Photos and story copyright 2017 by Brian Turrel
Sporting KC delivered a punishing blow to Minnesota United FC in the U.S. Open Cup game between the two sides on Wednesday night in Kansas City, Kansas, winning 4 – 0 and leaving no doubt about the team’s motivation to win its fourth cup trophy.
The U.S. Open Cup is a single elimination tournament played among the major professional and semi-professional leagues in the United States. The next round will be played in the last week of June, and Sporting KC will learn its opponent and game location Thursday.
After a rough opening to the first half, in which Sporting KC was whistled for several fouls, the home team took over the game, pressing the attack and keeping pressure on Minnesota’s defense. Sporting KC took 19 shots for the game, against only 5 for Minnesota.
KC defender Ike Opara opened the scoring late in the first half with a leaping header set up by a corner kick from Graham Zusi. Gerso Fernandes followed with a goal in first half stoppage time, giving Sporting KC a 2 – 0 lead at halftime.
The game was halted for several minutes early in the second half when Minnesota defender Joseph Greenspan suffered a head injury while contesting a ball in the air against Roger Espinoza. Greenspan was removed from the field in a stretcher.
Dom Dwyer added a goal in the 72nd minute on an assist by Gerso and forward Daniel Salloi scored his first career goal for Sporting KC off an assist from Roger Espinoza for the final margin.
