By the Numbers presented by Compass Minerals

By The Numbers: Sporting KC vs. Minnesota United FC - June 18, 2014

Sporting Kansas City begins their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign on Wednesday night as Minnesota United FC of the North American Soccer League visits Sporting Park. Minnesota United won the 2014 NASL spring season title with a 6-1-2 record, edging out the New York Cosmos by a point, to claim their first trophy since the 2011 NASL Championship.


Wednesday marks the first ever meeting between the clubs and serves as a reunion between managers Peter Vermes and Manny Lagos, who were teammates at the New York-New Jersey MetroStars during the inaugural MLS season in 1996. Here's a closer look at the two teams in this game's By The Numbers preview.


Notable stats


  • Sporting KC is 4-0-1 all-time in the U.S. Open Cup round of 32 (0-1 in extra time/penalty shootouts)
  • Sporting KC is 11-5-3 all-time vs. non-MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup (1-2 in extra time/penalty shootouts)
  • Sporting KC is 12-6-2 all-time at home in the U.S. Open Cup (2-0 in penalty shootouts)
  • C.J. Sapong is tied with Davy Arnaud and Igor Simutenkov as the club's all-time leading goal scorer (5) in the U.S. Open Cup
  • Jacob Peterson and Seth Sinovic are tied for fourth on the club's all-time assists chart (2) in U.S. Open Cup competition
  • Eric Kronberg has the most U.S. Open Cup shutouts (5) and games played (10) among all goalkeepers in clubs history
  • Minnesota United forward Christian Ramirez led the league in goals (5) and assists (4) during the 2014 NASL spring season and was named NASL Player of the Month for May and June
  • Ramirez was involved in nine of Minnesota United's 16 goals during the spring campaign
  • Minnesota United allowed nine goals in nine NASL matches during the 2014 spring season, second-fewest in the league
  • Defender Justin Davis and midfielder Aaron Pitchkolan were the only two Minnesota United players to play the full 90 minutes in all nine NASL matches
  • Ten of Minnesota United's 27 players were born outside the United States, eight of whom have spent significant time playing overseas
  • Minnesota United began their 2014 U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 road victory over the Des Moines Menace on May 28
  • Minnesota United has reached the U.S. Open Cup round of 16 once in team history: the club knocked off Real Salt Lake in the 2012 round of 32, its first and only win against an MLS side, before losing to the San Jose Earthquakes
  • Minnesota United forward Pablo Campos is the all-time leading scorer in NASL history with 46 goals
  • Minnesota United forward Simone Bracalello is the club's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals in all competitions


Team Leaders (2014 regular season)

<strong>Sporting KC (MLS, 15 games)</strong>
<strong>Stat</strong>
<strong>Minnesota United (NASL, 9 games)</strong>
Dom Dwyer 11
<strong>GOALS</strong>
Christian Ramirez 5
Benny FeilhaberGraham Zusi 4
<strong>ASSISTS</strong>
Christian Ramirez 4
Eric Kronberg 35
<strong>SAVES</strong>
Matt Van Oekel 23
Eric Kronberg 1,350
<strong>MINUTES</strong>
Justin Davis/Aaron Pitchkolan 810