Over the years, Peter Vermes, the manager of Sporting Kansas City, has described numerous tournament finals as football games that everyone had to win.

Tuesday night’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal against Indy Eleven at Children’s Mercy Park is another must-win game for Sporting, whether there is a final or not.

Take it from Vermes.

“I think this is our finale,” he told reporters on Monday.

The winner will secure a spot in the US Open Cup final and a chance to win a trophy at a major tournament where Sporting KC has achieved notable success.

But that was a while ago. The club’s last such trophy was the 2017 US Open Cup. Sporting had a chance to reach the final again in 2022, but failed in a similar situation to the one they will find themselves in on Tuesday.

On the other side of the field is a spirited USL Championship team. Indy comfortably beat Atlanta United away in the quarterfinals, leading 2-0 before allowing a late consolation goal.

Vermes described Indy Eleven as a dangerous team with an aggressive attitude that works hard all over the field and defends well.

“We are very aware of the challenge that Indy will pose,” Vermes said. “And we have incredible respect for it. We will be prepared for it.”

Sporting has had its share of matchups with USL teams in the tournament this season. Union Omaha, which plays in a division below Indy Eleven, forced Sporting KC into extra time and to the brink of a shootout. That would have happened if it weren’t for Alan Pulido’s heroic last-minute intervention.

Tuesday’s scenario is reminiscent of Sporting KC’s 2022 semifinal in Sacramento, when Kansas City famously lost to the Republic on penalties.

Are there any lessons to be learned from this game? Vermes said his players had to take advantage of their opportunities.

“We had far too many chances that we didn’t take advantage of,” he said, “and then we got ourselves into a situation where we were now at the mercy of a penalty shootout.”

Erik Thommy, who joined Sporting in 2022, said a key difference is that this game is at home, while the game against Sacramento is away.

“Playing in front of our Cauldron (fan club) motivates us – it gives us a boost at every stage of the game,” said Thommy. “That’s definitely an advantage.”

If Sporting KC advances to the final of this year’s US Open Cup, that match would be at either LAFC or the Seattle Sounders. The winner of the US Open Cup will receive $300,000 in prize money and a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League.

If LAFC reaches the championship game, the runner-up in this year’s final would clinch the Champions League spot. LAFC has already qualified by finishing second in the 2024 Leagues Cup.

Daniel Sperry Covers Football for The Star. He can be reached at Sperry[email protected].