Orlando City SC

2026 US Open Cup Semifinals: Columbus Crew beat Orlando City, reach 1st USOC Final in 16 years

September 17, 2026 by Tyler Fisher

Steven Moreira of the Columbus Crew reacts during Wednesday's 2026 US Open Cup Semifinal against Orlando City SC. Photo: Mathieu Starke - Starke_Photo — Steven Moreira of the Columbus Crew reacts during Wednesday’s 2026 US Open Cup Semifinal against Orlando City SC. Photo: Mathieu Starke – Starke_Photo

The Columbus Crew are one win away from lifting the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

Columbus defeated Orlando City SC 2-1 Wednesday night at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, overcoming an equalizer before halftime, and held on through the second half to book its place in the club’s first US Open Cup Final since 2010.

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With the win, the Crew will host the tournament’s championship game for the first time since 2002, when they lifted the trophy named after the club’s original owner, Lamar Hunt. They will take on first-time finalists St. Louis CITY SC on Oct. 21.

It was a night that gave the Crew something that has been hard to find in the 2026 MLS campaign: a complete result when the stakes were highest.

Columbus wasted little time establishing a presence.

In the ninth minute, Santiago Rodriguez delivered a dangerous ball toward the back post following a Crew corner. Josef Martinez found himself in the right place at the right time, finishing the chance to give Columbus an early 1-0 lead.

For Martinez, it was his first goal since joining the Crew during the summer transfer window. It was the fifth career US Open Cup goal for the Venezuelan star, who is seeking his second US Open Cup title (2019 Atlanta United). The last time he scored a goal in the tournament was in the 2023 US Open Cup Final with Inter Miami CF.

Orlando, however, gradually worked its way back into the match.

Josef Martinez of the Columbus Crew avoids a tackle against Orlando City SC in the 2026 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Carlos Hernandez-Chavez - Black Cat Photography — Josef Martinez of the Columbus Crew avoids a tackle against Orlando City SC in the 2026 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Carlos Hernandez-Chavez – Black Cat Photography

The Lions found their equalizer in the 40th minute when Martin Ojeda collected a pass from Justin Ellis near the top of the penalty area and fired a low shot beyond Columbus goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP - Columbus Crew — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

The goal leveled the teams at halftime, 1-1, leaving the Crew with another 45 minutes to find a way through.

They didn’t have to wait long.

Just seven minutes into the second half, Rodriguez once again provided the dead ball.

The Uruguayan midfielder floated a ball into the penalty area, finding Brais Mendez running into space. Mendez met the service first-time from inside the box, beat Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, and restored Columbus’ lead.

It was Mendez’s fifth goal in all competitions since joining the Black & Gold, while Rodriguez ended the night with two assists.

Orlando City’s offense suffered a blow just a couple minutes after Columbus’ go-ahead goal when the Lions’ biggest summer signing, Antoine Griezmann, was subbed off due to injury. He was replaced by the club’s other big summer signing, US international Daryl Dike.

The last 35 minutes of the game were very physical, but the Crew’s defense keep the Lions off the scoreboard to secure the club’s fourth straight tournament win, 2-1.

“For me personally, it’s really a special moment,” said Crew head coach Laurent Courtois. “I hope we will make it a special moment for the club, but we have a lot of games before .”

The Crew have advanced to their first Open Cup final since 2010 and will host the championship match on Oct. 21 against St. Louis CITY SC.

2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: Orlando City dominate first half, cruise to win over Atlanta United

May 20, 2026 by Taylor George

Iván Angulo of Orlando City SC celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half against Atlanta United FC in the 2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC — Iván Angulo of Orlando City SC celebrates after his team scored a goal in the first half against Atlanta United FC in the 2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC

Orlando City SC kept its Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run alive Tuesday night at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando Florida to advance to the Semifinals with a 4-1 victory against Atlanta United FC.

In front of an energetic announced crowd of 14,254, the Lions dominated the first half scoring four goals (and had opportunities to score more) and never looked back to return to the semis for the third time in club history.

Orlando battled through an intense rivalry matchup that came just three days after the two sides drew 1-1 in MLS season play. Atlanta made seven changes to their starting lineup from last weekend’s game, while Orlando made just two.

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Orlando started off aggressively in the opening minutes, pressing Atlanta high and forcing several turnovers in crucial areas. Scoring opened quickly in the fifth minute when David Brekalo gave Orlando an early lead with a header off of a cross from Braian Ojeda. Ojeda crossed the ball from the right wing and Brekalo broke free from his defender at the six yard box and headed it past Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert who had no chance.

Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a "We Want The Cup" shirt in your team's colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

The early goal helped Orlando settle into the match as additional chances started developing for the Lions. Orlando doubled their lead when Griffin Dorsey had an easy tap in off a low cross from Ivan Angulo, whose speed and dazzling footwork lured the Atlanta goalkeeper in to leave Dorsey at the far post who beat a sliding defender to the ball.

Atlanta responded minutes later when Emmanuel Latte Lath struck the post with a powerful strike to deny the visitors a goal. But that would be the the best chance of the half for United.

It was a nightmare for Atlanta eight minutes later when Orlando punished Atlanta’s keeper who failed to clear possession. Hibbert received a back pass and tried to play the ball out wide but pressure from Ojeda forced him to make a bad pass right to Tiago Souza who dribbled in and beat the keeper to capitalize on the mistake and make it 3-0.

The Lions continued to dominate, collecting many chances, however several of those chances either missed the target or were ruled offside. The biggest was a 2-man breakaway in the 36th minute when a long ball was sent from Orlando’s own half. Thiago ran onto it and Hibbert came off his line to make an impressive save to keep the deficit at three.

Three minutes later, Ojeda was fed a through ball down the left wing and found himself 1-v-1 with the goalkeeper. Hibbert had the angle and got a hand to it with a diving save and the ball just barely missed the target.

Tiago would collect his brace to push Orlando’s lead to 4-0 in the final minute of stoppage time of the first half. An impressive through ball from Ojeda got in behind the defense on the left side which gave Tiago another breakaway. He curled the ball past Hibbert just inside the far post and into the back of the net. It was Ojeda’s second assist of the night and third of the tournament, which ties him for the lead in the competition.

Desperate to change the tide, Atlanta made four substitutions at halftime as the second half would become increasingly physical as both teams battled for control. Atlanta collected five yellow cards during the half while attempting to slow down the Lions’ momentum. The fresh legs helped them create most of the chances in the second half, but only one of them produced a goal.

Atlanta found its lone goal in the 84th minute when Latte Lath produced a brilliant individual effort, blasting a volley into the back of the net off a Saba Lobjanidze cross to make it 4-1. It ruined the shutout for Orlando’s Javier Otero, who only had to make three saves on the night, but it would be too little, too late for Atlanta.

Tiago of Orlando City SC reacts after scoring a goal against Atlanta United FC in the 2026 US Open Cup Quarterfinals. Photo: Orlando City SC

After the match, David Brekalo credited the coaching staff for preparing the tactical approach that helped to limit Atlanta.

“I think I have to give credit to the coaching staff here, they prepared the plan really well, the main point was to either take the ball super high or super low and counterattack them,” said the Slovenian defender. “So it worked exactly like they planned.”

Orlando’s aggressiveness and willingness to break into space created many dangerous moments throughout the game. With this dominant victory, Orlando City SC advances to the US Open Cup Semifinals for the first time since winning their only US Open Cup title in 2022. The Lions will look to use the win to build momentum during a busy stretch of the season.

Orlando’s interim head coach Martin Parelman praised his players after the match for executing the game plan and emphasized the importance of staying focused on the match ahead.

“It worked because they did it,” Parelman said, “they put in the effort and made it happen and I am proud of the players, this is a good victory, this is a good step forward for us, for the club. But it’s just that, we need to maintain balance and now rest and prepare for the next game because we have a very important game.”

The 111th edition of the US Open Cup will now take a length break with the United States co-hosting the FIFA World Cup this summer. Orlando will travel to play the winner of New York City FC and the Columbus Crew in the Semifinals that are scheduled to take place the week of Sept. 15-16. The winner of that Semifinal match will host the 2026 US Open Cup Final, scheduled for Oct. 21.

2026 US Open Cup Round of 16: Orlando City trails 3 times, still rallies to beat New England

April 30, 2026 by Eric Casey

Griffin Dorsey of Orlando City SC celebrates after scoring a goal against the New England Revolution in the Round of 16 of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC

In an appropriate result for a stadium sponsored by a bank, the Wednesday night Round of 16 matchup between New England Revolution and Orlando City SC saw four players open their accounts with their respective clubs.

Orlando City’s first ever trip to Rhode Island was an eventful affair, as the away team advanced with a late winner in a 4-3 victory over New England at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, securing a spot in the US Open Cup Quarterfinals.

This marks just the fourth time in the Modern Era (1995-present) that a team has trailed three times in a game and come back to win. It is just the second time that one of those teams came back to win in regulation.

New England struck first, when an Orlando defensive lapse in the 21st minute allowed a chip from Eric Klein to find Malcom Fry. Able to get in on goal, Fry used his left foot to put it through the legs of Orlando goalkeeper Javier Otero to make it 1-0. A 20-year-old native of Groton, Massachusetts, it was Fry’s first goal with the first team.

Orlando struck back in the 31st minute, as defender Iago Teodoro’s header from a Colin Guske cross into the box beat diving Revs goalkeeper Donovan Parisian to make it 1-1. A product of Brazil’s Flamengo, it was Teodoro’s first goal for his squad as well, having joined Orlando in February.

The Revolution responded five minutes later, as a Diego Fagundez’s cross into the box from a free kick eventually found the foot of Gabe Dahlin, who backheeled it to veteran defender Andrew Farrell. The club’s all-time US Open Cup minutes leader blasted it past Otero for his first-ever goal in the competition and a 2-1 advantage.

The New England lead lasted just a few minutes; Orlando defender Griffin Dorsey replied with a 40th minute goal, assisted by Justin Ellis. It was the last goal of an eventful first half seeing the Revolution outshoot Orlando 10-5.

After a brief lull, New England’s Marcos Zambrano became the third player to add himself to the score sheet in the 58th minute with a low shot that beat Otero to his right, becoming yet another player to score his inaugural first-team goal. Klein added his second assist.

Orlando once again quickly responded in the 70th minute, with the 18-year-old Ellis coolly slotting home a loose ball in the box that came to him off the glove of New England’s Parisian to make it 3-all.

The away squad grabbed their first lead of the night in the second minute of injury time, as Zakari Taifi found a Tyrese Spicer cross just feet from the goal line, finishing it to become the fourth player of the match to score his first-ever goal for his team.

It wound up the gamewinner and a huge moment for a 20-year-old who first joined the Orlando City system at the U9 level.

“It’s an amazing group of players,” said interim head coach Martín Perelman. “When they need to show up, they do it. The Cup is not easy. I’m happy with the result.”

The result means Orlando City SC will be heading to the Quarterfinal for the first time in club history, after having lost in the Round of 16 last season.

2026 US Open Cup Round 3: Orlando City narrowly beats FC Naples amid controversial goal denial

April 16, 2026 by Damian Prone

Tahir Reid-Brown of Orlando City SC (right) shields the ball away from a FC Naples player in the Third Round of the 2026 US Open Cup. Photo: FC Naples

Orlando City SC held on to win 1-0 over FC Naples in the US Open Cup Round of 32 after a controversial no-goal call in the second half kept them in the lead and FC Naples off the board at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex on Wednesday night.

“It was a tough game,” said interim head coach Martín Perelman. “We knew they were going to fight, they were going to try to do their best. Congratulations to them because they did an amazing game, and as well, congratulations to our players because I think they did a huge effort.”

“This cup is not easy and we competed. We got what we came looking for. Our young players were able to get minutes to help us and I’m happy for the victory.”

The controversial moment came in the 70th minute. Following a corner kick from FC Naples’ Kevin O’Connor, substitute Dominick Bachstein pushed the ball toward goal. Orlando defender Nolan Miller attempted to clear it off the line, but FC Naples players and coach Matt Poland argued the ball had fully crossed.

“I feel bad for our guys,” Polland said. “They fought to earn the goal. And for that goal not to be counted is obviously really disappointing because I thought we were playing well enough, and we scored the goal. It clearly crossed the line, but it isn’t called.”

Without VAR available at this stage of the tournament, the no-goal call stood.

Despite the loss, FC Naples delivered an impressive performance in its first time facing an MLS team. In a hard-fought match that showcased defensive discipline and missed opportunities, the club played in front of a sold-out crowd of 4,782 fans. It is the largest attendance since the home opener.

“I’m proud of the guys, the fight, the amount they created, the way they played,” Polland said. “The community came out, supported, and was energetic the whole time.”

FC Naples lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, while Orlando City shifted between a 5-2-3 and 3-4-3 setup during the first half. The match quickly developed into a competitive battle, with both teams creating early chances.

In the 14th minute, left back Julian Cisners delivered a well-placed pass to forward Andres Ferrin, whose shot was denied by Orlando goalkeeper Javier Otero. Just four minutes later, Orlando City capitalized.

Midfielder Braian Ojeda assisted forward Tyrese Spicer, who fired a powerful shot from outside the box past FC Naples goalkeeper Edward Delgado in the 18th minute, scoring what would ultimately be the game’s only goal.

“It’s a new thing playing on the right side. I think Coach Martín told me just to be yourself on the right,” Spicer said. “I think when I saw the play started from us having the second balls, I came inside on my left foot. I was like, ‘okay, let me get a chance to set myself,’ when Ojeda played it to me and I saw the back of the net and I was like, ‘let me have a go at the goal’ and it went in.”

A screen shot of a fan video shows the ball nearly crossing the line in Orlando City's goal. The referee ruled that the ball did not cross the line and did not award a goal for FC Naples. — A screen shot of a fan video shows the ball nearly crossing the line in Orlando City’s goal. The referee ruled that the ball did not cross the line and did not award a goal for FC Naples.

Otero proved to be the difference maker for Orlando City, finishing the night with seven saves to secure the clean sheet. He made key stops throughout the match, including a strong save against forward Christohper Garcia in the 26th minute and another crucial denial of O’Connor in the 62nd minute.

“I’m happy for the performance of the team, and Javi is growing amazingly within the club, and Cesar Baena is doing an amazing job with him and Max and Tristan and all the goalkeepers,” Perelman said. “I think they are performing really well and we’re happy for them and for the club.”

FC Naples had multiple opportunities to equalize, but struggled to convert. Ferrin missed a key chance in the 38th minute as the first half ended with high pressure and quick ball movement of both teams.

Orlando came out aggressive after halftime, nearly doubling its lead in the 48th minute with Spicer’s shot, but Delgado made a strong save to keep FC Naples within reach. Five minutes later, he delivered another stop after a turnover led to a shot from forward Yutaro Tsukada.

In the 63th minute, substitute midfielder Martin Ojeda nearly added a second goal for Orlando, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar.

As the match progressed, FC Naples increased its attacking pressure. In the 69th minute, Ferrin set up Garcia, whose header struck the crossbar.

After the no-goal call, FC Naples continued to push forward in the final minutes. O’Connor, Garcia, and Ferrin remained active, generating several chances, while Otero continued his standout performance. In the 86th minute, Taylor Gray nearly found the equalizer with a header off a corner, but Otero came up with another save.

“Just immensely proud of the boys,” O’Connor said. “They scored a great goal, and we reacted so well. After 98 minutes, I think we couldn’t have asked for more, and the crowd pushed us on.”

FC Naples held 53% of ball possession and outshot Orlando City 20-17, underscoring how evenly matched the contest was. Despite the final result, Polland said the performance should give his team confidence moving forward.

“We created more opportunities than them,” Poland said. “A lot of confidence for the league club. They competed for 90 minutes against an MLS team, and should have been tied 1-1 after that 90th minute. So as a team, hopefully we take this with confidence to move forward and lead play.”

With the victory, Orlando City SC advances to the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup. The Lions will play against New England Revolution, who defeated Rhode Island in a penalty shootout.

2025 US Open Cup Round 5: Confidence in young players pays off as Nashville SC overcomes Orlando City

May 22, 2025 by Christian Gomez

Wyatt Meyer (28) of Nashville SC celebrates with his teammates after scoring a 79th minute goal against Orlando City SC in the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Nashville SC

Wyatt Meyer’s late goal capped a back-and-forth match as Nashville SC defeated Orlando City 3-2 on a sweltering Wednesday night at Inter&Co Stadium to advance to the Quarterfinals of the 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

With both sides level on points in the MLS Eastern Conference entering the match, Nashville opted to rotate its squad heavily, leaving Hany Mukhtar and Josh Bauer out while starting several younger players. That gamble paid off as the visitors outlasted an Orlando team coming off a rivalry win just days earlier against Inter Miami.

“We build confidence in the group by doing what we say. We say we have confidence in young players, we say that we’re gonna play young players.” said Nashville head coach BJ Callaghan. “They couldn’t have stepped on a bigger field tonight against a really good team, and they performed.”

Right from the kick off, both teams had a chance to get on the board early with a barrage of attacking phases. Nashville showed signs of carelessness while in possession, which if timed perfectly, could give Orlando a chance to break the deadlock.

The first real dangerous chance of the night came from Nashville’s Chris Applewhite. His header attempt from the a corner kick rang off the top right corner of the net.

Orlando saw this as a warning shot and took the initiative. On the next possession, a switch initiated by Dagur Thorhallsson found its way to Alexander Freeman. The right-back rushed down the wing and passed it over to Marco Pasalic. Pasalic laced it from outside the 18-yard box and score a goal of the week worthy contender.

Nashville needed to find a response quick, as Orlando showed in its previous Open Cup match against the Rowdies that it can suffocate its foes quickly. Within the final third, Ahmed Qasem made a lovely run inside the box, using some skill to get away from Orlando’s defenders. He teed it up for MLS & Open Cup stalwart, Teal Bunbury, who was within the six-yard box and tipped the ball into the net to open Nashville’s account.

The hydration break tempered the pace of the match, as both teams attempted to pace themselves after an intense first 30 minutes. Nashville was on a seemingly innocuous passage of play when Matthew Corcoran passed it over to Qasem, who was just outside the 18. Qasem proceeded to test his luck by sending a grounded shot towards the net. It caught Orlando’s keeper, Pedro Gallese, off guard as the ball curved into the net and gave Nashville the 2-1 lead going into halftime.

Nashville SC we want the cup shirt US Open Cup — Support TheCup.us and its coverage of the US Open Cup by purchasing a “We Want The Cup” shirt in your team’s colors. Visit THECUP.US SHOP

The second half started with only one change, as Bauer entered the game for Nashville. Now shooting towards The Ruckus & Iron Lion Firm, Orlando looked to equalize with their supporters backing them. On an attacking phase, Nashville’s defense over marked Orlando’s Ramiro Enrique. The ball was able to find its way to the wing, where Pasalic made a run. Enrique slotted it into a open pocket of space left by Nashville’s backline, opening a clear passing lane. Pasalic recognized the run and layed it off to Enrique, who blasted it into the net, leveling things up at 2-2 before the 60th minute.

With 30 minutes to go, both teams needed to rely on the strength of their roster to see the game through. Orlando saw the introduction of Ivan Angulo & Luis Muriel, as they looked to continue the momentum on attack while Jacob Shaffelburg came in to help support Nashville’s attack. Physicality picked up as both teams received a yellow card, Matthew Corcoran for Nashville & Alex Freeman for Orlando. An errand ball to the lower extremities of Applewhite brought about the final hydration break.

After the hydration break, 15 minutes remained and it was all to play for. Both teams did not want to enter extra time with the current situation of match congestion. Nashville started off with possession and kept it for the first few minutes as they tried to get back into a flow. Eventually, they started pushing into the final third and create opportunities.

Qasem found himself again on the ball on the right wing and did a great job battling Ivan Angulo as he was able to tip the ball over to Patrick Yazbek. In what was the move of the night, Yazbek made a backheel pass to Meyer, who was just outside the box as he struck it perfectly into the back of the net for his first career goal to give his team a 3-2 lead.

Meyer revealed after the win that he was not feeling well, which must have been torture in the humidity of Florida.

“I’m gonna be completely honest, I was suffering out there,” he said. “I kind of came into the game under the weather, but all the boys on the team were so encouraging and told me ‘Wyatt, you’re gonna have to dig deep and it’s a little hot but just get through it and grind for these guys.”

After that goal, Orlando went full attack for the remainder of the game. Duncan McGuire made his introduction to the game as an attacking minded sub, but unfortunately the decision to send out a relatively same squad for the weekend was starting to affect them. Multiple players seemed fatigued as attacking sequences fell flat.

Ultimately, Meyer’s shot was the final blow which advanced Nashville into the quarterfinals of this year’s Open Cup. The trust in the kids paid off for Nashville.

“When you get your number called, and you’re able to get on the field, show what you’re capable of and the players represented themselves well,” said assistant coach Michael Nsien.

2025 US Open Cup Round 4: Teenager sparks Orlando City blowout of Tampa Bay Rowdies

May 8, 2025 by Christian Gomez

Gustavo Caraballo of Orlando City SC dribbles the ball against Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Fourth Round of the 2025 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC

While the I-4 in Florida is known for standstill traffic, that is certainly not the case when it comes to the derby that shares its name. While these sides don’t meet as often, that makes every encounter more meaningful. The supporters were ready. Orlando’s Iron Lion Firm arrived with a thick cloud of purple smoke and pyrotechnics being shot in the air. Those same smoke canisters were then thrown on the field as they marched into the stadium. Rowdies fans responded in kind with a tifo before kickoff. The stage was set for another chapter in this Floridian Derby.

The Rowdies hosted the I-4 Derby for the first time, on the 50th anniversary of their club. While Tampa Bay’s league form hasn’t been great, maybe a magical cup run can be just the thing they need to steer the ship around and gain some momentum. 2022 Open Cup winners Orlando City are making their return to the Open Cup after not being able to participate last year. Their fanbase were one of the most vocal online last year about their club’s exclusion from the tournament. They entered this year with the hopes of winning it all again.

Orlando’s hopes off lifting the trophy again got off on the right foot with three first half goals in an eight-minute span, two of them by 16-year-old Gustavo Caraballo. The Lions didn’t look back, adding two more second half goals and cruised to a 5-0 win, their third victory in as many meetings against the Rowdies.

Right at the start, both teams immediately tried to dictate the pace. The Rowdies came out with a more physical approach, racking up fouls in the first 10 minutes. While Orlando had a suffocating high press which had the Rowdies on the ropes and playing keep away within the 18-yard box. The first card of the match was given to Rowdies’ Daniel Crisostomo who had to stop a possible Orlando scoring opportunity after they regained possession from a bad giveaway on Tampa’s part.

Before the hydration break, Orlando had the better chances in front of goal. Rowdies goalkeeper Dante Campisi did his best to keep the score at bay as Orlando continued their onslaught in front of goal. A breakaway opportunity presented itself for them, but an errand chip shot by Leonardo Fernandes squandered one of the few chances they had to get on the board.

The Open Cup is a great tool for coaches to evaluate young talent. For these players, the cup provides them an opportunity they might not get in regular season matches. Wednesday night at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla., a star may have been born.

Gustavo Carballo is a regular player for Orlando’s NEXT Pro side and recently signed for the main squad. He was a leading part in the team’s triumph in the Generation Adidas Cup by scoring a brace in the final. Today, he got the nod from Oscar Pareja to start and rewarded his club in kind with another brace against the Rowdies. With those goals, he became the youngest goalscorer for the club.

“I’m just super happy I was able to get those two goals to help the team,” said the 16-year-old man of the match. “It was a great way to start off (the) Open Cup, and I’m just happy to have helped.”

After the second goal, the wheels seemed to have fallen off for the Rowdies. Orlando delivered one more blow before halftime with a goal from Ramiro Enrique. It was evident that the unfortunate struggles for the Rowdies in league play had bled over into the Open Cup.

Both sides made changes at halftime which reflected their mindset. Orlando looked to close down the game, while Tampa brought in reinforcements since they were chasing the scoreline. After a nice sequence of play started by captain Rodrigo Schlegel, one of Orlando’s subs, Duncan McGuire, would score the team’s fourth goal of the night near the 60-minute mark.

The Rowdies showed some fight in the dying minutes, with a few good chances involving Oliver Basset. However, Orlando would take one more goal at the ninetieth minute, scored by Dagur Thorhallsson. With that, the Rowdies’ run in the 2025 edition of the tournament comes to an end and Orlando City move on to the round of sixteen.

“We’re very happy to advance in the Cup. We really appreciate the fact that we are representing our club in this prestigious tournament,” said Pareja, who won the US Open Cup as a manager with FC Dallas in 2016 and Orlando City in 2022.

He went on to congratulate Gustavo Caraballo’s achievement in the match and also congratulated the academy which helped develop him.

“They have done a tremendous job in developing these kids and putting them on the first team for us is a privilege,” added Pareja. Orlando will host visiting Nashville SC in two weeks time.

Once the final whistle blew, the entire Rowdies squad huddled up to process the loss. To their credit, they showed face to the supporters and gave them the opportunity to voice their disappointment with the season so far. There are only a handful of teams in this country which have the level of history the Rowdies have. What should be a season of reflection and celebration, has turned into a nightmare.

“With 15 to 20 minutes to go, it was important for me to stand on the touch line and take in the atmosphere and understand that, the game itself, is a performance business,” remarked Rowdies interim head coach Steve Coleman.

“(The supporters) have every right to be disappointed in the team and the staff involved.”

2023 US Open Cup Round 4: Charlotte FC makes Orlando City a rare one-and-done defending champ

May 10, 2023 by Dave Hodges

Kamil Jozwiak of Charlotte FC celebrates after scoring a goal against Orlando City SC. Photo: Charlotte FC

On a beautiful evening in the Queen City, Charlotte FC welcomed the defending US Open Cup Champions, Orlando City to town. The second-year MLS franchise used a second half goal from Kamil Jozwiak to eliminate Orlando, 1-0.

It marked just the third time in the tournament’s Modern Era (1995-present) that the defending champion didn’t advance in its opening game.

Both teams tried to find the momentum early and set the tone of the match. Things would get heated from the beginning as each squad would see a yellow card handed to them.

Charlotte and Orlando would create opportunities, however neither team would find the back of the net in the first half.

The breakthrough wouldn’t arrive until the 70th minute, when substitute Kamil Jozwiak would put the ball in the bottom corner of the goal for the Crown.

Some confusion would surround the goal however, as it appeared the referee was about to blow his whistle for a foul. But Jozwiak kept going to find his second goal in as many US Open Cup matches.

“In these types of games, we have to be focused from the beginning, and score the first goal,” said Jozwiak in the post-game press conference.

Match. Winner. #ForTheCrown pic.twitter.com/ttLZjH5GDo
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) May 10, 2023

Charlotte head coach Christian Lattanzio also spoke of Jozwiak being “hangry in training, and wanting more”.

One more yellow card would be handed out to Charlotte FC and two more to Orlando City before the referee would blow his whistle to signal full time.

Orlando joins the 2003 Columbus Crew and the 2007 Chicago Fire as the only defending champs to be “one-and-done.”

Charlotte FC will now await their next US Open Cup opponent on Thursday.

2022 US Open Cup Final: Orlando City’s Facundo Torres voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

September 20, 2022 by Rich Flemings

Ivan Angulo (left) and Facundo Torres of Orlando City SC celebrate during the club’s 3-0 win over Sacramento Republic FC in the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo Credit: Luis Corazon

The theatrical elements were there: scoreless in the late stages of the second half, surrounded by a sold-out crowd in the home stadium, and the US Open Cup Final on the line. All that was needed was a man of the hour. A star. A hero. The limelight scanned the stage and found Orlando City winger Facundo Torres, who proved he was ready to carry the show. In the last 15 minutes of the match, Torres scored two goals and provided an assist in extra time to deliver the first trophy to Orlando City SC since they joined Major League Soccer (MLS). With this performance, Torres was also voted as TheCup.us Player of the Round for the Finals of the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

The Player of the Round award is voted by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) of TheCup.us’s Patreon team.

“I just got here and I’m already a part of Orlando’s club history,” Torres said. “I’m really happy about how the night went with the two goals and being a part of Orlando’s club history.”

Torres joined Orlando City SC on January 24th, 2022 as a club-record signing Designated Player. Having joined from his hometown club in Uruguay, Club Atlético Peñarol, Torres had to adjust to the style and physicality of the MLS. If you ask those in the clubhouse, he’s evolved and overcome many of those obstacles.

“If you’ve been watching Orlando, you’ve seen the evolution of Facundo,” said Orlando City General Manager, Luis Muzzi. “He’s much more free-flowing and confident, he knows the league and the opponents. He knows the flights, the variables.”

His confidence allowed him to score a left-footed shot past Sacramento’s goalkeeper in the 75th minute to break the deadlock. The second goal of the night came in the 80th minute, when Torres scored a penalty kick that was earned by teammate Benji Michel. To cap off the night, Torres thread the needle and provided Michel the key pass needed to score in second-half stoppage time. Playing USL Championship club Sacramento Republic in the Final posed unfamiliar challenges to Torres and the rest of his teammates.

“Especially with a team that we don’t know so well and can actually be dangerous, the key for the match, up to the 70th minute, was to be able to keep calm and find those three goals,” Torres said.

By the final whistle, Torres led his club with two goals, six shots, and three chances created. His two goals allowed him to finish the tournament with four total, which led the club. He also carried a passing accuracy of 83% across 47 passes and even displayed some defensive acumen, winning 6 of 9 ground duels. His distribution in the final third also earned him heavy praise after the game.

When asked about Torres, Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja said, “I think those players that change the game and take their teams on their shoulders are difficult to find.” Pareja added, “In Facu, we have found that already. This one game, he just took that magical moment that brought us.”

“He’s such a smart player, he’s an all-around player,” said Ricardo Moreira, Orlando City Technical Director. “He moves around and finds pockets of space, so he needed to adapt to the game and we needed to adapt to Facundo. I’d say the sky’s the limit, I’m very happy with his performances.” Moreira also added, “Every place we play away from home, you can see Uruguayan fans singing for him, he’s got his own personal fan clubs. It’s amazing.”

There are few stages big enough to handle his current ascent to stardom, but one remains elusive: the World Cup. The Uruguayan hopes this performance was enough to join La Celeste in Qatar in November. Beyond that, Torres could be lured to European leagues.

“I hope we can keep him for a lot longer,” Muzzi added. “He’s a player who will definitely be playing for one of the big clubs from Europe one day. But it’s not going to be now. Hopefully we can get a few trophies before he goes.”

Orlando City fans certainly hope he sticks around, as well. They’ve already won the US Open Cup. Now it’s time for the club to win the MLS, then the CONCACAF Champions League. With Torres on their roster, that trophy case has a good chance of getting crowded before he leaves.

2022 US Open Cup Final: Orlando City blanks underdog Sacramento Republic to become 2nd Florida team to lift trophy

September 8, 2022 by Austin David

Orlando City SC celebrate the 2022 US Open Cup championship after a 3-0 win over the Sacramento Republic. Photo: Mathieu Starke

It finally happened. After eight seasons in Major League Soccer, Orlando City finally lifted their first silverware as they beat Sacramento Republic 3-0 on Wednesday night.

The Lions scored all three of their goals with only 15 minutes to go in the match, as the USL Championship side held the game scoreless for the majority.

“I think it’s important to recognize that Orlando has won the first style here,” head coach Oscar Pareja said after the game. “We are very proud of the community of the club, the fans, the players and have this opportunity to bring this trophy means a lot. We’re proud. Congratulations to all involved in this trophy. We are very grateful for tonight, and we’ll hope to continue and just give a lot of joy to the community.”

Pareja’s Open Cup win makes him just the second coach in the Modern Era (1995-present) to win a title with two different clubs, doing so with FC Dallas back in 2016. The only other to do it is the late Sigi Schmid when he won with LA Galaxy in 2001 and with the Seattle Sounders four times (2009-11, 2014).

WHAT A BEAUTY ???? #MagicOfTheCup | #DaleMiAmor pic.twitter.com/5ELOGerrAH
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 8, 2022

After a scoreless first 74 minutes of action, the Lions broke through thanks to a combination of Ivan Angulo, Benji Michel and Facundo Torres. After Sacramento began to build out of the back, pressure from Angulo and Michel forced a turnover, allowing Michel to get off a pass to Torres to bend a shot around Danny Vitiello to break the deadlock.

Just five minutes later, Michel was involved in the second goal, as Dan Casey took down the Orlando homegrown player in the box. Facundo Torres stepped up and buried the penalty to double the lead for the Lions in the 80th minute.

That goal by Torres made him the fifth player in the Modern Era to have scored multiple goals in an Open Cup Final and the first to do it since 2016, when Oscar Pareja’s FC Dallas won, and Maxi Urruti notched a brace.

The Lions would add the cherry on top as Michel got in behind the Republic backline and tapped home the third, sealing the win for the Lions.

76' | Right place, right time ???? @facutorresss | #DaleMiAMmor pic.twitter.com/z1b5DP35H3
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 8, 2022

“They have a defense of three that is very difficult to break,” Pareja said on Michel. “We knew that Ercan will give us presence in the box, but there was a time in the game that we stuck (Michel) in there because we needed to stretch the field. Benji gave us that possibility to run in behind, to help us with the presence too. It was a good job by Ercan but at that point we needed more energy. And I thought Benji changed (the energy) tremendously.”

Wednesday’s result also marks the first time a Florida team has won the Open Cup since the St. Petersburg Kickers when they lifted the trophy in 1989. Fittingly, that same 1989 Kickers team was honored with a pre-game ceremony.

Orlando becomes the fifth team of the Modern Era to win the tournament while playing every game at home. They join the 2006 Chicago Fire, 2008 D.C. United, 2011 Seattle Sounders and the 2018 Houston Dynamo. Although, the Lions are the first to play six home games in a competition.

The home crowd was definitely a factor with a sold-out Exploria Stadium. The announced crowd of 25,527 was the eighth-largest crowd to ever watch a US Open Cup match in the tournament’s 107-year history. It was also the fourth largest crowd for a championship game.

In addition to lifting the club’s first major trophy, Orlando also wins $300,000 in prize money and qualifies for the CONCACAF Champions League. Sacramento earns $100,000 as the runner-up.

That's a lot of champagne ???? pic.twitter.com/JAHE8yDBnm
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 8, 2022

The Lions will host a Championship celebration tomorrow at City Hall, with festivities kicking off at noon. The win also means the Orlando City flag will fly at City Hall in Sacramento as the mayors of each city placed a friendly wager on the game. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg will also have to make a contribution to a charity of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s choosing.

PHOTO GALLERY by Mathieu Starke

2022 US Open Cup Final Preview: Orlando City hosts Sacramento Republic as both seek to make history

September 7, 2022 by TheCup.us Staff

Ever since Major League Soccer (MLS) first entered the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in 1996, America’s top-tier of professional soccer has won the trophy every year except one. On Wednesday night, the Sacramento Republic FC, the underdogs from the second-tier USL Championship, will travel to Florida to take on Orlando City SC. Sacramento will look to replicate the success of the 1999 Rochester Raging Rhinos by winning the 107th edition of the tournament.

#USOC2022 Essentials

2022 USOC Results/Schedule
2022 USOC Statistical Leaders
2023 USOC Qualifying Results

TheCup.us Player of the Round winners

HISTORY
* Former USL Pro opponents take winding roads
to meet again in 2022 US Open Cup Final
* San Francisco Bay Seals, the ‘amateur’ pro
team that reached 1997 US Open Cup Semifinals
* How St. Petersburg Kickers became Florida’s
first US Open Cup champion

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Wednesday night will be the fourth time a non-MLS club has ever competed in the Final since 1996 and only the third different team to do so. If Sacramento wins the Cup, they’ll do so by also joining the Rhinos in eliminating four MLS clubs en route to the hardware.

On the other side, Orlando City will try to win their first major trophy in front of their home fans. On top of that, they will try to become just the second Florida team in history to lift the trophy.

It also marks the first time that a team from Florida and a team from California will meet in the Final.

In addition to $300,000 in prize money, the winner will also earn a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. The Final will be broadcast live on ESPN+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Sacramento Republic (USL-C) at Orlando City SC (MLS)
Exploria Stadium; Orlando, FL
Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN+

Sacramento Republic FC players celebrate after defeating Sporting KC 5-4 in a PK shootout (after a scoreless draw) in the 2022 US Open Cup Semifinals. Photo: Sacramento Republic FC

SACRAMENTO SEEKING TO COMPLETE RARE UNDERDOG STORY
By Rich Flemings

After missing out on the 2021 USL Championship playoffs, the Sacramento Republic FC revamped their roster and has reinserted themselves into the playoff discussions. As the postseason looms, Sacramento is flirting with the possibility of even hosting a first-round playoff match. They enter Wednesday night’s final having lost two of their last three league matches.

Throughout the 2022 US Open Cup tournament, Sacramento has yet to trail in a single match. Aside from the semifinal match against Sporting Kansas City, Sacramento was able to take an early lead in every match by way of a first-half goal.

Sacramento showed no difficulty in casting aside the Portland Timbers U-23s, taking a 6-0 lead at halftime and not looking back.

In the third round, Central Valley Fuego equalized in the second half, but Sacramento’s Rodrigo Lopez scored a penalty kick in second-half stoppage time to dismiss the USL League One club.

The Fourth Round saw Sacramento face a familiar foe in fellow USL-C club Phoenix Rising. The Republic scored an early goal from Luis Felipe and a late goal by Douglas Martinez and added another home victory to their tournament run.

Sacramento was able to exorcise their demons in the Round of 16 by defeating MLS club San Jose Earthquakes for the first time in five attempts.

While playing LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals, Sacramento was finally able to bring a touch of their home magic with them on the road and defeated their second MLS squad in the tournament.

The Semifinals were decided from the penalty spot and Sacramento was able to outlast Sporting Kansas City in front of a raucous and joyful Sacramento crowd.

Sacramento Republic FC (USL Championship)
7th US Open Cup appearance
Overall: 18-6-2 (1-1 PKs)
Home: 16-1-1 (1-0 PKs)
vs MLS: 4-4-2 (1-1 PKs)
Best finish: 2022 Final

Current Season
12-7-8, 35 GF 29 GA, 4th in USL Championship – Western Conference
Goal scoring leader: Tied – Maalique Foster & Douglas Martínez, 5
Assists leader: Rodrigo López, 7
Goalkeeping leader: Danny Vitiello, 18 games, 1.0 GAA/5 Clean sheets

Last three games
August 13^th (USLC): 0-1 loss at Monterrey Bay FC
August 17^th (USLC): 3-0 win vs Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
August 20^th (USLC): 1-2 loss at Las Vegas Lights FC

Non-MLS Finalists since 1996:

Rochester Rhinos
- 1996: Runner-up
- 1999: Champion
Charleston Battery
- 2008: Runner-up
Sacramento Republic FC
- 2022: TBD

History behind California clubs in US Open Cup

Including this year’s Final, there have been 34 Finals with a California-based club vying for the Cup. 15 of those 34 were successful in winning the cup.
5-time champion: Maccabee AC (Los Angeles)
2-time champion: Greek-American AC (San Francisco), LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Kickers
1-time champion: McIlvaine Canvasbacks, CD Mexico, San Francisco IAC, San Jose Oaks
Modern Era: LA Galaxy (2-time winner)

How Sacramento Republic got to the Final:
Round 2: Won 6-0 vs Portland Timbers U23 (USL2)
Round 3: Won 2-1 vs Central Valley Fuego (USL1)
Round 4: Won 2-0 vs Phoenix Rising (USLC)
Round of 16: Won 2-0 vs San Jose Earthquakes (MLS)
Quarterfinals: Won 2-1 vs LA Galaxy (MLS)
Semifinals: Won 0-0 (5-4 PKs) vs Sporting Kansas City (MLS)

Orlando City SC players celebrate after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Third Round of the 2022 US Open Cup. Photo: Orlando City SC

ORLANDO CITY: FIVE WINS DOWN, ONE TO GO
by Austin David

Orlando City are chasing their first trophy in their history in MLS as they get the chance to host the US Open Cup Final against Sacramento Republic.

After hosting every match so far in their cup run, the Lions have a chance to cap a historic day by becoming just the second Florida club in tournament history to lift the trophy.

Coming into the match, Orlando have won their last three matches thanks to goals in the 89th minute or later, riding a four game winning streak through the month of August. The team is now hoping that their good fortune and red hot offense will make a difference in the biggest game in club history.

With Sacramento coming in winning their last two of four, Lions Head Coach Oscar Pareja was quick to point out how his side is not taking their opponents lightly.

“It’s a very good team,” Pareja said on Tuesday, “We have the most respect for them and their coaches and obviously they are here for a reason. Their journey has not been easy to get to this point. So we have been approaching this match and our preparation has been very precise like any other competition, obviously, but this will be in a final. Recognizing what they can do to hurt us and like any other team, what weaknesses we can find and making our game plan clearer for the players.”

The two teams have played eachother only once in their history, back when Orlando City was still in USL Pro. Sacramento was just playing their inaugural season as the Lions were primed for an MLS move the next year. That game, played out in Sacremento, ended in a scoreless draw. Rodrigo Lopez played a full 90 minutes in that match.

With Orlando in the final, they become the third Florida team to make it all the way, joining the St. Petersburg Kickers and the Miami Fusion (MLS). This is the first time in 22 years that a Florida team has participated in the final.

Teams from Florida in the Open Cup Final

1989 St. Petersburg Kickers *
2000 Miami Fusion
*-Won US Open Cup

How Orlando City SC got to the Finals

Round 3: Won 2-1 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL-C)
Round 4: Won 2-1 vs. Philadelphia Union (MLS)
Round of 16: Drew 1-1 vs. Inter Miami CF (MLS) — Advanced on penalties 4-2
Quarterfinals: Drew 1-1 vs. Nashville SC (MLS) — Advanced on penalties 6-5
Semifinals: Won 5-1 vs. New York Red Bulls (MLS)

Orlando opened their 2022 Open Cup run with a 2-1 win at home over the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the USL Championship in the Third Round. Alexandre Pato and Junior Urso scored second-half goals.

The Lions followed the same script in the Fourth Round when they hosted the Philadelphia Union. After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Orlando scored a pair of goals by Ercan Kara, and a 30-yard rocket from Andres Perea early in the second half. And once again, despite giving up a goal in the 77th minute, Orlando held on for the 2-1 win.

In the Round of 16, it was another matchup of teams from the Sunshine State as Inter Miami CF traveled to Orlando. While there were no goals scored in the first half for the third game in a row, there was also no scoring in the second half. In extra time, the game came alive as each team traded goals in the first seven minutes. Jean Mota would open the scoring in the 94th minute, and Facundo Torres would equalize three minutes later for Orlando. The match would end up in a penalty kick shootout and for the fourth time in as many tries in team history, Orlando would prevail, winning 4-2.

The Quarterfinals saw Orlando City going to penalties once again, this time to topple Nashville SC after a 1-1 extra-time draw. After Hany Mukhtar gave Nashville a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute, Orlando needed every bit of the remaining time to find their equalizer. In the 4th minute of stoppage time, Rodrigo Schlegel sent to game to extra time, scoring from a free kick sent into the goalmouth. After a scoreless extra time. Orlando finally prevailed when goalkeeper Pedro Gallese saved Eric Miller’s penalty to give Orlando a 6-5 shootout win.

Heading into the Semifinals, there were a lot of questions surrounding Orlando’s offensive output over their last number of games. Oscar Pareja went with a new look front line and it paid off and then some. After the Red Bulls opened the scoring late in the first half, Cesar Araujo tied things up just before the half. That led to four goals unanswered in second half for the Lions, en route to a dominant 5-1 win over New York and a first berth to the Open Cup Final.

Orlando City SC (MLS)

12th US Open Cup appearance (6th as MLS)
Overall: 20-11-5 (5-0 PKs) | as MLS: 8-5-5 (5-0 PKs)
Home: 14-4-3 (3-0 PKs) | as MLS: 5-3-3 (3-0 PKs)
MLS: 6-9-4 (4-0 PKs) | as MLS: 4-3-4 (4-0 PKs)
Best finish: 2022 Final

Current Season
12-6-10 (42 pts.) 35 GF 40 GA, 5th in MLS Eastern Conference
Goalscoring leader: Ercan Kara, 9
Assists leader: Mauricio Pereyra, Facundo Torres, 9
Goalkeeping leader: Pedro Gallese, 27 games, 1.44 GAA / 8 clean sheets

Last Three Games

August 21 (MLS): 2-1 win at Charlotte FC
August 28 (MLS): 2-1 win vs New York City FC
August 31 (MLS): 3-2 win vs Seattle Sounders