The stakes for tonight’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal are a little higher than they were a day ago. With Sporting KC’s 2-0 win over Indy Eleven in the other semi, that means the winner of tonight’s match between the Seattle Sounders and LAFC will host the final on Sept. 25. The Sounders would have had to play on the road if Indy Eleven had advanced.
Jeremiah Oshan
Sporting KC will be attempting to become the first MLS team to win five Open Cups, which would also tie the all-time record of the 109-year-old tournament. Bethlehem Steel and Maccabi Los Angeles each have five titles, while there’s some debate as to whether Fall River Marksmen deserve credit for five as well, despite winning the last of theirs under a different name and location (they became the New Bedford Whalers in 1932 before winning their fifth title that year).
Sporting KC won their most recent title in 2017 and have played in five previous finals. They are currently tied with the Sounders and Chicago Fire, who also have four titles apiece.
