The U.S. Open Cup didn’t disappoint on Tuesday, with Sporting KC and FC Dallas combining for three red cards and three extra-time goals in a wild game at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
The home side prevailed 3-0 despite going down a man in the 15th minute. The full highlights are worth the watch:
Last night was one of those matches you had to see to believe. #WeTogether #USOC2017 pic.twitter.com/Dewfvl2uU6
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) July 12, 2017
Kansas City came out firing and nearly went ahead only for Dallas defender Ryan Hollingshead to clear the ball off the line after goalie Jesse Gonzalez was beaten.
Moments later, Michael Barrios was off to the races on a counter, only to be taken out by Seth Sinovic, who was shown a straight red.
The ref looked something like this:
15'- Red card issued to Sinovic (SKC) pic.twitter.com/ovPhTP8688
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) July 12, 2017
Despite FC Dallas’ man advantage and the extra space on the pitch, neither side could find a goal in regulation, though both teams pushed hard to score late.
First, Daniel Salloi forced Gonzalez into an awkward save.
.@danielsalloi nearly makes immediate impact but Gonzalez calmly blocks Espinoza's shot attempt #USOC2017
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) July 12, 2017
Then KC’s Tim Melia denied Maximiliano Urruti, who shortly thereafter would pick up a vital yellow card.
Bless you, @TimMelia28. #USOC2017 pic.twitter.com/j5OkVBWad5
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) July 12, 2017
In extra time, Urruti, trying to score a wild bicycle kick, instead knocked out Sporting's Ike Opara with his boot, earning a second yellow and evening the match at 10-on-10. (Opara left the game with a concussion and was released from the hospital late Wednesday morning.)
Three minutes into the start of the second period of extra time, Benny Feilhaber stole the ball in his half, burst up field and fed Latif Blessing for the go-ahead goal.
WATCH: After 107 minutes down a man and in this heat, @latif_blessing is still like it's the first minute of the match pic.twitter.com/bBDLFL9wa4
— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) July 12, 2017
It got worse for Dallas, when Javier Morales was shown a straight red for a cynical foul near midfield, though the visitors might feel aggrieved given Morales was not the last man, as Sinovic was more than an hour earlier when he was sent off.
Unlike FC Dallas, Sporting KC capitalized on the man advantage (now 10 vs. nine), scoring twice more to punctuate the win. Blessing scored one and Sailloi finished it off in the 119th minute.
Kansas City will play San Jose in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals in August. The Earthquakes beat the Galaxy 3-2 on Monday.
The crazy will continue.
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