FRISCO – The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup returns on Tuesday, and FC Dallas’ next opponent is in the Midwest. Sporting Kansas City and Children’s Mercy Park will play host to the Texas Club for the second time in 2017.
Defending champion FC Dallas hits the road for the first time in the Open Cup, and will be looking to flip the script on Sporting KC from the last time they met in the Open Cup. Sporting took the last meeting in the Open Cup 6-2 in 2015.
Dwyer-less
Sporting Kansas City will be without target forward and all-out goal scorer Dom Dwyer as well as a couple other U.S. Men’s National Team representatives. But while Dwyer has scored two goals in as many games for the United States, he has not scored in over two months for his club. His presence will still be missed by the home team.
International Duty
Both clubs will have to deal with international duty for the next couple weeks as the Gold Cup ramps up. Both clubs are missing a trio of key contributors. Key center back Matt Besler for Sporting Kansas City is gone but it evens out as FC Dallas will be missing Matt Hedges.
Key Match-ups
Maxi Urruti vs. Ike Opara: While Opara has had no trouble finding the back of the net recently, scoring in the Open Cup Round of 16, it will be his job to prevent Urruti from continuing his blazing scoring run. Urruti has scored in four straight matches in MLS play.
Latiff Blessing vs. Walker Zimmerman: Zimmerman is back from injury, and will most likely anchor the FC Dallas backline with Hedges out. Can he stop the speedy Blessing who also netted in the last round?
Last Time Out
(4-3-3) Tim Melia (GK); Saad Abdul-Salaam, Ike Opara, Kevin Ellis, Seth Sinovic; Roger Espinoza, Ilie, Jimmy Medranda; Gerso Fernandes, Cameron Porter, Latif Blessing
Key to The Win
FC Dallas knows what can happen if you do not show up for a game against Sporting Kansas City on the road in the Open Cup – you lose 6-2. Remember that feeling, and manifest it on the field to come out and hit Sporting KC hard early. Urruti has been flying lately, and could possibly get on the board early in this one which would be a massive help towards Dallas’ cause. Dallas has given up just six goals in its last five, so the defense needs to keep doing what is has been doing despite the absences of Figeuroa and Hedges.