The time is here and the stage is set for the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup Final. The New York Red Bulls have had a long and tough road to get to the final. However, none of that matters now as they will be going up a very tough Sporting Kansas City side. The Red Bulls will be trying to win not only their first U.S Open Cup, but their first competitive cup in club history. Sporting KC on the other hand will be looking to secure its third Open Cup in their club’s history.
U.S Open Cup Final: New York Red Bulls Preview
What to Watch For
Frustration From RBNY
The Red Bulls are heading into this match on a very frustrating stretch of matches. They have drawn four straight and currently finding themselves just above the red line for the Eastern Conference Playoff race. None was more frustrating then the recent match which saw the Red Bulls draw the Philadelphia Union 0-0. Despite fielding a “B” squad, the Red Bulls outshot the Union 16-6 on total shots and 8-2 in shots on target. The Red Bulls will need to take this frustration and use it find a breakthrough. This team can’t expect to miss this many chances and not get punished for it by a much stronger opposition.
Ryan Meara is the Man
Jesse Marsch ended the specualtion and decided to choose Ryan Meara as the starting goalkeeper for this final. In the end, Meara has deserved this chance to start. Meara also has a little more experience then Luis Robles in big time knockout style matches. He led New York Red Bulls II to the 2016 USL Cup and had quite a few heroics on the way to the title. Playing hero in multiple penalty shootouts during that run, Meara has a good amount of experience to help him should this final go to PKs. Meara was also huge in the defeat of the Union in the penalty shootout back in Round of 16. This will be Meara’s trophy to win or lose in the end.
Open Cup Warriors
The Red Bulls certainly have had a tough road to get here. They first had to face their crosstown rivals in New York City FC. A squad that is having quite a successful year as they currently sit second in the Eastern Conference Table. Then, had to face a Philly Union side that had knocked them out of this very tournament the past two seasons. Add a trip to face the New England Revolution, as well as face a USL side in FC Cincinnati that had pretty much everyone pulling for them in the soccer world. Top it off with a third straight road match for a final and the Red Bulls are certainly ready for this fight.
Predicted Starting XI
Match Prediction
In a cup final any logical prediction is normally thrown out the window. This is going to be a physical and gritty match. With the road the Red Bulls had to take to get here, the slight edge goes to them. The Red Bulls have shown the grit and fight to go on the road and get some impressive results this season. In the end, RBNY lift the trophy winning by a score of 2-0.
