Eight is enough: Sporting Kansas City win the 2015 US Open Cup

It was fitting really, how Sporting Kansas City won the 2015 US Open Cup. As they had done in the semifinals and in the quarterfinals, Sporting KC went down early, only to equalize in the second half and to win it late. They left it as late as they could, but Sporting KC won the US Open Cup in eight rounds of penalties with a final penalty score of 7-6.

Jordi Quintilla was the man who put in the final kick for Sporting KC after Tim Melia made a kick save on Andrew Wenger in the previous frame.

The first half was rough for Sporting Kansas City. They could never get their footing -- literally and figuratively -- and soon were down by a goal. In the 23rd minute, Sebastian Le Toux, who had made a name for himself this season specifically for being a prolific scorer this tournament, had the honor of scoring the Union goal. He got in behind the defense, burning past Seth Sinovic, and took advantage of a hesitation by Tim Melia to put it past him far post for the goal.

The Union continued to dominate the first half and came close to scoring again in the rest of the half. Somehow, Sporting managed to keep them out and the Union went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

The second half showed a different Sporting side as they were better on the attack and the defense seemed more stable. After creating chances, they were finally rewarded in the 65th minute.

Chance Myers pushed the ball down the field and sent the ball into the box on a low pass, where Graham Zusi knocked it over the Krisztian Nemeth. Nemeth sent a beautiful curler toward the far post for the score.

The rest of the second half was equal in chances as both sides searched for a regulation winner. Neither team could find one, however, and the two sides went into extra time.

All in all, seven yellow cards were handed out in regulation with three more to be handed out in extra time. While no one ended up earning a red, it was a chippy night for sure. Sporting Kansas City went into extra time with one sub remaining and Philadelphia went in with two.

Extra time was similar to the second half with both teams searching for a winner and both creating seemingly equal possession. Neither team could go ahead. The biggest event towards the end of extra time came in the form of Philadelphia's final sub as they brought in goalkeeper John McCarthy to replace Andre Blake for the penalty kick shootout.

Going into the penalty shootout the Union shot first. Sebastian Le Toux made his first shot, followed by Benny Feilhaber knocking his one in. Vincent Nogueira and Dom Dwyer both put theirs in as well to make it 2-2 after two frames.

The third frame saw both shooters miss as Maurice Edu and Krisztian Nemeth's shots were both saved. Tranqullio Barnetta briefly put the Union back up before Matt Besler shot his penalty into the roof of the net to make it 3-3. Connor Casey and Paulo Nagamura both stepped up and made their shots in the fifth frame, sending the shootout to sudden death.

After Michael LaHoud made his shot, Graham Zusi redeemed himself of his poor penalty taking reputation to make the shootout level in the sixth frame. Raymon Gaddis and Kevin Ellis both traded goals in the seventh to send it to an eighth frame.

Tim Melia came up huge in the eighth frame, making a kick save on Andrew Wengers' middle left shot, which set up the win for Jordi Quintilla. Quintilla, Sporting KC's newest player, calmly rolled it down the center of the goal as McCarthy dove right to give Sporting KC the victory and the title.

As Sporting KC players sprinted to celebrate with the traveling fans, they were rewarded with their second US Open Cup in four seasons. They earned entrance into the 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League and will add their third US Open Cup trophy to their trophy case.