC Falls to Extra-Time Defeat in Open Cup Final

September 26, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release

Sporting Kansas City fell to a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat in extra time against hosts Los Angeles FC in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at BMO Stadium on Wednesday night. After going toe-to-toe with LAFC throughout regulation, Sporting faltered in extra time as LAFC claimed their first-ever U.S. Open Cup title.

Manager Peter Vermes stuck with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served the squad well over the second half of the 2024 campaign. Goalkeeper Tim Melia, playing in his third U.S. Open Cup Final (2015 & 2017), backstopped a defense featuring Khiry Shelton, Robert Castellanos, Robert Voloder and Logan Ndenbe.

Zorhan Bassong and Jake Davis patrolled midfield with captain Johnny Russell, Erik Thommy and Daniel Salloi – the club’s all-time top scorer in the U.S. Open Cup and match-winner in the 2017 final – ahead of them. Designated Player Alan Pulido rounded out the lineup as the lone striker.

Both sides created several chances in an evenly-matched opening 45 minutes. Salloi was the first to threaten when he latched onto Russell’s pin-point pass in the fifth minute but his effort was smuggled clear for a corner by a combination of Hugo Lloris and Eddie Segura.

Moments later, LAFC showed their teeth from a set piece as captain Aaron Long met Mateusz Bogusz’s corner but his tame header was comfortably cleared off the line by Ndenbe. A frantic opening 10 minutes continued when Salloi fed Pulido into the box and the Mexican controlled the ball expertly before seeing his volley tipped over by Lloris.

In the 23rd minute, Russell cut in from the right wing and, with no LAFC players closing him down, the Scotsman let fly from 30 yards and forced a sprawling stop from Lloris who palmed the powerful drive over the bar. It was LAFC star man Denis Bouanga who threatened next, taking aim from 20 yards and testing Melia but the longtime Sporting stopper pushed the ball away for a corner.

Melia’s best save of the half came in the 41st minute when Bouanga embarked on a trademark surge down the left wing before cutting the ball back to Olivier Giroud whose first-time effort was blocked by the outstretched foot of Melia at his near post, keeping the game scoreless at the interval.

LAFC found the breakthrough in the 53rd minute when Bogusz toed the line to remain onside before squaring the ball for Giroud to tap home the opener for the hosts.

Sporting responded in immediate fashion, finding the…