The defending U.S. Open Cup champion, Sporting Kansas City, began their title defense with a 2-0 win over fellow MLS side Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday.
The teams, known for a budding rivalry in recent years, featured a large number of reserve players getting an opportunity for their respective sides.
The visitors opened the scoring a couple minutes after the break, as Kharlton Belmar sent in a dangerous ball into RSL's box that Johnny Russell sent into the net with a diving header. The players reversed the order in the 74th minute, as Belmar followed up on a ball in the box from Russell and scored to give Sporting an insurance tally.
Goals
Lineups
Real Salt Lake (4-3-3): #24 Connor Sparrow (GK), #22 Aaron Herrera, #21 Taylor Peay, #4 David Horst, #3 Adam Henley — #19 Jose Hernandez, #31 Pablo Ruiz, #13 Nick Besler — #20 Luis Silva, #45 Andrew Brody, #28 Ricky Lopez-Espin
Subs: Jake Leeker (GK), #25 Danny Acosta, #12 Brooks Lennon, Michael Gallagher, #23 Sebastian Saucedo, #27 Corey Baird, #16 Alfredo Ortuño
Sporting Kansas City(5-3-1-1, left to right): #1 Adrian Zendejas — #19 Cristian Lobato, #5 Matt Besler, #22 Emiliano Amor, #2 Amer Didic, #26 Jaylin Lindsey — #75 Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal, #6 Ilie Sanchez, #13 Gianluca Busio — #7 Johnny Russell — #90 Kharlton Belmar
Subs: Eric Dick (GK), #3 Ike Opara, #23 Colton Storm, #8 Graham Zusi, #17 Roger Espinoza, #12 Gerso Fernandes, #20 Daniel Salloi
