Kansas City, KS (September 20th, 2017) – Sporting KC defeated the New York Red Bulls by a score of 2-1 to win the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
Sporting KC Win 2017 US Open Cup, Defeat New York Red Bulls 2-1
Sporting KC and the New York Red Bulls met in the 104th edition of the U.S. Open Cup Final. New York was in their second final in club history, while Sporting KC were trying to win their fourth. Children’s Mercy Park’s atmosphere ended being the perfect setting for an incredible 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final.
In the 25th minute, little Latif Blessing put Sporting KC up 1-0. The ball was quickly worked out wide to an overlapping Graham Zusi. The man known for his impeccable delivery, delivered again. The ball was whipped in with pace to the back post. It missed two of the three red bull center backs and Blessing timed his run to perfection, heading it to the top corner. Ryan Meara couldn’t get a strong enough hand to it.
The littlest man on the field with the biggest goal of the match. #GottaHaveThatCup #WeTogether https://t.co/nLho30pNXJ
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) September 21, 2017
Latif Blessing then went down to injury in the 43rd minute. But right before coming off he sent an insane ball over the top to Gerso Fernandes. If Gerso’s finish had been a bit tidier, Sporting would’ve gone up 2-0, but Meara did really well to block it.
Right before halftime, the game got a little chippy. Luckily, in the second half, that didn’t lead to more chippy play. It was an intense, tight affair in the second half. Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Klejistan were really starting to have an influence on the match. Then, Benny Feilhaber engineered a moment of magic.
In the 66th minute, Daniel Salloi had tucked inside to play as a second striker along Diego Rubio. The ball was switched out wide to Feilhaber. His pass over the top of the Red Bulls defense was inch perfect as Daniel Salloi ran onto it, and tipped it down underneath Ryan Meara for Sporting’s second.
New York Red Bulls pulled one back in the 90th minute, after Bradley Wright-Phillips pounced on a rebound from a Tim Melia save to make it 2-1. With six minutes of stoppage time, Sporting KC had to defend for their lives.
The visitors ultimately ran out of gas after six minutes of stoppage time. The match ended 2-1, giving the home side the 2017 U.S. Open Cup. Sporting have now won four Open Cup trophies, and three since 2012. The Red Bulls ultimately didn’t have enough urgency or energy late on. They’ll have to wait till at least next year to lift their first Open Cup.
