"By The Numbers" presented by Compass Minerals is a season-long series that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.
Sporting Kansas City will begin its pursuit of a record-tying fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title on Tuesday when National Premier Soccer League side Tulsa Athletic visits Children's Mercy Park.
Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT and tickets are available at SeatGeek.com, including a buy one, get one offer that grants admission to both the Open Cup game as well as Sporting’s MLS home match against CF Montreal on Saturday. Fans can also catch live broadcasts on YouTube, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.
We take a statistical look at the matchup in our newest edition of By the Numbers, presented by Compass Minerals.
Head-to-Head
- Tuesday will mark the first meeting between the clubs. Sporting have never faced a team from Tulsa in a competitive match, while Tulsa Athletic have never faced an MLS club in a competitive match.
- Sporting are facing a fourth-division opponent in the Open Cup for the first time since 2013 when the club won 2-0 against the Des Moines Menace in the Round of 32 at Children’s Mercy Park.
- The 2023 U.S. Open Cup third round will feature 24 matches consisting of 30 second-round winners and 18 MLS clubs entering the competition. The 24 third-round winners will join eight additional MLS clubs already into the Round of 32.
Sporting Kansas City
- 2023 MLS record: 0-6-3, 3 points (14th in West | 3 GF, 13 GA)
- Best Open Cup Finish: Champions (2004, 2012, 2015, 2017)
- 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 108-year history.
- Sporting own a 24-7-3 home record in the U.S. Open Cup and haven’t lost at home in the competition since falling in the Round of 16 to the Portland Timbers on June 24, 2014.
- Sporting have prevailed in 12 straight U.S. Open Cup home matches, posting an 11-0-1 record since 2015. The lone draw accounts for a shootout win following a 1-1 stalemate against the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2017 semifinals.
- Sporting have prevailed in 24 U.S. Open Cup matches since 2012, more than any other team.
- Sporting are 15-5-4 against non-MLS opponents in the U.S. Open Cup all-time.
- Tuesday marks the first time Sporting have entered the U.S. Open Cup proper competition prior to the Round of 32.
- Manager Peter Vermes has won three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles, the most among active MLS head coaches, and boasts a 23-7-4 record in the competition dating back to 2010.
- Forward Daniel Salloi has seven career Open Cup goals, the most in Sporting history.
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza is Sporting’s all-time leader in Open Cup appearances (24) and minutes played (2,139).
- Goalkeeper John Pulskamp started all four Open Cup matches for Sporting last season, posting a 3-0-1 record with two shutouts and a 0.75 goals against average.
Tulsa Athletic
- 2023 NPSL record: Season starts on May 6
- Best Open Cup Finish: Third Round (2023)
- Tulsa are the only remaining National Premier Soccer League club and the only remaining fourth-division club in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup (56 teams still competing).
- Tulsa claimed 1-0 home wins in the first two rounds of the 2023 Open Cup, defeating USL League Two side Brazos Valley Cavalry on March 22 and upsetting city rivals FC Tulsa of the USL Championship on April 5.
- Forward Stefan Cvetanovic scored the winner against Brazos Valley Cavalry. Defender KB Harris scored the winner against FC Tulsa.
- Goalkeeper Bryson Reed has posted shutouts in each of Tulsa’s first two Open Cup matches this season.
- Tulsa Athletic are scheduled to begin their NPSL regular season campaign on May 6.
Milestones and Miscellany
- Children’s Mercy Park will host its 250th Sporting home match on Tuesday, including all competitions and ticketed friendlies.
- Forward Daniel Salloi is one shy of his 50th goal for Sporting in all competitions.
- Goalkeeper Tim Melia is one shy of 250 appearances for Sporting in all competitions. He would be the ninth player in club history to eclipse that milestone.
