Dating back to 2009, when Peter Vermes first became KC's manager, only two Major League Soccer clubs have appeared in both an MLS Cup and a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final over the last seven seasons:
- Sporting Kansas City (2012 U.S. Open Cup, 2013 MLS Cup)
- Real Salt Lake (2009 MLS Cup, 2013 U.S. Open Cup, 2013 MLS Cup)
The two teams will seek to add another U.S. Open Cup final to their resumes when they meet at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday at Sporting Park (tickets) in the competition's semifinal round. The match-up is the fourth of 2015, the most in a calendar year since the series started in 2005, and 23rd in all competitions between the Western Conference foes.
The breakdown thus far? Eight wins for RSL. Eight wins for SKC. Six stalemates.
And no shortage of memorable moments in a rivalry that has garnered headlines from MLSsoccer.com to the Kansas City Star to the Salt Lake Tribune. Here are 10 of the standout sights, sounds and scenes from seasons past to present -- shown below in chronological order.
<strong>KREIS NETS 100TH (8/13/05) | </strong>10 years ago this week, Jason Kreis became the first player in MLS history to reach the 100-goal plateau by placing a left-footed volley past Bo Oshoniyi in his club's 4-2 loss to KC at Rice-Eccles Stadium. After the match, <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/100-rsl-captain-jason-kreis-breaks-century-mark-vs-kc" target="_blank">he called it</a> "one of the best goals that I have ever taken in this League." Kreis, whose No. 9 jersey is retired by RSL, would hang up his cleats in 2007 to become the team's head coach, a position that he held until the end of the 2013 season. |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ykCP13qZQM?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
<strong>OT IN USOC (4/18/07) | </strong>Long before KC and RSL played MLS Cup 2013 in record-cold temperatures, the sides met in snowy conditions at Rice-Eccles Stadium for an elimination match in the form of a 2007 U.S. Open Cup qualifier. Kansas City forced extra time thanks to Sasha Victorine's 88th-minute equalizer, but <a href="http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/real-salt-lake-knock-kansas-city-out-running-lamar-hunt-us-open-cup-2-1-ot" target="_blank">Andy Williams delivered the dagger</a> in the 109th minute. Williams (pictured on right from a later match in 2007) is currently an assistant coach on the RSL technical staff. |
<img alt="" src="https://kansascity-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Andy%20Williams%20for%20Web.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px;"> |
<strong>WELCOME BACK, EJ (7/14/07) | </strong>Eddie Johnson became the first player in MLS history to tally hat tricks in back-to-back matches before joining the U.S. MNT for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa America. He picked up right where he left off with the game-winning goal on his return to Arrowhead Stadium in a <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/kansas-city-wizards-earn-1-0-victory-over-real-salt-lake-stylish-return-star-eddie-john" target="_blank">1-0 victory over RSL</a>. Johnson would score a career-high 15 goals that season en route to 2007 MLS Comeback Player of the Year honors and a transfer to Fulham in the English Premier League. |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Fi5xvWLyn0?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
<strong>WILLIAMS FROM WAY OUT (8/29/07) | </strong>Javier Morales - RSL's career assists leader (72) and second leading scorer (41) all-time -- made an early impact in his MLS debut with an assist 40 seconds into a <a href="http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/wizards-fall-seasons-final-utah-trip" target="_blank">3-1 victory at Rice-Eccles Stadium</a>, but it was Andy Williams who stole the show with his goal from 50 yards out to beat Kevin Hartman (1:03 mark in video). "I knew if I hit one pretty well, he would either backpedal and save it, or we'd get a corner, or I'd score. I just tried it," <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/realsaltlake/ci_6760501" target="_blank">Williams said later</a>. |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7qpUn6lQ58?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
<strong>HISTORY AT RIO TINTO (5/16/09) | </strong>Rio Tinto Stadium opened in late 2008 and RSL had yet to lose a regular season match in their new venue (4-0-2) until Josh Wolff scored both goals (0:22 & 0:33 in video) and Kevin Hartman made seven saves in a <a href="http://m.mlssoccer.com/news/article/real-salt-lake-fall-wizards-wolff-brace" target="_blank">2-0 victory</a> for Kansas City. After Sporting Park hosts a pair of Group A doubleheaders on Oct. 1 and Oct. 3, the RioT will host the semifinals (Oct. 10) and championship (Oct. 13) of the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship. |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UHJQqikCqc8?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
<strong>RSL'S LONE WIN IN KC (8/29/09) | </strong>In the return trip to Kansas City, RSL got their revenge courtesy of a <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/rsl-hold-key-victory-over-kc" target="_blank">1-0 win at CommunityAmerica Ballpark</a> despite seeing Ned Grabavoy sent off in the 42nd minute (one of six red cards in the all-time series). The result stands as Real Salt Lake's only win in club history in KC, where they are 1-5-5 all-time:<br>
- RSL at Arrowhead Stadium: 0-2-1<br>
- RSL at CommunityAmerica Ballpark: 1-1-1<br>
- RSL at Sporting Park: 0-2-3 |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJ7BXAk8uvQ?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
<strong>PRESEASON PROBS (3/8/11) | </strong>The lone "friendly" on this list, a preseason scrimmage in Arizona may be the most-cited source of the SKC-RSL rivalry. The <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/mlscup/2013/news/article/2013/11/29/history-lesson-real-salt-lake-sporting-kc-rivalry-born-arizona-training-fiel" target="_blank">2-2 draw ended early</a> when Roger Espinoza's tackle on Javier Morales sparked a "mass confrontation" that left lingering animosity. "I feel like ever since then, there's certainly been a rivalry," Kreis later said. The two sides have continued to play in preseason, including a reserves rematch the next day and an exhibition earlier this year (photo on right). |
<img alt="" src="https://kansascity-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Seth%20vs%20RSL.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 225px;"> |
<p><strong>WIN #200 FOR KC (4/14/12) | </strong>The clash between Western Conference leaders RSL and Eastern Conference leaders SKC was one for the record books as Sporting secured their 200th regular season win in a <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-04-14-kc-v-rsl/recap" target="_blank">1-0 victory at Sporting Park</a>. In a foreshadowing of the MLS Cup match-up to come 18 months later, Aurelien Collin headed home a Graham Zusi corner kick for the game's lone goal and SKC became the first team to start a season with six straight wins in regulation since 1996.</p> |
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="“169”" id="cf9a39coi" name="cf9a39con" width="“300”"><param name="movie" value="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/941967/941967_2012-04-14-231107.640hq.mp4"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="“169”" id="cf9a39cei" name="cf9a39cen" src="http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/941967/941967_2012-04-14-231107.640hq.mp4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="“300”"></object> |
<strong>MLS CUP 2013 (12/7/13) | </strong>The coldest recorded game in MLS history at 20 degrees. The longest penalty kick shootout in MLS history at 10 rounds. The final game for two club legends in RSL's Jason Kreis and SKC's Jimmy Nielsen. <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-12-07-skc-v-rsl/recap" target="_blank">MLS Cup 2013</a> had it all at Sporting Park. Alvaro Saborio (52') and Aurelien Collin (76') traded goals, while the woodwork played a pivotal part with three RSL shots -- and Lovel Palmer's fateful penalty attempt -- all pinging off the posts in KC's historic triumph. |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bhi_4X7kWPM?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
<p><strong>LATE DRAMA (7/20/13 & 6/21/15) | </strong>Every series has twists and turns. Sporting KC vs. Real Salt Lake is no exception. In 2013, <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-07-20-rsl-v-skc/recap" target="_blank">Ike Opara's 97th minute header</a> -- the latest goal in club history -- snapped RSL's 11-game unbeaten streak. In June, <a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-06-21-real-salt-lake-vs-sporting-kansas-city/recap" target="_blank">Olmes Garcia's 93rd minute shot</a> -- the latest game-winning goal in club history -- snapped SKC's eight-game unbeaten streak.</p><p>"There’s a history here between this club and Salt Lake," said Sporting KC goalkeeper Tim Melia, the first ever player to join SKC after playing for RSL. "Every game’s got to be competitive." The stats bear that out with 17 of the 22 all-time meetings (and all six match-ups in the past four years) decided by a goal or less. </p> |
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q4HdXnw9Kp4?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sbcsRnAL5fM?rel=0&showinfo=0"></a> |
