The Richmond Kickers figured out how to do something no Major League Soccer team could — beat Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park.
The USL Pro side scored twice after a lengthy weather delay in the second half to keep its U.S. Open Cup hopes alive with a surprise 2-0 quarterfinal victory.
Sporting KC fielded a number of first-team players, with Teal Bunbury, Kei Kamara, Aurelien Collin and Matt Besler among those who started and Omar Bravo and C.J. Sapong appearing off the bench. It didn't matter. After play resumed following an 81-minute storm delay, Shaka Bangura scored to put Richmond ahead, and David Bulow iced the result with a penalty to seal Richmond's second consecutive win over an MLS team.
Richmond, which defeated the Columbus Crew in the Round of 16 and won the Open Cup in 1995, will face the Chicago Fire in an Open Cup semifinal on Aug. 30 at Toyota Park.
In another Open Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday night, FC Dallas topped Real Salt Lake, 2-0, at Pizza Hut Park in a reverse result of their league meeting on Saturday, when RSL won, 2-0, at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Jair Benitez scored on a free kick in the first half, and halftime substitute Jackson added an insurance goal to account for the scoring. Both players beat RSL backup keeper Kyle Reynish, who started in place of Nick Rimando (ankle injury).
FC Dallas will either host the Los Angeles Galaxy or play at the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals. L.A. and Seattle meet in Tukwila, Wash., Wednesday night.
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What do you make of Richmond's USOC run? Think the Kickers can knock off the Fire and reach the final? What do you make of FCD's victory over RSL? Disappointed that the top four MLS teams were all put on the same side of the bracket?
Share your thoughts below.