The 109th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is down to the final four teams, all of them chasing history. Indy Eleven, the last lower division team left in the competition, are not only seeking to be just the second USL team to lift the trophy, but the state of Indiana has never had a team reach the championship game. They will travel to face Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday who are trying to win a record-tying fifth US Open Cup title. Another team looking to join the five-timers club is the Seattle Sounders FC and they will host Los Angeles FC, who are trying to bring the trophy back to the City of Angels for the first time since 2005. That game will take place on Wednesday. The Semifinal winners are scheduled to face off in the US Open Cup Final on Sept. 25.
Indy Eleven's Cinderella Run
Indy Eleven, coming off a road loss in league play in Las Vegas, currently sit fifth in the USL Championship’s eastern conference standings. A 2024 with its share of off-field distractions, including a potential MLS franchise bid for the city of Indianapolis that threatens the 11-year-old club’s very existence, has been challenging to say the least.
Even so, and perhaps spurred on by these challenges, the Hoosiers managed to beat league mates San Antonio FC, Detroit City and Atlanta United of MLS in their best-ever run in a U.S. Open Cup.
“Things like that [the possible MLS bid] can impact the players, of course, but we’re professionals and we have to do our job. That’s what we’re here to do. Regardless of the circumstances, you have to perform,” said Indy Eleven striker Augustine ‘Augi’ Williams, who scored the opener in a 2-1 upset of former Open Cup and MLS Champions Atlanta United in the Quarterfinal Round.
Williams’ coach, who’s occupied the technical area in both MLS and the Division II USL Championship, knows the stresses of the underdog and the top dog both in circumstances like these. “There’s anxieties on both sides,” said Sean McAuley, before adding with a laugh: “I’d much rather be on the team with Lionel Messi and Ronaldo and all them – they’ve got a slightly better chance!”
Aside from the significant obstacle of being the underdog, and all that goes with it, Indy Eleven will play their Semifinal on the road at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City.
Sporting KC’s Pursuit of History
It’s the venue of the last trophy-lift Sporting KC performed as a club. That was the 2017 U.S. Open Cup. Things have changed much since then, though SKC’s boss remains one Peter Vermes (the longest-serving coach in MLS history). The Kansans currently sit third-from-bottom in MLS’ West with only four wins from 26 games.
Many of the SKC players who’ll line up against Indy Eleven on Tuesday will remember losing a recent Open Cup Semifinal to a lower-division team. Connoisseurs of marquis Cupsets will recall Sacramento Republic’s run to the 2022 Final went through Sporting Kansas City.
“It’s been a difficult season, everyone can see that,” said SKC captain Johnny Russell, who scored his penalty in the shootout loss to Republic FC in the 2022 Final Four. “So, to add another trophy to a very successful side through the years, to put yourself in being a part of that history, is huge for me as a player, as a captain.
“Opportunities to win trophies don’t come around that often,” Russell added.
Seattle Sounders FC’s Quest for Dominance
The Seattle Sounders punctuated their start to life in MLS in 2009 by lifting our U.S. Open Cup trophy. They then went on to win three more of them in the next four years. In many ways, the Washington State-based club built a modern identity on the foundations of this country’s oldest and most historic tournament.
Ten years on since lifting their last Open Cup, and with only goalkeeper Stefan Frei remaining from that 2014 Champion team of a decade ago, the Sounders are two wins away from becoming the first MLS side to lift the U.S. Open Cup five times (Sporting Kansas City are also in the race to make that same MLS-Era Open Cup history).
In the Sounders’ way stand mighty LAFC, who recently finished runners-up the Leagues Cup and are very much in contention to claim their second MLS title as one of the top teams so far through the regular season. The 2022 MLS Champions have never won an Open Cup – the closest they came was way back in their inaugural year of 2018 when they reached this same Semifinal Round.
“I love the Open Cup and I would love to top this year off with a trophy,” said Sounders midfielder Paul Rothrock, a local kid-turned-starter who’s having a breakout 2024. “We’re two wins away from lifting another Open Cup and that’s the way we’re looking at.
“I think our odds are better [against LAFC] this time,” Rothrock added ahead of Wednesday’s Semifinal, which will be played at the intimate environs of Starfire Sports Complex (the Sounders normal venue of Lumen Field is unavailable for the date). “There’s only so many times they can beat us!”
Rothrock is referring to the Sounders’ recent record against LAFC. The SoCal club have won the three previous meetings between the sides this year by a cumulative score of 8-1.
But stats and past glories won’t matter when the whistle blows amid the piney wonders of Tukwila, Washington for the second of our two 2024 Semifinals. LAFC boss Steve Chereundolo knows it to be so and will be relying on a tested method when the two teams meet for the first time in U.S. Open Cup play.
“We are a difficult side to beat when you go down to us in the scoreline,” said the LAFC coach and former USMNT star. “Getting up early on Seattle is imperative for us and we’ll try to do it again [in the Open Cup].”
The Road to the Final
Both matches will be broadcast live on Apple TV with links provided below. A full round preview can be found below with video links and detailed info on each team’s 2024 US Open Cup run and history throughout the years.
Tuesday, August 27
Indy Eleven (USL-C) vs. Sporting Kansas City (MLS)
Children’s Mercy Park – Kansas City, KS Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET## LIVE VIDEO (Apple TV)
To say there is plenty on the line for both Sporting Kansas City and Indy Eleven is an understatement. For SKC, not only is there a chance for a season-saving trophy in the US Open Cup Final, but there’s also a chance to write their name in the record book with some of the greatest clubs in US Soccer history. Lifting the trophy this year would be a fifth tournament title. Only three clubs in the 109-year history of the tournament have won the Cup five times, Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, and Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers.
For Indy, not only could they become the first Indiana-based club to ever win the tournament, but they would be just the second lower division club since 1996 to lift the trophy. But on top of that, just reaching the Open Cup Final could potentially send them to next year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. Should Los Angeles FC win their US Open Cup Semifinal over the Seattle Sounders, Indy Eleven would get the CONCACAF Champions Cup spot allocated to the Open Cup winner, as LAFC has already qualified as a finalist in this year’s Leagues Cup. It would mark the first time a USL team would participate in the CONCACAF Champions Cup since the Puerto Rico Islanders did so from 2008-2009 to 2010-2011. The USL First Division Islanders qualified each time by participating in the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship. CF Montreal, known then as the Montreal Impact, also qualified for the 2008/09 CONCACAF Champions Cup by winning the inaugural Canadian Championship. Indy Eleven has already won the tournament’s $25,000 prize money for being the Second Division team to advance the furthest in the competition.
Heading into the Open Cup Quarterfinal, Sporting were languishing near the bottom of the MLS Western Conference. However, since the Quarterfinal win over FC Dallas, SKC have gone 2-1-1 in league play, good enough to pull them to within seven points of the playoff line. An early elimination in the Leagues Cup no doubt provided a much-needed rest and may have allowed the club to regroup. William Agada currently leads Kansas City with nine goals, followed by Erik Thommy (5), Alan Pulido (4) and Johnny Russell (4). Agada has four goals in SKC’s last five MLS games. Memo Rodriguez leads the team with six assists, with Pulido and Russell adding five each.
After starting the season 1-1-4, Indy Eleven caught fire with a nine-game unbeaten streak. Indy have since cooled off, going 1-4-1 in league play, including three losses in their last four games. In the middle of all this was the off the field drama with the mayor of Indianapolis meeting with MLS Commissioner Don Garber to discuss a future expansion team. Powering Indy’s offence is Jack Blake with eight goals, followed by Augustine Williams and Sebastian Guenzatti with five each. Aedan Stanley is tops in assists with seven. Williams also has a shot at the Open Cup goalscoring lead, his three goals leaves him just one behind the leaders.
Wednesday, August 28
Los Angeles FC (MLS) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Starfire Sports Complex – Tukwila, WA Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET## LIVE VIDEO (APPLE TV)
Like Sporting KC, Seattle is looking to write their names in the history books with a fifth Open Cup title, joining Bethlehem Steel, Maccabee AC, and the Fall River Marksmen/New Bedford Whalers. In their way is Los Angeles FC, seeking their first ever Open Cup championship and the first for the city of Los Angeles since 2005.
Seattle and LAFC have met three times this season, twice in MLS and once in the Leagues Cup. The first meeting almost feels like it happened last season, as it took place all the way back on Feb. 24 to open the MLS season for both clubs at LAFC’s BMO Stadium. LAFC opened the scoring just before the halftime break when Omar Campos sent a cross into the penalty area to Timothy Tillman, who beat Seattle’s Open Cup Round 4 hero GK Andrew Thomas for the first of his four goals this year. Ten minutes after halftime Dennis Bouanga and Mateuz Bogusz teamed up to double LAFC’s lead, as Bouanga fed Bogusz who dribbled to the top of the penalty area and fired a rocket past Thomas. Seattle finally got on the board in the 72nd minute when the Sounders were awarded a penalty via VAR after Jordan Morris was brought down in the area. Pedro de la Vega, who Seattle acquired from Argentine club Lanus, stepped up and converted the spot kick. de la Vega has managed to play just seven games this year, as the 23-year-old has been plagued with hamstring and groin injuries. LAFC held on the rest of the way for a 2-1 season opening win.
By the time the two teams met again on July 20 the two clubs were in vastly different situations. LAFC had just come off a 15-game unbeaten run over all competitions, propelling them to the top of the MLS Western Conference standings. Seattle was in the middle of their own unbeaten run, eight games in MLS and Open Cup play, but the Sounders needed that run to pull themselves out of the bottom half of the standings and over the playoff line. Unfortunately for Seattle, LAFC would stop the Sounders streak cold in the Final game before the Leagues Cup with a 3-0 at Lumen Field in Seattle. It was the Bouanga and Bogusz show for LAFC, as the team leaders in goals and assists accounted for all three scores. Bouanga struck first in the 16th minute, and Bogusz followed ten minutes later. Bouanga finished the scoring in the 74th minute, defeating Seattle despite the Sounders having 63.6% of possession and outshooting LAFC 20-6.
The third meeting came on Aug. 17 in the Quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup, and LAFC repeated their 3-0 victory from a few weeks prior. Ryan Hollingshead (14’) and Kei Kamara (25’) gave LAFC a 2-0 halftime advantage, and Bouanga added to the score in the 53rd minute. The win pushed LAFC’s unbeaten streak versus Seattle to nine games in all competitions, going back to May 16, 2021.
LAFC are currently battling their El Traffico rivals LA Galaxy for the top spot in the MLS Western Conference, currently five points behind but with three games in hand. LAFC will have a short turnaround from their previous game, their 3-1 Leagues Cup Final loss to Columbus on Aug. 25. The scoring duo of Bouanga and Bogusz sit atop the MLS scoring charts with 16 and 13 goals respectively, and they also lead LAFC in assists with 9 and 6. Led by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, LAFC have the third-fewest goals allowed in MLS with 30.
Seattle started their season slow, remaining just outside the playoff line. The Sounders then took off in June. After opening the month with a 2-1 loss to Kansas City, Seattle reeled off a five-game unbeaten streak which is still ongoing. The run has propelled Seattle to fifth place in the Western Conference, and after the Leagues Cup break they resumed with a 3-2 win over Minnesota United on Aug. 24.
Veterans Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz lead the offense with ten and eight goals each, accounting for almost half of Seattle 37 goals in MLS play. Albert Rusnak is among the league leaders in assists with 12. Stefan Frei leads a Seattle defense almost as stingy as LAFC, allowing just 31 goals in 26 games, and backup Andrew Thomas has been the Open Cup hero for the Sounders.
The Final Four: A Look Back
Both Los Angeles and Seattle have the unique distinction of becoming the first MLS clubs to reach the Open Cup Semifinals without facing another MLS team since Real Salt Lake in 2013. Each team faced three USL Championship sides, although LAFC won each game by two of more goals, all three contests were nail-biters for the Sounders.
Indy Eleven
Third Round >> Indy Eleven 1:0 Chicago Fire II (MLS NEXT Pro)## Fourth Round >> Indy Eleven 2:0 San Antonio FC (USL Championship)## Fifth Round >> Indy Eleven 3:0 Detroit City FC (USL Championship)## Quarterfinals >> Indy Eleven 2:1 Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City
Fourth Round >> Sporting Kansas City 2:1 (AET) Union Omaha (USL League One)## Fifth Round >> Sporting Kansas City 4:0 FC Tulsa (USL Championship)## Quarterfinals >> Sporting Kansas City 2:1 (AET) FC Dallas (MLS)
Los Angeles FC
Fourth Round >> Los Angeles FC 3:1 Las Vegas Lights (USL Championship)## Fifth Round >> Los Angeles FC 3:0 Loudoun United (USL Championship)## Quarterfinals >> Los Angeles FC 3:1 New Mexico United (USL Championship)
Seattle Sounders FC
Fourth Round >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:2 (5:4 PKs) Louisville City FC (USL Championship)## Fifth Round >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 Phoenix Rising FC (USL Championship)## Quarterfinals >> Seattle Sounders FC 2:1 Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
The Cup’s History: A Look Back
Since 1996, MLS clubs have faced teams from Division 2 of US Soccer 10 times in the Semifinals
- 1996 >> Rochester Raging Rhinos 0:3 Colorado Rapids
- 1999 >> Charleston Battery 0:3 Colorado Rapids
- 1999 >> Rochester Ragin Rhinos 3:2 Columbus Crew
- 2004 >> Chicago Fire 1:0 (ASDET) Charleston Battery
- 2005 >> Los Angeles Galaxy 5:2 Minnesota Thunder
- 2007 >> New England Revolution 2:1 (AET) Carolina RailHawks
- 2007 >> FC Dallas 2:1 (AET) Seattle Sounders
- 2009 >> D.C. United 2:1 Rochester Rhinos
- 2017 >> FC Cincinnati 2:3 (AET) New York Red Bulls
- 2022 >> Sacramento Republic FC 0:0 (5:4 PKs) Sporting Kansas City
Looking Ahead: A Final Showdown?
With the current “GOAT” of world soccer, Lionel Messi set to grace the stage of the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final on Sept. 26, it’s not the first time a player of his stature crossed paths with the tournament’s championship game. These Semifinals promise thrilling matches, with potential for upsets and a glimpse of what might be the future of American soccer. It's a chance for Indy Eleven to make history, for Sporting Kansas City to cement their legacy, and for Seattle to reassert their dominance. The 2024 US Open Cup is about to get even more exciting.
