MLS Cup 2013, the 18th edition of Major League Soccer's championship match, was a soccer match which took place on Saturday, December 7, 2013 between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, United States. The soccer match was to decide the winner of the 2013 season. Sporting KC were making their third appearance in the competition's final, having won in 2000 and losing in 2004. RSL were appearing in their second final, having won their only other in 2009.

Quick Facts Event, Sporting Kansas City ...
MLS Cup 2013
EventMLS Cup
After extra time
Sporting Kansas City won 7–6 on penalties
DateDecember 7, 2013
VenueSporting Park, Kansas City, Kansas, US
Most Valuable PlayerAurélien Collin
(Sporting Kansas City)[1]
RefereeHilario Grajeda
Attendance21,650[2]
WeatherSunny, 20 °F (−7 °C)[3]
2012
2014
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It was the first MLS Cup final to be held at Sporting Park and the second time the championship match was not held at a predetermined neutral site. Sporting Kansas City won the right to host the match by besting Real Salt Lake in the regular season standings. This was the first time Kansas City hosted an MLS Cup final and the second final hosted at Sporting Park, the other being the 2012 U.S. Open Cup final.

The game was the coldest MLS match ever and was tied 1–1 after regulation time and extra time.[4] The penalty shootout was won 7–6 by Sporting Kansas City, ending with the longest shootout in MLS Cup history at ten rounds.[3]

Road to the final

Both teams qualified for the playoffs by finishing in the top five of their respective conferences at the end of the regular season. Sporting Kansas City then beat New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo to reach the final, while Real Salt Lake knocked out defending champions Los Angeles Galaxy and Portland Timbers.

More information Sporting Kansas City, Round ...
Sporting Kansas City Round Real Salt Lake
Eastern Conference
Team GP W L T GF GA GD Pts.
New York Red Bulls 3417985841+1759
Sporting Kansas City 34171074730+1758
New England Revolution 34141194938+1151
Houston Dynamo 34141194141051
Montreal Impact 34141375049+149
Regular season
Western Conference
Team GP W L T GF GA GD Pts.
Portland Timbers 34145155433+2157
Real Salt Lake 34161085741+1656
Los Angeles Galaxy 34151185338+1553
Seattle Sounders FC 34151274242052
Colorado Rapids 34141194538+751
Opponent Result Legs Playoffs Opponent Result Legs
New England Revolution 4–3 1–2 away; 3–1 home Conf. Semifinals Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1 0–1 away; 2–0 home
Houston Dynamo 2–1 0–0 away; 2–1 home Conference Finals Portland Timbers 5–2 4–2 home; 1–0 away
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Preparations

The 2013 Cup was the first-ever small media market cup, with both Kansas City and Salt Lake City outside of the Top 10 media markets in the US (Kansas City is #28 and Salt Lake City is #32).[5] The tickets for the match were the highest price for the MLS Cup in the past five years, coming in at an average of $302 on the secondary market. This made it the highest priced sports event in the Kansas City area in four years, with the exception of the 2012 MLB All-Star Game.[6]

Match

Details

More information Sporting Kansas City, 1–1 (a.e.t.) ...
Sporting Kansas City1–1 (a.e.t.)Real Salt Lake
  • Collin 76'
Report
Penalties
7–6
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Attendance: 21,650
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Sporting Kansas City
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Real Salt Lake
GK1Denmark Jimmy Nielsen (c)
RB7United States Chance Myers
CB78France Aurélien CollinYellow card 35'
CB5United States Matt Besler
LB15United States Seth Sinovic
RM6Brazil Paulo Nagamura
CM20Spain Oriol Roselldownward-facing red arrow 8'
LM10United States Benny FeilhaberYellow card 103'
RW8United States Graham Zusi
CF14England Dom Dwyerdownward-facing red arrow 72'
LW17United States C. J. Sapong
Substitutes:
GK18United States Eric Kronberg
MF37United States Jacob Peterson
DF23Argentina Federico Bessone
FW16Argentina Claudio Bielerupward-facing green arrow 72'
DF3United States Ike Opara
FW9United States Teal Bunbury
DF13Kenya Lawrence Olumupward-facing green arrow 8'
Manager:
United States Peter Vermes
GK18United States Nick Rimando
RB2United States Tony Beltran
CB6United States Nat Borchers
CB28United States Chris Schuler
LB17United States Chris WingertYellow card 24'downward-facing red arrow 72'
DM5United States Kyle Beckerman (c)Yellow card 100'
RM21United States Luis Gildownward-facing red arrow 87'
LM20United States Ned Grabavoy
AM11Argentina Javier Morales
ST15Costa Rica Álvaro SaboríoYellow card 44'
ST10United States Robbie Findleydownward-facing red arrow 112'
Substitutes:
DF7Jamaica Lovel Palmerupward-facing green arrow 72'
DF44United States Brandon McDonald
GK24United States Jeff Attinella
MF12United States Cole Grossman
FW8Ecuador Joao Plataupward-facing green arrow 112'
MF26Colombia Sebastián Velásquezupward-facing green arrow 87'
FW13Colombia Olmes García
Manager:
United States Jason Kreis

MLS Cup MVP:
France Aurélien Collin (Sporting Kansas City)[1]

Assistant referees:
Paul Scott (United States)
Bill Dittmar (United States)
Fourth official:
Ismail Elfath (United States)

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Seven named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Statistics

More information Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake ...
Overall[4]
Sporting Kansas City Real Salt Lake
Goals scored 1 1
Total shots 24 12
Shots on target 5 2
Saves 1 4
Corner kicks 9 1
Fouls committed 19 21
Offsides 4 3
Yellow cards 2 3
Red cards 0 0
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Post-match

As MLS Cup finalists, both teams were supposed to be qualified for the 2014–15 CONCACAF Champions League. Sporting Kansas City (the champion) was to be placed in pot A, and Real Salt Lake (the runner-up) was to be placed in pot B. However, on December 13, 2013, CONCACAF accepted the US Soccer/MLS proposal to change the qualification rules, so that the spot reserved for the MLS Cup runner-up is instead awarded to the regular season conference winner that is not the Supporters' Shield champion, the Portland Timbers. Sporting Kansas City was not affected by this change.[7]

References

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