From his first appearance in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with FC Dallas in 2006, Sounders FC forward Kenny Cooper has held a special place in his heart for the annual tournament. While his hat trick in a shootout victory over the Charleston Battery in the fourth round that year certainly made for some good memories, it was his family’s connection to the tournament’s namesake that truly makes the Open Cup special to Cooper.
“The tournament means a lot to me. It has Lamar Hunt’s name on it and he’s someone that has meant a lot to me and my family,” Cooper said. “To be in the competition that has his name on it is really special.”
In 1970, Cooper’s father, Kenny Cooper, Sr., moved from his native Blackpool, England, at the urging of Hunt to join the Dallas Tornado and he settled his family in the Dallas area. Hunt was the Tornado’s owner and would later own FC Dallas when Cooper, Jr., signed in 2006. Last year, in his return to FC Dallas, it was under Owner Clark Hunt, who took control of the club when his father passed away in Dec. of 2006.
That connection has always been pivotal for Cooper in his playing career.
This year, his first with Seattle, Cooper has honored Lamar Hunt’s memory with six goals in four matches to help Sounders FC reach its fifth Open Cup final in six seasons since joining MLS in 2009. No MLS player has scored more than the 13 goals Cooper has in 13 career Open Cup appearances.
“The team’s doing well in the tournament,” Cooper said. “I’ve gotten in good positions and I’ve been fortunate to score.”
For all of his personal success in the tournament, this will be his first final appearance. In 2007, his FC Dallas club fell 3-2 to the New England Revolution in the final, but Cooper missed the tournament after suffering a fractured leg early in the MLS season.
He will have the chance to lift the trophy for the first time on Tuesday when Sounders FC meets the Philadelphia Union in the U.S. Open Cup final at PPL Park in Chester, Penn. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 pm PT with television coverage on Gol-TV.
