Five Things presented by Children’s Mercy Kansas City: Sporting takes on Indy Eleven with spot in U.S. Open Cup final on the line | Aug. 27, 2024

Sporting Kansas City is set for a monumental U.S. Open Cup Semifinal this week when the team hosts USL Championship side Indy Eleven at Children’s Mercy Park on Tuesday night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT and will be available to stream for free on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV. The match will be available on the radio locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish). Tickets are available via SeatGeek.com.

1. OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL ON DECK

Buoyed by a dominant 3-0 victory over Orlando City SC in the club’s return to MLS regular season action on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park, Sporting Kansas City will now shift their attention to a monumental U.S. Open Cup Semifinal against USL Championship side Indy Eleven on Tuesday night.

After a dramatic 2-1 quarterfinal win in extra time over FC Dallas on July 10, Sporting Kansas City will continue the club’s quest for a record-tying fifth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy on Tuesday.

Sporting and Indy Eleven will meet for the first time in a competitive match. Sporting advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 win in extra time at Union Omaha (USL League One) in the Round of 32, a 4-0 victory over FC Tulsa (USL Championship) in the Round of 16 and a 2-1 triumph in extra time against FC Dallas (MLS) in the Quarterfinals.

Sporting have prevailed in 28 U.S. Open Cup matches since 2012, more than any other team in American soccer, during a run that includes an active 15-match home unbeaten streak in U.S. Open Cup play since the start of 2015.

2. XI vs. ELEVEN

Sporting Kansas City is set to battle it out with USL Championship outfit Indy Eleven for a spot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final this Tuesday when the two sides meet at Children’s Mercy Park in the Semifinals.

Tuesday’s game will be a first for both teams as Sporting and Indy have never previously met in any competition. Sporting has a 18-5-4 record against lower division teams in the Open Cup, including a 12-3-0 mark at home against non-MLS sides.

Indy currently occupy fifth place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference with a 10-9-5 record. Following a brilliant spring where Indy won eight straight matches from April 27 through June 15 in league play, head coach Sean McAuley has seen his side’s form drop off with just one win in their last nine games (1-5-3) since that hot streak.

3. DAVIS SHINES FOLLOWING RETURN FROM OLYMPICS

Sporting Kansas City’s Homegrown midfielder Jake Davis continues to go from strength to strength in the 2024 campaign, marking his return to MLS action following his Olympic adventure with a man of the match performance in the club’s 3-0 victory over Orlando City SC on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park.

Davis opened the scoring moments before halftime, picking up Stephen Afrifa’s lay-off and driving beyond multiple Orlando defenders before sending a pin-point finish into the top corner for what would stand as his second game-winning goal of the season.

The goal was Davis’ first at Children’s Mercy Park, having previously scored in a 3-1 victory at Toronto FC on March 30 and a 3-2 loss at Austin FC on May 18.

Early in the second half, Davis was heavily involved in Sporting’s second goal as he marauded down the right wing and picked out Erik Thommy on the edge of the area who in-turn fed Daniel Salloi who found the back of the net. Credited with a secondary assist on the goal, Davis recorded a goal and an assist in the same MLS match for the second time in his career, having done so in the 3-1 win over TFC on March 30.

4. SALLOI REACHES MAJOR MILESTONE

Sporting Kansas City forward Daniel Salloi shook off the cobwebs with a landmark goal during the club’s comfortable 3-0 victory over Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.

Salloi began and finished the move that led to his goal - first clearing the ball inside his own penalty area before sprinting the length of the field to latch onto Erik Thommy’s slipped pass and firing beyond Pedro Gallese in the Orlando goal for his second goal of the season and his first since May 11.

The goal sees Salloi record his 100th goal contribution in club history across all competitions (60 goals, 40 assists).

5. RUSSELL HITS 100 IN REGULAR SEASON

Sporting Kansas City captain Johnny Russell produced a vintage cameo off the bench during Saturday night’s 3-0 victory over Orlando City SC at Children’s Mercy Park to reach a major statistical milestone.

After tormenting the Orlando defense for the final half hour of the match, Russell’s impudent back-heel flick found Alan Pulido whose cut-back picked out Remi Walter to fire home the third and final goal of the night.

Credited with a secondary assist on the goal, Russell reached 100 goal contributions in regular season play for the club (60 goals, 40 assists) - becoming the third player in KC history to reach the century mark alongside icons Preki (169) and Graham Zusi (105).

Russell has been producing at a solid clip after an injury-affected start to the campaign, tallying 11 of his 12 goal contributions on the season over his last 18 appearances.