LAFC, Sporting KC to meet in U.S. Open Cup championship after semifinal wins

The two MLS clubs will face off in Los Angeles in late September with an eye on lifting the U.S.'s oldest soccer trophy

WHAT HAPPENED?
The U.S. Open Cup final is set and Sporting KC will be looking to pick up their fifth domestic cup title when they travel to Los Angeles to face LAFC on Sept. 25.
Sporting bounced the last remaining USL side from the competition, rolling to an ultimately comfortable 2-0 win over Indy Eleven in a rain-delayed fixture on Tuesday night. LAFC made it harder, though, and needed an 83rd-minute Denis Bouanga penalty kick to down Seattle at home Wednesday.

THE BIGGER PICTURE
The two sides are at opposite ends of MLS's Western Conference. LAFC is in a tight battle with crosstown rivals LA Galaxy for the top spot, currently five points behind but with three games in hand. Sporting KC, meanwhile, is currently outside of the playoff picture seven points back of the last postseason spot with eight weeks remaining in the regular season.
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WHAT NEXT FOR LAFC and SPORTING KC?
The two sides have a hefty amount of MLS to worry about before they meet in the U.S. Open Cup final. Sporting will face NY Red Bulls, Seattle, Colorado and Minnesota. LAFC, meanwhile, have back-to-back contests with Houston to worry about, before traveling to LA Galaxy in what could be a crucial edition of El Trafico.