US Open Cup final: Sporting KC 1-1 (3-2 pens) Seattle Sounders - as it happened

• Sporting Kansas City win US Cup on penalties
• No fourth consecutive cup for Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders Ianni Sporting Kansas City Kei Kamara
Seattle Sounders' Patrick Ianni heads the ball away from Sporting KC forward Kei Kamara, right, during the US Open Cup final. Ianni would later be sent off deep into extra time, as the Sounders slipped to defeat on penalties. Photo: AP Photo/Orlin Wagner


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Final thoughts

It was a war of attrition rather than a battle of creative wits, and at times each team's ambition seemed to be more concerned with not losing than seizing the initiative, though Sporting looked the more threatening for the extra half hour. But still penalties looked like an inevitability for most of extra time.

Great scenes at Livestrong Park as Sporting Kansas City celebrate. Spare a thought for a Seattle side who've had an extraordinary run and who will perhaps feel that the referee was a little more front and centre at crucial moments than he should have been. But they weren't able to take their chances in open play and penalties are always something of a lottery. Sporting survived some hiccups of their own to finally finish the job.

Thanks for staying with me through a long evening. Thanks for all your tweets and email. Sorry I couldn't use them all, but hopefully I'll see you tomorrow afternoon for the Olympic final between the US Women and Japan. Till then, good night...

Controversy at the end...

Johnson steps forward to some trash talking by Nielsen, that seems to do the trick as his kick is high and wide. But perhaps the real damage was done when Gspurning seemed to save Nagamura's 5th penalty fair and to his left, only for Salazar to insist on a retake and Nagamura to succeed the second time.

Schmid is furious on the sidelines. Sporting are elated. There'll be no fourth cup for Seattle and Sporting win the US Open Cup and the automatic Champions League place. The end of one era and start of another?


SEA Johnson MISS!



SKC Nagamura MISS

Nagamura gets another chance! Gspurning off his line!

SKC Nagamura

SKC 3-2 Sea

Nagamure slots his second penalty coolly into the other corner after Gspurning had saved his first, apparently off his line (looked close)

SEA Tiffert MISS


Tiffert knocks one at a nice height to Neilsen's left, and the keeper gets down to palm it clear. We're still level!



Zusi tries the Panenka and has to watch in horror as it drifts harmlessly high of the bar.



We're still even, as Alonso of all people hammers a wild one high and wide.



High and in off the bar from the defender

SEA Burch


Burch hammers one into the roof of the net to confirm Seattle's advantage.

SKC Espinoza MISS

SKC 1- Sea 1

Tame shot straight down the middle. Advantage Seattle as Gspurning blocks easily.

SEA Evans- SKC 1-1 Seattle.

Evans blasts one that sends Nielsen the wrong way, to tie the scores.

SKC Kamara - SKC 1-0 Seattle.

Gspurning guesses right but there's a lot of power and it gets past him, though he touches it.

So who will take the cup?

It hasn't been an exciting game, but it's been an engrossing game, as the two sides competed all over the field to cancel each other out. Sporting did a great job of negating Montero, but couldn't find a cutting edge of their own until Ianni's handball gave them the penalty. They'll have five more now, as will Seattle, to decide the US Open Cup winner for the tournament's 99th year. Gspurning and Nielsen exchange a hug then the former heads into goal for the first kick.


Quick break as we set up for the shootout.

120 mins: We've played for two hours and it's still 1-1 as we go into the one minute added on for injuries. It's pumped forward by Sporting and cleared anywhere by Seattle. Then again. And again. One last long ball forward by Sporting, then Rosales pokes it clear for Johnson, who holds the ball up and that will be that - we'll go to penalties.

RED CARD - IANNI (Second yellow)

118 mins: Both sides have defended valiantly, if at times fortunately - there's been no real space opened up even as the sides tire.

That's cruel on Ianni who does bring down his man over by the touchline, but it was a weary rather than malicious challenge. He gets a second yellow though, and Seattle will have two minutes to see out with ten men.

116 mins: Under five minutes left. This week has already thrown up one celebrated late winner. Is there a last twist in this one? It's Sporting coming forward again in this last period. They're shuttling the ball around the last third and Kamara tries to work space to get a cross in but it's charged down.

114 mins: Still Sporting KC 1 Seattle 1, as we head to the last few minutes of the game. There's a clash between Rosales and Espinoza, with Espinoza down holding his injured shoulder and Rosales having run blindly into him. Everyone breathing hard. Rosales wincing as he steps off the field. So we'll have a little time added on for this delay. Noone looks in any rush to add any last minute urgency. I do't think they can.

112 mins: Past midnight here on the East Coast, with the game still deadlocked. Another Seattle foray only makes it as far as the halfway line. Then Sapong and Ianni battle for the ball and Seattle get the free kick deep in their own half. It's knocked sideways - Seattle's ambition has looked very limited in extra time.

110 mins: Evans finds some space down the right of the field and is able to get a cross in, but nobody's rushing in with any intent into the Sporting box to meet it. In fact nobody's rushing around anywhere on the field. Zusi has a free kick midway inside the Seattle half, which Gspurning has to punch clear bravely, but the ball remains in the Seattle half as Sporting keep pressing. Seattle will be glad of the extra defender in Burch for these last few minutes, as things stand.

107 mins: So 15 minutes for someone to pop up and spare us penalties. Tiffert gets on the ball for a moment and tries to direct some rare traffic towards the Kansas City goal, but the Sounders are forced back.

Peep: Seattle get us under way again.


Short break, but the sides should switch ends quickly.

Looks like Burch is coming on for Montero - so much for him stealing the show at the last then.

105 mins +1: We're into the one minute added on at the end of the first period and the mini-half will end with Sporting sending another tired cross into the box that Seattle get clear with an equally tired punt from the back line.

104 mins: Game has slowed down now as Sporting try to look for an opening from the long ball forward. From mid-range, Espinoza sends a sharp pass forward to split the defense but Sapong can't control it. Then another vague, tired long ball gives up the ball to Seattle.

102 mins: Sporting troke the ball around trying to tempt Seattle into conceding some space in a challenge, but the ball eventually runs through to Gspurning. Seattle can't keep the ball though - particularly when they try to feed the ineffectual Montero (perhaps on the principal that he's at his most dangerous when he seems to have drifted out of the game).

100 mins: Sinovic is down on the ground clutching his ankle after a clash with Rosales. it looks nasty and he's being carrried off to end his night. Harrington comes straight on for him. Seattle push up a little and are caught by a ball behind them that Harrington streaks down the left to get to and just keep in play with a high cross. Sporting are never quite in control of the move though and eventually the move ends with a wild shot over the bar.

98 mins: Half way through the first period of extra time and it's still Sporting KC 1 Seattle 1. Now Seattle have a free kick in the Sporting half whch they'll probably take their sweet time over to break the tempo of that Sporting KC pressure. They get men forward eventually, then Rosales sends a poor ball forward that's knocked clear by the first man.

96 mins: Sporting probing around the edge of the Seattle box now and Espinoza winds up for a shot. It's just touched off his toe but only knocked forward for Sapong who also has to be dispossessed sharply at the expense of a corner, which Seattle eventually force clear. It's straight back at them though and this will be another corner, as finally one of these sides gets a period of sustained pressure. Again it's bundled clear more through luck than design. One of these deflections is going to land on a Sporting boot soon...

94 mins: oooh... Scott was lucky not to give up another penalty as he brings down Sapong on the left edge of the box. He does get a yellow and Sporting get a free kick in a very dangerous position. It's tapped to one side to give Kamara the angle and he drives a fierce shot that Gspurning parries clear without knowing much about it. Good start to extra time by Sporting.

92 mins: Myers sends a harmless looking cross in that ianni heads for a corner. It's whipped in and nobody can get a telling touch until the ball breaks for Nagamura on the edge of the box. He drives his shot off the turf goalward but straight at Gspurning. Nasty kick off the turf though.

Peep: Sporting will start the first period of extra time. They kick off and launch the ball forward in the same direction they played in in the second half.

Vermes in the heart of the Sporting huddle:

He looks fired up as he addresses a tight huddle of Sporting players.

Seattle now assemble into a huddle of their own - not the entire squad affair of pre-game, but just the tired principals who will play out the game.

All a twitter...

@kidweil I'm on a rollercoaster of emotion!There will be tears tonight, however this game ends...

— Patrick Sheehan (@Hologram_Pat) August 9, 2012

It's been tense rather than a classic, but the last ten minutes had plenty of drama. Will the game come to life as it gets stretched in the extra time period?


We'll have 30 minutes of extra time, then penalties if needed.

90 mins +3: All Sporting in the final moments of regular time. One last surge forward ends with Myers overrunning it and that will be that.

90 mins +2: ...the corner is never quite cleared properly and it comes to Kamara on the edge of the box, who fizzes a great shot just over the bar. that would have been spectacular. Sporting pressing.

90 mins +1: Give and go from Sapong ends with a dangerous low cross into the box that Hurtado has to turn wide for a corner...

90 mins: Very interesting to see how Sporting react to the gut punch of losing the initiative so quickly. By the looks of it they're actually shading the first few exchanges afterwards. We'll have three minutes of stoppage time.

88 mins: Those goals came in the 84th and 86th minutes by the way. Now Vermes makes the change - bringing off Bunbury for C.J. Sapong. Straight offensive swap. Can someone win this before we head to extra time?

GOAL! Sporting KC 1 Seattle 1 (SCOTT!)

Scott gets up to a free kick in Seattle's first attack after the goal and glances his header into the bottom right corner with Nielsen stranded! Amazing end to a tense game.

GOAL! Sporting KC 1 Seattle 0 (Kamara!)

Huge cheer as Kamara sends the keeper the wrong way with the spot kick. The cup is close. If you update the page I'll fill you in on the build up.

Bunbury chased down a long ball and battled well to find the space for a cross, which looked to be rising as it whipped across the box, only to deflect of Ianni's hand. Salazar pointed straight to the spot. What can Seattle do in the remaining few minutes?


The fourpeat is on the line as Salazar gives a spot kick!

82 mins: Another free kick for Sporting is headed wide by Nagamura. Vermes and his assistants beginning to discuss substitutions apparently.

Wait a minute...

80 mins: No sign of a breakthrough yet. You feel that one error or one moment of inspiration will be decisive here. Alonso getting another chat from referee Salazr in the wake of a free kick awarded to SKC just inside the Seattle half. It's sent deep then curled back in without and SPorting man getting anything like a threatening touch on it. It's Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0 as we go into the last ten minutes.

78 mins: Definitely a moment there when the crowd was anticipating a game changer from Alonso - sudden spike in energy from the Sounders fans. Seattle looking slightly the better organized side of the two sides in the wake of the substitutions. Will Vermes answer with a change of his own soon? Now a long teasing ball comes forward for Montero on the shoulder of the last man, but he drifts offside as the ball comes in. Haven't sen much of him in those advanced positions all night - this was the Tiffert effect perhaps.

76 mins: Ianni picks up a yellow for tugging Bunbury's shirt as the Kansas City man tries to go past him.

Suddenly there's a chance for Alonso as he fashions some space for himself on the left of the box, but his shot is deflected up and wide for a corner for Seattle...

74 mins: Seattle move the ball well for a moment and Scott is free down the right to get a cross in. It's high and deep and could have been better. It's cleared.

Sam Chesneau is back, and happy with the tactical moves by Schmid:

@kidweil good subs, feeling good about this last 20

— sherpaco (@sherpaco) August 9, 2012

72 mins: It's hurled into the box and Tiffert is fouled as Seattle try to force the ball clear. Welcome to the game. It's still Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0 as we head into the last 20 minutes. Now we have a little bit of hoofing and head tennis as the game gets scrappy again.

70 mins: Caskey off for Evans. Rose off for Tiffert. The latter being thrown straight into a cup final as a new arrival at the Sounders. Can he make himself an instant legend? BUnbury goes up for a high ball forward and misses it - but is first to tun and run on the loose ball to keep the move going and it ends with a throw to Sporting right by the Sounders byline. What can they do with it...?

68 mins: Seattle had a momentary break on there, but Johnson was uncharacteristically ponderous on the ball as he waited and waited for Scott to arrive on the overlap and the Sounders lose the ball as Sporting regroup. Tiffert and Evans ready to come in for Seattle...

66 mins: Vermes still gesturing indignantly on the sidelines. Seattle send a long throw forward that Johnson tries to set up with a header down, but it's cleared by Sporting who now have a throw of their own midway into the Seattle half. Subs getting warmed up for both sides, to try and break the deadlock...

64 mins:'s headed clear safely at the near post. Are we going to see one of those mini-momentum shifts in favor of Seattle though? We're treated to a shot of their fans who are making some nosie of their own right now. Suddenly there's a half chance at the other end as an angled Kamara cross is just too high for Zusi, who's sprinting towards the near post.

62 mins: Alonso slides a neat ball through to the dangerous Johnson, who surges down the left of the box and just runs out of space before he can get a clean shot off. He does pick up a corner though...

60 mins: The hour comes up with the scores tied at 0-0. Still a very cagey affair. It's not that both teams aren't trying to get forward - but both midfields and defenses getting aggressive blocks in for now.

58 mins: Sporting send men forward as they have a free kick on the half way line, but rather than send it forward it's moved wide and Seattle regroup. Alonso is fouled by Espinoza as Seattle try to get forward. The Sounders force the ball forward and just when the ball looks to be running out for a goal kick, it's fashioned into a half chance, as a low drive comes across the six yard box towards the lurking Johnson. Sinovic needs to stick a foot out to deflect it clear. First glimpse of goal for Seattle in this half.

56 mins: the Sounders trying to get it down and play, maybe to spring Johnson again, but they give the ball away and suddenly Bunbury is off on a driving run toward goal. He goes over on the edge of the box having muscled his way that far, but the referee doesn't give a free kick. In the next sequence Espinoza looks up quickly to see Gspurning off his line and tries to lob him from distance, but it's just over.

54 mins: It's curled into the box and met by Hurtado, who gets up well, but can only head it wide. Sporting come forward down the right then switch the play left for Kamara, who heads smartly over his marker in the box, then appears to be impeded as he tries to get round the defender. Nothing given though and Seattle have possession again.

52 mins: A long aimless KC ball over the top runs for a goal kick, then there's another tussle off the ball between Alonso and Nagamura. Alonso refusing to take it easy despite being on a yellow since the 5th minute. It's still Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0 but now Seattle have a free kick about 35 yards out, slightly right of center, after Sinovic fouls when scrambling to clear his lines from an error...

49 mins: Montero dropping deep to help out the midfield, but as the commentators are rightly noting, he's been very quiet in this game so far. As in the first half, Sporting having the better of the early exchanges and for a moment play opens up on the edge of the box for them. but as the ball is moved across the 18 yard line it's cleared. Then Zusi has a half chance at the back post but skies it.

47 mins: ...Bunbury gets a head to the corner but the ball bounces softly wide of the goal for a goal kick.

Malena arrives with a precise prediction:

@kidweil Looking forward to a CJ Sapong and Kamara collaboration for a goal in the second half.

— Malena (@12thLady) August 9, 2012

Peep: Referee Salazar gestures us under way again with a quite unnecessarily emphatic gesture. Almost immediately Bunburt gets on the end of a cross at a shallow angle to flick a soft shot goalward that forces Gspurning to push it out for a corner...

Gol TV quirks:

Glad the final is actually being covered and all that, but one of the curios of Gol TV is that they randomly segue into highlight reel goals in the middle of adverts, which plays havoc with my half time games of Yahoo Chess, when I think we've started again in different kits, languages and with golazos flying in all over the shop.

That said, we are nearly ready to start again, so get ready for the word "peep".

More (over the) rainbow news:

Matt Schofield is back and he's musing:

"So both teams claim ties to the Wizard of Oz, right, Seattle with it's Emerald City nonsense...and KC's secret-ish shame, its origin as the Wiz (which was a nice chant, "let's go Wiz"). Surely this has to be a record of some sort, two teams, one league, both claiming the same literary allusion. See, this is the problem with not having Gol tv. The mind wanders a bit."

Hm...sorry...what was that? The problem with doing MBMs is that the mind wanders a bit. I really on you all to keep me honest. Keep your tweets and e-mails coming in.

Half time thoughts

A cagey cup game with chances at both ends - at the moment it looks like it could be decided on a stroke of luck. Neither side has been able to retain possession well enough to turn it into consistent pressure, so the chances when they've come have tended to be from sudden bursts from out of the blue (or Green). If there's been a player who looks repeatedly, if not consistently dangerous, it's been Johnson for Seattle, but any number of Sporting KC players have had shots from distance that have threatened.

If we see a goal early in the second half the game might open up, but at the moment, it looks like more attrition in the hope of a decisive chance. Let's see.


Half time thoughts in a moment...

45 mins +3: The half petering out with some more messy little fouls. Montero goes over and awards himself the foul, but Salazar doesn't. Now there's a little pinball in the Seattle box that ends in a smart snapshot from Espinoza, that's straight at Gspurning who simply punches clear, and that will be that...

45 mins +1: Johnson forces the ball out near the corner flag from the drop ball. Myers and he have a little heated chat about the weather as they jog back up the field. We'll have 3 added minutes.

44 mins: We have a break in play as Zusi gets groggily to his feet. He looks like he'll be fine to continue. It looked like he caught a hand to the face as he was dispossessed. We're going to restart with a drop ball featuring a rather aggressive looking Johnson competing with 3 Sporting players.

42 mins: Rose sticks his foot out to intercept a sloppy pass and Rosales picks it up on the right. His ball into the box raises a momentary suggestion of handball as it's cleared, but no real appeal from the Sounders. Now Zusi is dispossessed (turnovers are something of a recurring theme in this half) and suddenly the field opens up for Johnson on the left, but his shot is charged down. Zusi is down being treated now and looks in some discomfort.

40 mins: So scares for both teams - around an equal number of chances that seem to come from nothing to threaten the other's goal. It's tight, but still Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0 as we head to the last 5 minutes of the half.

38 mins: Espinoza does well to get free from traffic in midfield and send the ball down the right channel. Sporting will have a throw level with the edge of the Sounders box. Sinovic picks it up and hammers one just past the upright into the side netting. Some people are cheering and thinking it's in. It wasn't but it was very, very close, from a fierce effort.

36 mins: Suddenly we have a change of pace and a big warning for Sporting as Johnson finds himself through with two men between him and Nielsen. He picks up the ball and drops his shoulder to sprint clear in the right of the box before firing just wide of the far post with Nielsen beaten. He's looked to be Seattle's most dangerous attacker. At the other end a Sporting free kick in a dangerous position ends up taking a deflection and floating harmlessly up and down to Gspurning.

34 mins: Vermes chewing game and nodding his head furiously on the sideline, like someone you'd cross the street to avoid. Slight lull in the game - You can tell because the commentators are clearly looking at their notes and offering up random stats. Both teams trying to put their feet on the ball when they get it for now.

32 mins: So we've had decent chances at both ends, but neither side has been able to build sustained momentum so far. Alonso bundles into Myers and is penalized. With Salazar as the referee he is walking a fine line.

Great save from Nielsen!

30 mins: Alonso is taken down and Seattle have a free kick just inside the Sporting half. It's sent long to the right and Rosales forces a corner as he tries to go round the outside of the last man... Rosales takes an outswinger to the heart of the box and johnson gets up well again to send a fierce header down and on target that Nielsen has to react to very sharply. Best chance for the Sounders. Still Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0.

28 mins: Now there's a neat bit of inspiration from Seattle as Montero and Johnson combine to set up a long volley just over the bar from, I think, Alonso. Nagamura is back on the field running around with a large bandage on his cheek.

26 mins: The pendulum, which is hardly oscillating wildly so far, swings imperceptibly back towards Sporting, who now have a free kick centrally some 35 yards out. Usual suspects over it. Zusi punts it goalwards and it skips off the turf into Gspurning's arms.

Kamara hits the bar!

24 mins: Montero is dispossessed on the edge of the Sporting box and there's a glimmer of space that opens up for Kansas City on the break, but the ball forward is intercepted before it can reach the hovering Kamara. But a minute later Zusi scrambles to retrieve a ball that breaks to Kamara 30 yards out, and his shot dips wickedly to crash off the bar! Best chance of the game so far.

22 mins: Another angled Sounders cross drifts harmlessly across Nielsen's box and runs out to concede possession to Sporting. But when Nielsen's goal kick lands, the Sounders are first to the ball in midfield. Game getting very scrappy. Espinoza grapples with Alonso and Seattle get the free kick, much to the displeasure of Peter Vermes on the SKC bench. He's talking to the fourth official non-stop.

20 mins: ...he lofts it high and Johnson gets up fantastically to head the ball - but can only glance it wide of the goal for a goal kick. It's still Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0. Sounders definitely coming into it now.

18 mins: Another email from a Robb Heineman fan, Michael Kruse:

"Robb loves the club. Apparently not all American owners are bad for football. I went to the opening match in LA last season. Before the match he mingled with the traveling fans and promised us a beer if Sporting scored. Sapong puts one in against Chivas and he was true to his word. Apparently my affection can be bought with a can of light ale."

Sporting fans still singing loudly, but just for the moment Seattle are beginning to inch their way into the game with possession in more advanced positions. They'll have a free kick level with the right side of the box. Rosales over it...

16 mins: Sporting try to play some one-twos on the edge of the Sounders box, but the ball is intercepted and Seattle try to change the play. So far they're having trouble linking play to their front man, however, and this break is no different. They get the ball back though and try a more coherent attack that finishes when a couple of high crosses eventually end with Nielsen grabbing it under his bar. Slightly better for the visitors.

14 mins: Couple of very tasty challenges coming in in the early stages. Sinovic is the latest to, em, assert himself. Game rather stilted since that element crept into the play. Alonso charges forward and calls for a foul, but he may take a while to get back into referee Salazar's graces after pushing his arm away in the lead up to that yellow card.

12 mins: Matt Schofield emails:

"Regional differences aside, I don't know that there's a team I want to beat more than Seattle. I couldn't make it to KC tonight, but I don't think I'm alone in this thinking.
Stupid last minute comebacks last season still sting. More than that, this stunning stadium deserves a shiny new cup."

Sporting try to build from the back and they pressure in the final third themselves, only for Kamara to fizz another fierce shot over the bar from the left hand side of the field - where they're getting a little joy.

10 mins: Seattle have not had much joy getting forward in the first ten minutes but now Montero tries to link up play and they began to work some exchanges in the final third. But the final ball is straight to Neilsen for his first touch in the Sporting goal. Sporting KC 0 Seattle 0.

8 mins: Caskey and Nagamura have a nasty clash of heads at the half way line and both are down - though Nagamura looks particularly dazed as he receives treatment on the deck. Caskey jogs off to receive treatment. He looks well enough. Nagamura walks off clutching his face which looks to be nastily gashed.

6 mins: Alonso still looking very keyed up as he charges around the field contesting every ball. He needs to cool down a little here. Deep throw from SKC is flicked on, but only into the arms of Gspurning.

4 mins: Sporting starting strongly as Bunbury wriggles free on the right of the six yard box, but his angle is too narrow for the shot and his low driven ball across goal is cleared. A lot of noise from the Sporting fans. Now there's a blatant foul for Alonso as he sends Kamara absolutely flying at the halfway line. He gestures angrily at the ref in the wake of it and picks up a yellow card for his troubles. Bad news for the Sounders that.

2 mins: ...Zusi drives rather than lofts it in and it doesn't clear the first man, who heads it clear, only for the ball to be forced back by a forceful header to Bunbury on the edge of the box, but his ambitious shot flies high.

Peep: Seattle will kick off. They get us underway and immediately try to get forward, but are dispossessed on the edge of the Sporting box. Kansas City come forward and pick up a free kick for the first foul, midway into the Seattle half. Zusi over it...

Last minute huddles:

Entire Seattle squad and coaches are in a big circle on the field. Sporting have their own huddle with the starting lineup and break, looking determined...

Almost ready:

Players are shaking hands amid a scene filled with smoke from the discharged fireworks. Just time for a last minute prediction from Sam Chesneau:

@kidweil predicting #se4ttle with a win on PK's

— sherpaco (@sherpaco) August 9, 2012

I hope not. We're late enough as it is...

Kirk Urso

The teams are out on the field and an impeccably observed moment of silence is taking place for the young Columbus Crew player, Kirk Urso, who tragically died at the weekend.

Now the anthem is being sung.

Another neutral speaks:

Another of our Chicago friends is here, to make the best of this scenario:

@kidweil I was at the 2004 final in KC when we lost. I was in Seattle last year for the final when we lost. I'm cheering for KC tonight 100%

— Stephen Piggott (@irish_steve) August 8, 2012

...a generous impulse from Stephen. Albeit one that possibly overlooks the current strike rate of teams he has cheered for in finals.

When considering who Stephen favors we should perhaps also consider the fact that Chicago's status as "kings of the cup" is looking pretty tenuous if Seattle win.

We're seeing fireworks over the pitch and the teams are about to come out.

Not all Sounders fans are super-confident...

@kidweil Trying to convince myself that I won't be devastated if the four-peat doesn't happen.So far, it's not working.

— Patrick Sheehan (@Hologram_Pat) August 8, 2012

OK we should have just under 15 minutes to go till kick off now. The trophy has just been carried out to stand on the sideline - and very nice it looks too.

Meanwhile the camera operators are doing the time-dishonored activity of looking for attractive women in the crowd, then pretending not to by cutting occasionally to men in whacky headgear.

Social media - bringing us all together:

The fact that Seattle beat Chicago in the final last year, may help explain the following tweet by Chicago Fire fan and occasional Guardian previewer for Fire games, Dan Martin:

@kidweil I'll be rooting for a runaway Perseid meteorite to flatten the stadium shortly after kick-off. Everyone wins!

— D. Martin (@fugexlac) August 8, 2012

Safe to say Dan’s not down with the “Whatever happens let’s hope we see a good game” crowd... Don’t think the fact that a version of this Kansas City franchise beat Chicago on their way to the 2004 Cup helps, either.

Meanwhile the ECS and our friends at Seattle blog Sounder at Heart are whistling cheerfully:

@weareecs @kidweil @kccauldron @12thlady @downthebyline @gorillafc @sherpaco to quote Burch "it's what we do" #SE4TTLE

— Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) August 8, 2012

Team news

Sporting Kansas City: GK Nielsen (cpt) RB Myers CB Olum CB Besler LB Sinovic RM Nagamura CM Cesar CM Espinoza LM Zusi F Bunbury F Kamara.

Seattle Sounders: GK Gspurning RB Scott CB Hurtado CB Ianni LB Gonzalez RM Rosales (cpt) CM Alonso CM Rose LM Caskey F Montero F Johnson.

Injury problems for the hosts - a number of key absences for Sporting. One player who was never in question of starting, and possibly a crucial miss, is Aurelien Collin, who was already suspended for the final even before his injury in the All-Star game - a big ask for Lawrence Olum to replace a key member of the SKC team this year.

Convey, Peterson, Myers and Sapong were all doubts coming in to the game and Roger Espinoza too, took quite a few knocks in his stirring Olympic adventures with Honduras. He starts tonight though, as does Myers. Sapong is on the bench.

A familiar looking Sounders line up - worth noting that Rose and Caskey, each fresh off their opening goals in MLS at the weekend, are in the side alongside the more familiar goal threats of Montero, Johnson and of course, Alonso. As always, when Johnson and Montero share a field, the play of Rosales will be key.

Memewatch: Double Rainbow

Here's an update from Sporting KC's supporters section:

Rainbow over the Cauldron as we wait for the game to start. #usoc…

— The Cauldron (@KCCauldron) August 9, 2012

Totally planned bit of build up

How the semis went:

OK, since we have the time for it - here’s how the two sides got here in the semis:

And if you want to get really detailed in your build up, here’s the bracket for this season’s competition, including a famously torrid night for MLS sides in round three.

Players are out warming up under an ominous sky right now. Check these clips out and I'll be back with you very soon.

How the fans see it

While we're waiting let's get a few fan perspectives on the coming game...

Seattle fans tend to be a confident bunch and Gregory Mockos from the Emerald City Supporters (the largest Sounders supporters group) is no exception. When I contacted him this morning about his take on the final he had the following to say:

"Yes, the Sounders have been in this situation before, but it was in the beginning - when everything was new and expectations were low. Since then, we have won a total of 3 USOC titles with criticism that in the last two we have had an unfair home field advantage during the tournaments. This fourth USOC final is a chance to make history while proving that we will win this cup home or away. And may the only sounds heard at Livestrong Park after the game be the quiet crackle of a KC bbq and the chants of the Sounders fans."

Meanwhile, our regular Sporting game previewer Mike Kuhn, is in the rather more fatalistic mood familiar with fans the world over when their team is holding their peace of mind hostage:

“(on whether he’d be tweeting during the game) During the game I may be too nervous to do anything that will be much of use, as me and some friends have termed it, we've got #TheTerror pretty bad right now... It only gets worse as the day goes on. It's been one thing watching the 2000 and 2004 finals and caring but not as much as now. At those times I was busy with high school and college soccer taking my time. Now it's this. The mix of nerves and apprehension are crazy right now.”

Gol TV, who have just agreed a contract to show the next three finals, including next year's 100th anniversary, are now showing shots of the hail from earlier. The rainbow is looking very bright right now.

Now hearing that kick off has been revised to 8.41pm local time, which is 9.41pm EST - so unless you want me typing out lyrics from 1930's musicals you'll get your tweets and emails coming in pretty sharpish to keep the conversation on track. Tweet to @KidWeil, email

Game delayed

There's just been an announcement that kick off will definitely be delayed... No word on how long...

As mentioned before, the weather, which was 101 degree heat yesterday, is now a very nasty rainstorm over Livestrong Park. On a positive note we did just see a shot of a rainbow over the stadium - if only there was some way to link rainbows and Kansas City in some kind of neat thematic way...

An unlikely top scorer...

One little side story of the night will be whether or not the unlikely figure of Osvaldo Alonso can become the leading scorer in the Cup. He’s currently on four, while Brian Shriver of the Carolina Railhawks (3rd round conquerors of LA Galaxy) is on five. “Honey Badger” seems to have a liking for this competition. He helped drive on the last non-MLS side to make the final of this competition, Charleston Battery, in 2008, scoring crucial penalties in shoot outs against MLS sides along the way. The team they beat in the semi-finals... Seattle Sounders. It was the last time the Sounders would lose in this competition.

It also means that tonight is the holding midfielder’s fifth consecutive final - another unprecedented feat in the history of the competition. The fact that he threatens to lead the goalscoring standings in the competition also suggests that his is an unprecedented interpretation of the role of holding midfielder...

Speaking of which, here’s Alonso cleverly holding up the ball to defend a slender one goal lead deep into injury time in last year’s US Open Cup final against Chicago Fire...


So after all the shocks, games in barns, Eric Wynalda's and Starfires, this is it - the final of the 99th edition of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, featuring Sporting Kansas City and the team that has won the Cup for each of the last three years, Seattle Sounders.

Sporting are the hosts tonight and hoping to take full home field advantage against the cup specialists to win their first Open Cup since 2004. Regardless of setting, Seattle's achievement in getting to the final a fourth consecutive time, having won the last three, is a remarkable one, but it's a definite encouragement for Sporting KC that they don't have to go to Seattle, where the Sounders have played by far the majority of their games in their dominant run.

Upon its completion, Livestrong Sporting Park was something of a fortress last year for SKC, on their way to topping the regular season standings in the East. This season saw them start start very strongly again - winning their first seven games, but other than the Cup run they've stuttered a little in recent months, as the goals have dried up and the chasing pack have caught up with them. Eastern rivals Montreal, Chicago and Columbus have all come to Livestrong and won this year. Despite that the team are fast, technical and capable of beating any team in the league on their day - and owner Robb Heineman is leaving nothing to chance in ensuring home field advantage - issuing a stirring open letter on the eve of the final to ensure the fans are fired up for the biggest game yet at the stadium. Incidentally, following a stirring open email to me from Busfield, I'm here reporting on the USOC final rather than swanning around Yankee Stadium with AC Milan and Madrid - so like to think my commitment is not in question.

Seattle need no firing up, as they have the chance to become the first team in Open Cup history to win the tournament four times in a row. Their own form has been a little patchy this year two - including a ten game winless streak. They're hitting some ominous form though and hammered LA Galaxy 4-0 at the weekend, as the perfect preparation for tonight's game. They're also sending a big contingent from the Emerald City Supporters to follow the team tonight, as well as hosting numerous watch parties in the Seattle area. If you're there, why not go, ignore everyone and huddle in the corner with your smart phone updating this minute-by-minute? We guarantee it will be worth it and that everyone wearing Green will think you're cool.

Kick off is scheduled for around 9pm EST. I'll be back shortly with some more build up and team news, but in the meantime you have some homework to do. Here's some history of the competition and a round up of this year's third round, and then you can follow links to the fourth round, quarter-final and semi-final rounds to see how we got here. If you're still here after that you can send your tweets and emails, detailing itemized instances of Cal FC bias, to @KidWeil or, before pulling an all-nighter and sending yet more tweets and emails for tomorrow's Olympic final between the USWNT and Japan. I told you - I'm committed...

NB It's absolutely pouring with rain at the stadium and there's been hail already. It's possible the start will be delayed - I'll keep you informed (just as soon as I'm informed...).

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