Sporting Kansas City Vs. Seattle Sounders, 2012 U.S. Open Cup Final Preview: Time, TV Schedule And More

The United States' oldest soccer competition will crown its champion for the 99th time tonight in a gleaming, packed to the gills $200 million soccer-specific stadium right in the middle of the country. It is exactly American fans have always dreamed that the U.S. Open Cup could be. Maybe they wish the rest of the tournament was bigger, higher profile or any other number of things, but from the minute that the whistle blows on Wednesday night until either the Seattle Sounders or Sporting Kansas City raise the trophy at the end of the night, it will be absolutely perfect to everyone at Livestrong Sporting Park.

History will also be made on Wednesday night if the Sounders win and make it four consecutive Open Cup titles. No team has ever four straight tournaments, but Seattle is on the verge of doing so. Meanwhile, Sporting will be looking for their second U.S. Open Cup trophy in front of what will surely be a raucous home crowd.

The big question heading into the final is the health of Sporting. Aurelien Colin is out through suspension and Lawrence Olum is likely to replace him, but Bobby Convey, Jacob Peterson, Chance Myers, C.J. Sapong and Roger Espinoza are all in doubt with injuries.

Can Sporting overcome their injuries? It will be tough, especially against a team eying history. Regardless of who wins, it should be one of the better nights in U.S. Open Cup history.