It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal match one of the biggest in Club history. A sold out crowd and an opportunity to claim superiority over one of the most successful teams in Open Cup play, and a third MLS squad makes for that kind of stage. It’s set to be a thrilling night at Heart Health Park for 11,569 looking for a third win over an MLS opponent and a ticket to the U.S. Open Cup final for a shot at domestic silverware.
Mark Briggs and his men know it – but to live up to the billing of the contest, they’ll have to be at their best. After a month-long wait, Republic FC finally welcomes Sporting Kansas City to Heart Health Park for a contest against one of the most successful clubs in the Open Cup all time. Sporting boasts one of Major League Soccer’s most renowned managers and four titles in the tournament, and will be coming to Sacramento to also play what could be the biggest game of their season.
“We’re not naive in the fact that we’re coming up against a very, very good team; a very hungry team with dangerous pieces,” said Briggs on Monday. “We have to be at our best. We have to have 11 players perform at the highest level in order to give ourselves the opportunity. And we have to be able to collectively work for one another, fight for one another and do the basics.”
A major component to the club’s approach to the match is the fact they get the privilege of playing at home, where Sacramento’s lost just one match this season, is 15-1 in Open Cup play and winners of 11 straight in the tournament dating to 2017. Sacramento’s raucous fans have showed up at every stage – be it at home against USL League Two side Portland Timbers U23 or on the road against the LA Galaxy. That support has even caught the attention of the opposing squad.
“It’s a great stadium they’ve put together. It’s a really good environment,” said Sporting KC Head Coach Peter Vermes of Sacramento’s fanbase. You could see when they played LA Galaxy their fans traveled to that game and were incredibly boisterous. We [Kansas City] expect it to be a tough environment.”
The occasion isn’t getting to Sacramento’s heads – the club’s been putting an emphasis on a balance between keeping things loose while also making sure they are as focused as they’ve been all season long. This match is a big one, yes, but at the same time, it’s a game, just like the ones against San Jose and LA earlier this year.
“It’s just a game of football – 11 men against 11 men,” Briggs said. “And that’s the way we’re treating it. But you’re right, there’s no getting away from that, there’s no getting away from the occasion and what it is, but we’ve got to be able to handle that and we’ve got to be able to perform in those constraints.”
“It’s another game, you know? Obviously [there’s] just a little bit more at stake right now to fight for a final and to make it to a championship game,” Lopez continued.” But, you know, we’re preparing the same, you know, we’re not we’re not trying to get all this attention in our heads and take our focus away from the game. I think the guys are doing fairly well with that.”
