New York Red Bulls and Sporting KC are set to tangle for the 104th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday in Missouri.
[ MORE: League Cup wrap ]
The longtime rivals met more often while Eastern Conference foes -- SKC now plies its trade in the West -- and KC leads the league series 21W-20L-13T.
Here’s everything you need to know about the most prestigious tournament in American soccer, one that earns a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.
- Sporting KC is looking to move into a tie with Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders for the most USOC titles amongst active teams with four. Maccabi Los Angeles and Bethlehem Steel won five but are no longer active clubs (The USL side Bethlehem Steel FC is a new entity).
- The Red Bulls, meanwhile, enter their second final in search of their first Open Cup.
- New York knocked off New York City FC, Philadelphia Union, New England Revolution, and FC Cincinnati to reach the final.
- KC topped Minnesota United, Houston Dynamo, FC Dallas, and San Jose Earthquakes.
- The sides met May 3 at the same venue, with Dom Dwyer scoring twice in a KC victory.
- KC is 3-0 in USOC finals, having won in 2002, 2012, and 2015.
As for Wednesday, the Red Bulls enter the match without an MLS win since Aug. 12. That five-match span includes four-straight ties. KC has two wins and a draw from its last four games.
Dwyer’s not around for KC anymore, but the firepower remains. Home field advantage will likely tilt the field for KC, but this is the sort of match that begs for a Bradley Wright-Phillips moment or two. We’ll call it for the hosts, but just... 2-1.
