U.S. Open Cup Semifinals Set
By Sean Maslin
After two weeks of having bizarre match dates and times the Final Four of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup stands revealed. On Wednesday night, Sporting Kansas City and the Chicago Fire joined the Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake in the semifinals of the 2015 U.S. Open Cup.
In the first match of Wednesday night’s doubleheader, the Fire would score early and often against Orlando City SC. Midfielder Patrick Nyarko give the Fire the lead after just three minutes and force a normally laid back Orlando side to play a bit more aggressive. Lions forward Cyle Larin would get the equalizer in the 56th minute thanks to an excellent chip pass by defender Eric Avila.
But Chicago would not be denied. Fire coach Frank Yallop’s insertion of forward Kennedy Igboananike in the second half paid off with the Nigerian Designated Player scoring two goals late to give Chicago the victory.
In the second match, Sporting Kansas City preyed on a 10 man Houston Dynamo squad after midfielder Luis Garrido was shown a red card in the 30th minute. The Dynamo actually scored first in the 60th minute thanks to a header by forward Will Bruin. But Sporting KC’s deadly trio of Benny Feilhaber (71′,) Dom Dwyer (86′,) and Krisztian Nemeth (88′) would prove to be too much for the Dynamo to handle.
Perhaps the best news to come out of Wednesday night’s match for the Dynamo was that Designated Player Erick Torres made his debut in the second half. The former Chivas USA and Mexican international played 26 minutes in an otherwise nondescript performance.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Philadelphia Union continued on their path towards a second consecutive appearance in the U.S. Open Cup Final with a 4-3 victory in penalties over the New York Red Bulls. New York, which actually had a game earlier tonight as well against Chelsea in the International Champions Cup, actually played a strong side with most of their regulars featuring in the starting eleven.
The Union though would strike first with Eric Ayuk Mbu finishing off a pass in the 56th minute from Sebastian Le Toux to give him his first goal of the tournament. Philadelphia were limited to ten men in the 40th minute after Conor Casey was sent off for a hard foul on Red Bulls defender Conor Lade. Without their center forward, Le Toux and Ayuk Mbu’s would work with one another to create chances for the Union. Mbu Ayuk’s goal was a direct result of their chemistry.
The Red Bulls was equalize late with substitute Loyd Sam providing some hope for the tens of Red Bulls supporters that could get off of work 4pm to go to the match. But Sam was not as fortunate in the penalty shootout providing the critical miss that would seal their fate.
In last week’s Open Cup match Aaron Maund Real Salt Lake spoiled the Steven Gerrard party for the Los Angeles Galaxy winning 1-0 at Rio Tinto.
In the semifinals, which will take place on August the 12th, the Union will host the Fire at PPL Park in Chester (7:30 PM EST YouTube) and RSL will travel to Kansas City to take on Sporting (7:30 EST YouTube).