Sporting Kansas City will look to write another glorious chapter in club history on Sept. 20 when the New York Red Bulls visit Children’s Mercy Park for the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, slated for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
In our 21-day Countdown to Cup, SportingKC.com is visiting the most relevant storylines, historical narratives and statistical trends surrounding the Open Cup Final, U.S. Soccer’s National Championship.
Our third installment of the daily countdown showcases New York's resolute run to the Final, where they will hope to hoist their first-ever Open Cup title.
Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls approach Sept. 20 with dissimilar pasts in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Manager Peter Vermes' men are eying their third Open Cup title in six seasons and the club's fourth overall. From nail-biting shootouts and double-rainbows to bandaged heads and euphoric goals, Kansas City's Open Cup success has provided some of the greatest moments in team history.
The Red Bulls — Supporters' Shield champions in 2013 and 2015 and poised to extend their impressive playoff streak to eight seasons this year — have yet to experience Open Cup glory as an MLS charter member. The 2017 Final will give head coach Jesse Marsch's side a golden opportunity to end that drought and deliver the franchise its third major trophy.
Like Vermes, Marsch has made it clear throughout the summer just how much he covets the Open Cup. New York has trotted out strong lineups in each of their four tournament triumphs, and the just reward is a spot in the championship. In the space below, we take a look at the Red Bulls' testing path to the final.
Fourth Round: Won 1-0 vs. New York City FC
The Red Bulls may have gone winless in three regular season matchups with their Big Apple rivals this season, but a narrow victory in mid-June ousted the Sky Blues from the tournament and kick-started a run of seven wins in eight games across all competitions.
New York's Open Cup campaign nearly ended as soon as it began, as David Villa and Tommy McNamara went dangerously close in the first half of a match that saw both teams field strong lineups. Second-half substitute Daniel Royer was the difference maker, rifling home in the 67th minute as NYCFC bowed out of the round of 32 for the third year running.
Round of 16: Tied 1-1 vs. Philadelphia Union (Won 5-3 in PKs)
Sweet revenge came in dramatic fashion as the Red Bulls edged the Philadelphia Union 5-3 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw through regulation. All five New York players buried their spot kicks, while goalkeeper Ryan Meara made a decisive save to deny Fafa Picault and propel his team to the next round. The Red Bulls had suffered defeat to Philadelphia in each of the previous two Open Cups, including a shootout loss in the 2015 quarterfinals.
A pair of household names combined on the hosts' go-ahead goal when Bradley Wright-Phillips set up Sacha Kljestan just before halftime, but an 86th-minute equalizer from Roland Alberg set the stage for extra time.
Quarterfinals: Won 1-0 at New England Revolution
Harvard University's Jordan Field was the site for a gritty quarterfinal showdown between longtime East Coast rivals. A delicately poised battle swayed in favor of New York when Revolution defender Benjamin Angoua was issued a straight red card for a violent foul on Wright-Phillips in the 75th minute. The English striker would settle the match 12 minutes later, finishing neatly to send the Red Bulls to their first Open Cup semifinal in 14 years. Remarkably, it was the first career Open Cup goal for Wright-Phillips, who had scored 85 times in MLS up to that point.
Semifinals: Won 3-2 at FC Cincinnati (AET)
With 15 minutes remaining in last month's Open Cup semifinal, the Cinderella slipper seemed to fit the foot of FC Cincinnati. The USL club was on the verge of becoming the first lower-division team to reach the Open Cup Final, holding a 2-0 lead over the Red Bulls with a sold-out crowd of 33,250 watching at raucous Nippert Stadium.
The script flipped emphatically over the final quarter-hour. Gonzalo Veron cut the deficit in half on 75 minutes before a superb header from Wright-Phillips restored parity three minutes later. FC Cincinnati's storybook ride was suddenly tanking like a lead balloon, and New York would capitalize on their newfound momentum in extra time. Another excellent Wright-Phillips header completed the comeback in the 101st minute, ending Cincinnati's admirable run while preserving the Red Bulls' dreams of an elusive Open Cup crown.
