Seven years ago today, Sporting Kansas City painted the wall at Children's Mercy Park for the very first time.
In the first club championship match played at the world-class venue, a sold-out crowd saw Sporting win their second Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Aug. 8, 2012.
After a 37-minute rain delay and a 1-1 draw in regulation, the hosts beat three-time defending Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC 3-2 on spot kicks. Captain Jimmy Nielsen made a crucial save in the fourth round of penalties to preserve Sporting’s title hopes before Paulo Nagamura gave his team a 3-2 lead. Eddie Johnson then fired his shot over the crossbar and into a delirious Cauldron supporters section, giving Sporting their first trophy since 2004.
