Sporting Kansas City has been playing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since the team's inaugural season in 1996. The team won their first U.S. Open Cup in 2004 against the Chicago Fire. Last year, the team won their second U.S. Open Cup by dethroning the three-time defending champions Seattle Sounders FC.

As Sporting Kansas City is in pursuit of the MLS Cup in 2013, they do not plan to overlook the opportunity to add another trophy to their display case.

“We are going to approach every game knowing it’s a single elimination tournament and putting everything we have into that game to try to advance to the next round," said Sporting Kansas City center back Matt Besler. "I don’t think a whole lot will change from last year’s approach."

Sporting Kansas City captain Jimmy Nielsen feels just as strongly about the competition.

“The plan of course is to defend the title. We’re going to take one game at a time and we’re going to take it 100 percent seriously,” said Nielsen.

Sporting Kansas City and the other 15 U.S.-based MLS teams participating in the U.S. Open Cup enter the tournament in the third round tonight and tomorrow. Visit TheCup.US for more on the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the 100th edition of the tournament.