Union Loses U.S. Open Cup Final to Sporting Kansas City on Penalties

Report From Philadelphia Union

Chester, Pa. – The Philadelphia Union fell 7-6 on penalties to Sporting Kansas City Wednesday night in PPL Park. The Union marked the first tally in the 23rd minute, with Vincent Nogueira finding fellow Frenchman Sebastien Le Toux on the right side of the field. Le Toux made no mistake in slotting his 16th goal in U.S. Open Cup history, extending his lead as the top goal scorer to three. Sporting Kansas City equalized in the 65th minute, with Hungarian Kriztian Nemeth´s strike from the left hand edge of the 18 yard box. Graham Zusi passed the ball to an open Nemeth, who made a spectacular strike into the bottom right hand corner of Andre Blake´s goal.

Both teams looked to break the tie, but after 90 minutes of play the score remained 1-1. The same score remained after 30 minutes of added time, and the Union made a late substitution bringing in John McCarthy for Blake. The game ended on penalties with Sporting Kansas City beating the Union on the eighth penalty.

The Union return to action on on Saturday, Oct. 3 at BMO field to face Toronto FC at 5 p.m. Saturday´s game will be televised on The Comcast Network.

 

MATCH RECAP

Philadelphia Union 1, Sporting Kansas City 1 (6-7 penalties)

PPL Park

Chester, Pa.

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

http://bit.ly/1WzCki8

 

SCORING SUMMARY

PHI – Sebastien Le Toux 23’ (Vincent Nogueira) HIGHLIGHT:http://bit.ly/1GiNJd1

SKC— Kriztian Nemeth (Graham Zusi, Chance Meyers) HIGHLIGHT: http://bit.ly/1JErG0x

Penalties:

PHI: Sebastien Le Toux √

SKC: Benny Feilhaber √

PHI: Vincent Nogueira: √

SKC: Dom Dwyer: √

PHI: Maurice Edu: X

SKC: Kriszitian Németh: X

PHI: Tranquillo Barnetta: √

SKC: Matt Besler: √

PHI: Conor Casey: √

SKC: Paulo Nagamura: √

PHI: Mike Lahoud: √

SKC: Graham Zusi: √

PHI: Raymon Gaddis: √

SKC: Kevin Ellis: √

PHI: Andrew Wenger: X

SKC: Jordi Quintillá √

DISCIPLINE SUMMARY

PHI— Michael Lahoud 21´ (Yellow)

SKC— Kevin Ellis 29´ (Yellow)

SKC— Seth Sinovic 34´ (Yelllow)

PHI— Tranquillo Barnetta 58´ (Yellow)

SKC— Jordi Quintilla 72´ (Yellow)

SKC— Matt Besler  86´ (Yellow)

PHI— C.J. Sapong 90+1´ (Yellow)

SKC— Paulo Nagamura 94´(Yellow)

SKC—Graham Zusi 104´(Yellow)

SKC—Chance Meyers 106´ (Yellow)

MATCH DAY STATS

Box score: http://bit.ly/1MHMVTC

Stats: http://bit.ly/1OHQ7lk

 

PHILADELPHIA UNION STARTING XI

Andre Blake (John McCarthy 120+1´), Maurice Edu, Richie Marquez, Ray Gaddis, Fabinho, Vincent Nogueira, Sebastien Le Toux, Cristian Maidana (Conor Casey 77´), Michael Lahoud, Tranquillo Barnetta, C.J. Sapong (Andrew Wenger 116´)

 

Unused subs: Warren Creavalle, Brian Carroll, Eric Ayuk, Steven Vitoria

SPORTING KANSAS CITY STARTING XI

Tim Melia, Chance Meyers (Jacob Peterson 112´), Matt Besler, Kevin Ellis, Seth Sinovic (Saad Abdoul-Salaam 78´), Soni Mustivar (Jordi Quintilla 66´), Benny Feilharber, Paulo Nagumara, Graham Zusi, Kriztian Nemeth, Dom Dywer

 

Unused subs: Jon Kempin, Erik-Palmer Brown, Bernardo Añor, Mikey Lopez

 

OFFICIALS

Ted Unkel (referee), Ian Anderson (assistant), James Conlee (assistant), Chris Penso (fourth), Corey Parker (fifth)

 

ATTENDANCE

14,463

 

TEAM NOTES

• Sebastien Le Toux scored his sixteenth goal in U.S. Open Cup history, extending his lead as the top goal scorer to three.
• The Union becomes the first club in U.S. Open Cup history since 1975-76 to lose in the U.S. Open Cup final two consecutive years.
•     Tonight´s match saw the most yellow cards in the modern era of U.S. Open Cup history with 10. The previous record was set by the Chicago Fire and the Miami Fusion with nine (Miami five, Chicago four) in 2000.
•     The Union return to action on Oct. 3 To play Toronto FC at BMO Field at 5 p.m.