By The Numbers Open Cup Quarterfinals: #SKCvOMA| June 22, 2022

"By The Numbers" is a season-long series that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals return to Children’s Mercy Park with Sporting Kansas City hosting Union Omaha in a win-or-go-home battle for the right to play in the semifinals. The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, June 22 with the match available to stream via an ESPN+ subscription and tickets on sale at SeatGeek.com.

These two sides have never seen each other before despite being rather close geographically. Union Omaha is competing in their first Open Cup while Sporting is in search of their MLS-leading fifth Open Cup title.

Below is a statistical preview detailing everything you need to know about Wednesday’s Open Cup clash between Sporting Kansas City and Union Omaha.

Head-to-Head

• Wednesday will mark the first-ever meeting between the clubs.
• Sporting has not faced a lower-division American club in a competitive match since traveling to face former NASL side Minnesota United on June 15, 2016 in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32.
• Wednesday marks the first time a lower-division American club has visited Children’s Mercy Park for a competitive match since Saint Louis FC traveled to Kansas City on June 16, 2015, for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32.
• Union Omaha have beaten two MLS clubs on the road to reach the Open Cup quarterfinals, ousting Chicago Fire FC in the Third Round and Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16.
• Conor Doyle is the only Union Omaha player who has competed in MLS, having played for D.C. United (2013-2015) and the Colorado Rapids (2016).

Sporting Kansas City

• 2022 MLS record: 4-9-4, 16 points (12th in Western Conference)
• 2022 MLS home record: 3-3-2, 11 point (8 GF, 8 GA)
• 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs: Lost to Real Salt Lake in Western Conference Semifinals
• All-time Honors: Two MLS Cups (2000, 2013), four Open Cups (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017), one Supporters' Shield (2000).
• Sporting have won four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles, tied with Chicago Fire FC and Seattle Sounders FC for the most among MLS clubs and one behind Maccabi Los Angeles and Bethlehem Steel for most in the tournament’s 107-year history.
• Sporting owns a 23-7-3 home record in the U.S. Open Cup and hasn’t lost at home in the competition since falling in the 2014 Round of 16 to the Portland Timbers.
• Sporting have prevailed in 23 U.S. Open Cup matches since 2012, more than any other team.
• Sporting have reached the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals for the fourth time since 2015, tied for the most of any team during that period.
• Sporting’s four domestic cup titles over the last 10 seasons are tied with Seattle for the most in MLS since 2012.
• Forward Daniel Salloi’s five career goals in the U.S. Open Cup are one shy of tying Dom Dwyer for the most in club history.
•  Forward Johnny Russell has four goals in his last five matches and leads the team with seven goals this season in all competitions.
• Sporting KC Academy products Cam Duke and Felipe Hernandez are tied for the team lead with three assists this season.
• Goalkeeper Tim Melia owns an 8-1-2 record in the U.S. Open Cup as a member of Sporting. His two draws were shootout victories in the 2015 final at Philadelphia and the 2017 semifinal against San Jose.
• Manager Peter Vermes has won three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles, the most among active MLS head coaches, and boasts a 22-7-3 record in the competition dating back to 2010. The three draws account for shootout victories in 2012, 2015 and 2017.

Union Omaha

• 2022 USL League One record: 3-2-4, 13 points (9th in USL League One)
• 2022 USL League One road record: 2-1-3, 9 points (7 GF, 8 GA)
• 2021 USL League One Playoffs: Beat Greenville Triumph FC in USL League One Finals
• All-time Honors: One USL League One Championship (2021)
• Union Omaha are in their third year of existence and competing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the first time.
• Union Omaha have won four U.S. Open Cup matches to reach the quarterfinals, including three comeback victories.
• 2nd Round: won 2-1 vs. Des Moines Menace (trailed 1-0)
• 3rd Round: won 5-4 on PKs after 2-2 draw at Chicago Fire FC (trailed 1-0 and 2-1)
• Round of 32: won 2-0 vs. Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC
• Round of 16: won 2-1 at Minnesota United FC (trailed 1-0)
• Led by head coach Jay Mims, Omaha were crowned 2021 USL League One champions. They finished atop the league standings with a 14-5-9 record before claiming home wins over FC Tucson and Greenville Triumph in the playoffs.
• Omaha currently occupies seventh place in the 11-team USL League One, posting a 3-2-4 record.
• Forward Noe Meza leads Omaha with five goals in all competitions, including a team-best two in the Open Cup.

Milestones and Miscellany

• Manager Peter Vermes has coached in over half of Sporting’s regular season matches all-time (420 of 837) and over half of the club’s matches in all competitions (497 of 987).
• Forward Johnny Russell ranks third in club history with 45 regular season goals and fourth with 50 goals in all competitions.
• Midfielder Roger Espinoza is one shy of passing Matt Besler for most Open Cup starts in club history (19) and nine minutes shy of becoming the first Sporting player to eclipse 2,000 minutes in the Open Cup.
• Forward Daniel Salloi has five career Open Cup goals, one shy of tying Dom Dwyer for most in club history.