2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup:
From Beginning to End
This year was the 99th edition of the USSF’s national soccer tournament, featuring amateur clubs all the way up to Major League Soccer. Last year Seattle capped it’s third straight cup victory, once again they were favorites to win it again. In 2012, the tournament was increased from forty to sixty-four clubs involved. This year’s format would give every USL PRO and NASL club a bye along with every MLS club having a double bye. This is the first time that all three American professional soccer leagues received a first round bye.
The first round would consist of sixteen amateur teams made up of clubs from the National Premier Soccer League, United States Adult Soccer Association, United States Club Soccer, and USL’s Premier Development League. First round winners were; Michigan Bucks, Long Island Rough Riders, Cal FC, PSA Elite, Fresno Fuego, KC Athletics, Reading United AC, Brooklyn Italians, Jacksonville United, Aegean Hawks, Georgia Revolution, Laredo Heat, Chicago Fire Premier, Des Moines Menace, El Paso Patriots, and Ventura County Fusion. The second round would show how they amateur clubs stacked up against the lower tier professional clubs. There were three upsets in this round if that’s what you call it. Cal FC defeated USL PRO’s Wilmington Hammerheads 4-0 along with Michigan Bucks and Ventura County Fusion who also defeated USL PRO opponents. The NASL went 6-0 and in this round and the USL PRO went 7-3. Sixteen American MLS clubs awaited these three amateur and thirteen professional clubs in the third round.
The US Open Cup is known for the Cinderella stories like Harrisburg City Islanders and Richmond Kickers have had consistently in their history but this year the third round held more than one or two upsets, try eight to be exact. That’s right, eight MLS clubs went one and done in this year’s cup after being defeated by a lower tier side. Many of these match weren’t even close like Minnesota Stars dominating victory at Real Salt Lake by a score of 3-1.The most notable of them all was the come from behind victory Harrisburg had over New England Revolution, they were down 3-0 with nine minutes remaining in the second period of extra time. Harrisburg scored three goals in nine minutes to force penalty kicks and would end up winning the match 4-3 on penalties over New England.
In the fourth round, three of the eight cinderella stories would continue on closer to midnight. All three clubs were member of the USL PRO, a league some place third on the United States Soccer Pyramid (I beg to differ, USL PRO is just as good if not better than NASL in my opinion). Harrisburg City Islanders defeated the New York Red Bulls for the second time in two meeting in club history by a score of 3-1 in added time. Dayton Dutch Lions defeated the Michigan Bucks and Charlotte Eagles were victorious at the San Antonio Scorpions home grounds. Two amateur clubs, three NASL clubs, and three MLS clubs were eliminated in the fourth round.
The quarterfinals are where the men were separated from the boys. Philadelphia looked very strong under new manager John Hackworth with a 5-2 victory over Harrisburg after being defeated by their USL affiliate a few weeks earlier. Sporting KC dominated the Dayton Dutch Lions with a three to nil victory. Seattle continued its run towards a fourth straight cup title with a win over San Jose and they would face Chivas USA who defeated the Charlotte Eagles 2-1. Philadelphia hosted Sporting KC but was not as successful as when they faced them in league play losing by a score of 2-0 in front of the home crowd at PPL Park. Seattle Sounders were looking to make a fourth straight trip to the US Open Cup final by defeating Chivas at Starfire Sports Complex. Seattle looked in great form for achieving a four peat in the US Open Cup by defeating Chivas 4-1 in front of over 4,000 plus fans.
The 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final was set for August 8th at Livestrong Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Over 18,000 fans showed up for America’s domestic cup final. Sporting Kansas City was looking to dethrone Seattle Sounders FC and earn the rebranded Kansas City club it’s first trophy. Kansas City Wizards won the cup in 2004 and the fans have waited long enough to have Lamar Hunt’s trophy return home. There was no scoring in the first half but Kamara has a laser shot from 30 yards away hit off the bar breathing hope into KC’s chance of a goal to take the lead. Seattle quickly responded with a perfect headed shot off a corner but was nicely saved by MLS All Star Jimmy Nielsen. Each team came out in the second half for what could be the Cup winning goal. In the 82nd minute, a Sounder handball in the box setting up Kei Kamara with a penalty kick to give SKC a one goal advantage, he converted. Sporting was just minutes away from winning the US Open Cup but Seattle was not going to let their run at four straight end easy. Less than five minutes later Seattle scored on a set piece of the head of Zach Scott. Seattle hopes at four straight titles were still alive and the game would end up heading into extra time.
After an additional thirty minute of play, each club was deadlocked at one goal a piece. The US Open Cup would be decided on penalty kicks, fitting the intensity of a domestic cup final. Kamara scored first for Sporting in front of the Kansas City Cauldron, Seattle would level at the end of the first round with a goal by Brad Evans. After a couple of shots sailing over the bar and saves, the score was 2-2 heading into the fifth round of kicks. Nagamura’s attempt for SKC was saved but then waved off because Seattle’s keeper had come off the line giving Sporting another chance and this Nagamura finished in the left corner of the frame. Eddie Johnson was Seattle’s last hope at keeping their chance at four straight cups alive, unlike the MLS all-star game Eddie failed to come through clutch and kicked the ball into Sporting faithful. Sporting Kansas City defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-1 (3-2) in the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final.
This year’s tournament was a great edition of one America’s most historic sporting events. The atmosphere at Livestrong Park was fantastic thanks to the Sporting KC faithful of Cauldron, SouthStand Supporters and just regular fans and to the visiting Sounders’ Emerald City Supporters and Gorilla FC. It was a memorable summer night that many will not forget. The match was also televised nationally on Gol TV for fans across the states to watch. Next year will be the 100th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, many are looking forward to another exciting tournament.
For more info on the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup go to http://thecup.us/