With the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup just days away, here's a look at the top five USOC finals since 2000
The U.S. Open Cup has had a memorable 109-year history, pitting all levels of the men's U.S. Soccer club pyramid against each other in a way that makes the competition special.
With the tournament set to conclude Wednesday as Sporting Kansas City travels to Los Angeles to take on LAFC in the 2024 final, will there be more drama to unfold? More importantly, will the final live up to the standard of its predecessors?
There have been plenty of dramatic finals over the past two decades. North American soccer fans have seen the expansion Seattle Sounders announce their ambition by winning the competition in their inaugural year as an MLS franchise. There has also been heartbreak with a Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami narrowly falling to the Houston Dynamo in last year's final.
With Wednesday's final getting closer, here's a look at the top five US Open Cup finals since 2000…
Getty Images2009: Seattle Sounders vs D.C. United
This was special for Seattle, as they became the second MLS expansion team to win the U.S. Open Cup in their first year (Chicago was the first).
The Sounders claimed the Cup after defeating DC United 2-1 in a hard-fought final at RFK Stadium on the back of goals from Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque. A late Clyde Simms strike for DC earned them one back, but it was too little, too late for the home side.
Seattle's first-ever silverware kicked off the beginning of a three-year U.S. Open Cup dynasty for the Western Conference side, securing the Open Cup in 2010 and 2011. They found themselves in the final of the 2012 edition of the tournament as well, but came up just short against Sporting KC.
It was a brilliant three-year run, and they've claimed another since, in 2014, and are tied for the most titles among active MLS sides with the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City.
AdvertisementGetty Images2012: Sporting KC vs. Seattle Sounders
Dubbed "giant slayers" in 2012, Sporting Kansas City ended Seattle's reign as Open Cup champions, marking Seattle's first-ever loss in the tournament during their fourth year of participation.
The two sides clashed on a stormy night at Livestrong Sporting Park, and the tension was palpable. Neither team found the back of the net in the first 83 minutes, but then the drama unfolded.
Kei Kamara gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 84th minute with a penalty, but just two minutes later, Seattle's Zach Scott equalized with a goal off a restart. After 30 minutes of extra time, the score remained tied, leading to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Both teams converted their first penalty attempts, but Sporting missed their second, while Seattle scored theirs. The reigning champions seemed poised for victory, but Seattle faltered, missing their next three attempts. Meanwhile, Sporting converted two of their remaining three penalties, ultimately winning the shootout 3-2.
Seattle's dynasty came to an end, and a new champion was crowned in the 99th edition of the tournament.
Getty Images2015: Sporting KC vs Philadelphia Union
The 2014 Open Cup final was a heart-wrenching defeat for the Philadelphia Union, as they fell to the Sounders in extra time. In 2015, they returned to the final, eager to overcome their past heartbreak.
Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed once more.
Sporting Kansas City claimed their third Open Cup title in a dramatic encounter that ended in the longest penalty shootout in final history. The Union initially took the lead at home with a goal from Sebastien Le Toux, but Sporting equalized through Krisztian Nemeth. After a tense extra time, the match went to penalties.
Both teams scored their first two kicks, but the shootout became a battle of wills. Sporting's Tim Melia made a crucial save, only for the Union's John McCarthy to respond in kind. After four more successful kicks, Sporting triumphed in the seventh round, with Melia denying Andrew Wenger and substitute Jordi Quintilla scoring the decisive penalty.
This match not only underscored Sporting's resilience but also deepened the Union's struggle for a long-awaited title, reinforcing the emotional stakes of the tournament. To this date, the Union have one trophy, having won the Supporters' Shield in 2020 and has finished as a runner up in the Open Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2018.
Getty Images2019: Atlanta United vs. Minnesota United
Atlanta United and Minnesota United FC developed a rivalry due to both being introduced to MLS as expansion sides in 2012. The 2019 Open Cup Final may go down as the most contentious match between the two, though. were the Cinderella MLS side of the tournament while were coming off a 2018 MLS Cup win.
Unfortunately for MNUFC, they couldn't best their expansion rivals on the big stage, with Atlanta claiming their first Open Cup triumph by a score of 2-1. It came in heartbreaking fashion, too.
A freakish own-goal saw Minnesota fall behind just 10 minutes into the match, with the ball deflecting off the boot of Chase Gasper and ricocheting in a looping fashion over the head of goalkeeper Vito Mannone. The Five Stripes then doubled their lead in the 23rd minute through Pity Martinez, with the Argentine handing them an early 2-0 lead.
The Loons fought back, though. Finnish attacker Robin Lod banged in a cheeky finish off the post in the 47th minute to bring them within one goal. Then, in the final minute of the match, defender Ike Opara laid the ball across the six-yard box on a platter for a wide-open Michael Boxall, but the centerback somehow hit the ball over the net just six yards away from the center of the net.
The final whistle blew, and Atlanta lifted the Open Cup, while the Loons walked away with their heads hanging.
