Who will win the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final?
Each week, the MLSsoccer.com editors share their picks ahead of the league matches. This week, though, they're making a exception to take sides in Wednesday night's Lamar Hunt US Open Cup final.
Here are their picks for the first fight for silverware between Sporting KC and the Seattle Sounders during the 2012 season. Six of eight tabbed the Sounders to take a fourth straight Lamar Hunt US Open Cup trophy back to Seattle.
Disagree? Make your voice heard in the poll to the right!
<strong>Editor</strong> |
<strong>Score</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong>s |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/lalas-headshot.png" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Greg Lalas</strong><br><em>Editor-In-Chief</em></p> |
<br><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 35px; height: 35px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3-1</span> |
The injuries and Aurelien Collin's absence are too much for SKC to absorb against a Sounders team brimming with confidence and record-breaking desire. Plus, who's going to stop the Montero-Johnson-Rosales triple threat? |
<br><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/jfminimug.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong><p><strong>Jonah Freedman</strong><br><em>Managing Editor</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" style="width: 35px; height: 39px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">3-2</span> |
Seattle may be flexing their muscles at just the right time, and Sporting's injury crisis probably has the Sounders licking their chops, too. But the 12th man is going to put the home team over the top in this one. The champs are going down.<br> |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/nickfirchau.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Nick Firchau</strong><br><em>Senior Editor</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 35px; height: 35px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-1</span> |
Tough one. But the last time I was sure Seattle would lose an Open Cup game they beat the Quakes in San Francisco. I learned my lesson. Sounders get the glory.<br> |
<em><strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/mattdoyle.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong></em><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Matt Doyle</strong><br><em>Armchair Analyst</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 35px; height: 35px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-1</span> |
The home crowd will drive the hosts, but if there’s ever a team that can walk into a competition with a “Been there, done that” attitude, it’s the Sounders in this particular game. And right now, they’re on better form than Sporting, who’ve taken just two points in their last four at Livestrong. |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/borgheadshot%28small%29.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Simon Borg</strong><br><em>Senior Editor</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 35px; height: 35px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1-0</span> |
The Sounders are clicking, they're healthy and their top scorer is on a tear. All the opposite is true for Sporting Kansas City: They're hurting, their lineup has been in constant flux and their goal scoring has come "by committee." On top of that, Livestrong hasn't proven much of a home-field advantage (0-2-3 since June 29) and teams that have packed it in at LSP have found success. SKC supporters are set to relive the nightmare that was the 2011 Eastern Conference final. |
<strong><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Jasonsaghini.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"></strong><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Jason Saghini</strong><br><em>Director of Video</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 35px; height: 35px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-1</span> |
Seattle are on a role and has history behind them. Sporting KC are a bit banged up and missing their most important defender in Aurelien Collin. It's a tight game that could go either way, but I'm going with Seattle and history in the end. |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Wiebe-head-shot.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Andrew Wiebe</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 35px; height: 35px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-1</span> |
Sporting KC are desperate for silverware to further validate their rapid rise from also-rans to one of MLS' most successful franchises. Unfortunately, they'll have to watch another team celebrate at Livestrong Sporting Park for the second time in a year. Seattle are too strong and too experienced, and Sporting KC's lack of a consistent goal-scoring threat will do them in. |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/300e2c7.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"><p class="rtecenter"><strong>Nicholas Rosano</strong><br><em>Editor</em></p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" style="width: 35px; height: 39px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-1</span> |
Both teams are evenly matched, and though the form book shows Seattle are favorites, Sporting will certainly get up for this huge game in front of their own crowd. Their high-pressure style should help deny the Sounders’ creative players time on the ball, especially important given the absence of Aurelien Collin. Still, this should be a closely-contested match that could very well be decided beyond the 90 minutes. |
