2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
| Country | United States | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 64 | ||
| Champions |
Sporting Kansas City (2nd title) |
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| Runners-up | Seattle Sounders FC | ||
| Top goal scorer(s) |
Brian Shriver (5 goals) |
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The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 99th edition of the USSF's annual national soccer championship, running from May through early August. The Seattle Sounders FC, of Major League Soccer entered the competition as the three-time defending champions, making this tournament the first domestic tournament since 1970 that a team enters the tournament as the three-time defending winners. They appeared in their fourth consecutive U.S. Open Cup Final, losing to Sporting Kansas City on August 8, 2012.
For the 2012 tournament, U.S. Soccer increased the main tournament from a 40-club tournament, to a 64-club tournament. All Major League Soccer clubs based in the U.S. received automatic berths. This made the U.S. Open Cup very similar to other domestic knock-out competitions where all top tier clubs earn automatic berths. The farthest advancing NASL teams were the Minnesota Stars FC, Carolina RailHawks, and San Antonio Scorpions (all beat 1 MLS team), while the farthest advancing USL Pro teams were the Charlotte Eagles, Dayton Dutch Lions, and the Harrisburg City Islanders, who beat 2 MLS sides. All three USL Pro teams advanced a round past their division two NASL counterparts. The farthest advancing USL PDL team was the Michigan Bucks, who advanced to the 4th round after beating 1 MLS club.
The winner, Sporting Kansas City, received a cash prize of $100k and will also qualify for the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League (placed in Pot B).
For the first time, all 32 professional teams from the first 3 tiers of American Soccer will be participating. Additionally, 32 teams will also qualify from the USL Premier Development League, National Premier Soccer League, United States Adult Soccer Association, and US Club Soccer.
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