Sporting KC to face Real Salt Lake in Open Cup

Defending Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champions Sporting Kansas City will travel to face Real Salt Lake June 6^th at 9 p.m. CT. The fourth round groups and match-ups were unveiled Thursday.

Major League Soccer teams entered in the fourth round of the Open Cup and Sporting KC was grouped with fellow MLS side Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids and future MLS expansion team Nashville SC currently playing in the USL.

The Open Cup match will create some congestion for most teams including Sporting KC. The game in Salt Lake falsl in between a home game versus Minnesota United on June 3rd and a road match at Portland on June 9th.

Adding to the congestion issues, Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi have both been called up to their respective national teams. Since they are friendlies outside of the FIFA window SKC does not have to let the players go.

Scotland will play against Peru on May 29th and Mexico on June 2nd but Russell will only go to the Mexico game. It has not been announced which games Salloi will go to but Hungary plays June 6th against Belarus and June 9th against Australia in Hungary.

Manager Peter Vermes managed the team to the Cup final last year where they defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-1 with goals from Latif Blessing and Daniel Salloi.

This will be the seventh straight match versus other MLS sides in the Open Cup.

The full draw from U.S. Soccer -Home team listed first

Northeast

Louisville City FC (USL) - New England Revolution

New York Red Bulls - New York City FC (did not apply to host)

Mid Atlantic

DC United - North Carolina FC (USL)

Philadelphia Union – Richmond Kickers (USL)

Southeast

Atlanta United FC – Charleston Battery (USL)

Miami United FC (NPSL) – Orlando City SC (did not apply to host)

North central

Columbus Crew - Chicago fire

Minnesota United - FC Cincinnati (USL)

Central

Nashville SC (USL) – Colorado Rapids

Real Salt Lake – Sporting Kansas City

Texas

Houston Dynamo - NTX Rayados (Texas) (did not apply to host)

San Antonio FC (USL) - FC Dallas

Southern California

LA Galaxy - FC Golden State Force (PDL) (did not apply to host)

LAFC – Fresno FC (USL) (no host)

Northwest

Portland Timbers - San Jose Earthquakes

Sacramento Republic FC (USL) – Seattle Sounders