Has it sunk in yet? Orlando City SC have reached the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final and are just 90+ minutes away from securing their first major honour in our Major League Soccer history.
Thumping New York Red Bulls 5-1 in the semi-finals back on July 27, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions now host fairytale giant killers Sacramento Republic at Exploria Stadium and will never have a better opportunity to put silverware in our trophy cabinet.
As fate would have it, Orlando City SC have remarkably hosted every round of their 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup journey so far.
Starting our campaign with a 2-1 victory over I-4 Derby rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies back on April 20, September 7’s game with Sacramento Republic is a date with destiny.
USL Championship side Sacramento Republic are the most storied team this tournament and have shocked the whole of North America, dumping out three MLS sides en route to the final.
Defeating San Jose Earthquakes, LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City (5-4 on penalties A.E.T.) to get here, the Californian side are huge underdogs and will have all of the United States behind them.
The thought of securing our first major title, at Exploria Stadium no less, with a place in the CONCACAF Champions League on the line too, is a tantalising one.
Nevertheless, Oscar Pareja‘s Lions can ill afford any complacency against Mark Briggs’ minor league side.
Orlando City UK will be attending this game LIVE, so look out for all of our content direct from Central Florida.
Before we get into the stats, join us as we reflect on Orlando City SC‘s route to the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final.
Third Round (April 20) – 2-1 vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Facing I-4 Derby rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies competitively for the first time since 2014, Orlando City SC won this nostalgic cup tie 2-1. An Alexandre Pato penalty and Júnior Urso strike (rocking a pair of shades in celebration) seized the initiative before Lucky Mkosana made City sweat. In stoppage time, Rowdies boss Neill Collins crazily got sent off after receiving a second yellow card for entering the field of play and attempting to restart a play himself!
Round of 32 (May 10) – 2-1 vs. Philadelphia Union
Orlando City SC took advantage of an understrength Philadelphia Union side to win 2-1 and progress to the Round of 16. Scoring two goals within just three second-half minutes, an Ercan Kara strike and Andrés Perea‘s fearsome one-time drive from downtown put the Lions into a commanding lead. Just like the last round, a Stuart Findlay reply made City sweat.
Round of 16 (May 25) – 1-1 vs. Inter Miami (4-2 on penalties A.E.T.)
Orlando City SC took extra delight in dumping out Florida rivals Inter Miami in the Round of 16. After Jean Mota gave The Herons an extra-time lead, Facundo Torres scored a beautiful solo equaliser just minutes after. Going to a penalty shootout, City maintained their immaculate PK record. Converting all four of our penalties, Mason Stajduhar saved Bryce Duke’s effort and DeAndre Yedlin skied his PK to see the Lions prevail.
Quarter-Final (June 29) – 1-1 vs. Nashville SC (6-5 on penalties A.E.T.)
Oscar Pareja‘s side needed penalty kicks yet again to overcome Nashville SC in the last eight. City were just two minutes away from being eliminated after Hany Mukhtar’s 52nd minute strike. But magic man Rodrigo Schlegel equalised in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to take the game to extra-time. An incredible 6-5 sudden death shootout saw Orlando City SC reach a second successive semi-final thanks to Pedro Gallese‘s save on Eric Miller. The PK victory saw the Lions win a shootout for the seventh consecutive time in our MLS history.
Semi-Final (July 27) – 5-1 vs. New York Red Bulls
Struggling for consistent results in MLS at the time, this fixture looked mighty daunting on paper. But Orlando City SC laughed in the face of the form book and produced their best performance of the season on their biggest night as an MLS club. After Lewis Morgan opened the scoring, a César Araújo brace and strikes from Mauricio Pereyra, Facundo Torres and Benji Michel left Red Bulls completely shell-shocked. It was bedlam at Exploria Stadium that would soon be hosting Orlando City SC‘s first championship game as an MLS club.
Orlando City SC vs Sacramento Republic – Head-to-head stats
Sure, this is the first time Orlando City SC have faced Sacramento Republic as an MLS club, but it isn’t the first time the sides have met in soccer history.
Back in our 2014 USL Pro season, Adrian Heath‘s Lions played out a 0-0 draw away at Sacramento Republic in July of that year.
Visiting Heart Health Park, then named Bonney Field, City entered 2014 as defending USL Pro champions.
As the story goes, Heath’s Lions went on to win the Commissioner’s Cup.
However, they fell at the quarter-final stage of the 2014 USL Pro Playoffs to Harrisburg City Islanders (0-1).
In the end, it was actually Sacramento Republic who defeated Harrisburg City Islanders 0-2 in the 2014 USL Pro Championship, securing their first title since their 2012 founding.
Sacramento Republic 0 Orlando City SC 0 – Highlights – July 17, 2014 (Credit: Sacramento Republic FC)
Like we just mentioned, there’s only been one single fixture between Orlando City SC and Sacramento Republic in soccer history.
Since that game in July 2014, Orlando City SC have experienced the thrill of becoming a Major League Soccer franchise.
As for Sacramento Republic, they went on to secure their first title, the aforementioned 2014 USL Pro Championship, in their inaugural season of existence.
Securing this title under head coach Preki, a member of the U.S. Soccer hall of fame, this is Sacramento Republic’s only USL Cup victory to date.
Elsewhere, they won the USL Western Conference in 2016 and have reached the playoffs for seven of their eight seasons in existence.
Orlando City SC form
Orlando City SC‘s run to the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final has been anything but straightforward.
Requiring two penalty shootouts to eliminate Inter Miami and Nashville SC, BOTH SIDES HAVE SCORED in all FIVE of City’s cup fixtures this year.
In fairness to Oscar Pareja‘s side, they haven’t panicked when trailing so far this cup campaign.
Recovering one-goal deficits against Inter Miami, Nashville SC and most recently New York Red Bulls, this never-say-die spirit is why we’ve managed to reach our first major final.
Sacramento Republic form
The danger man in the Sacramento Republic ranks appears to be American/Brazilian midfielder Luis Felipe.
The 26-year-old has scored in THREE of Republic’s SIX U.S. Open Cup fixtures this year, notching against Phoenix Rising (2-0), San Jose Earthquakes (2-0), and LA Galaxy (1-2).
Previously a Quakes player between 2018 and 2020, Luis Felipe would’ve really enjoyed that goal against his former employers.
Starting his career at the now defunct Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Luis Felipe’s finest moment came at Dignity Health Sports Park back on June 21.
Scoring a 70th minute game winner against fellow Californian side LA Galaxy, this 1-2 quarter-final victory sent shockwaves through the U.S. Soccer community.
LA Galaxy 1 Sacramento Republic 2 – Highlights – June 21, 2022 (Credit: CBS Sacramento)
Another key thing to note is that Sacramento Republic have been incredibly stingy in their 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run.
Only conceding TWO goals all tournament long, Orlando City SC will have to bring their shooting boots like they did against New York Red Bulls.
The only occasions the Republic goal has been breached was against Central Valley Fuego (2-1) and LA Galaxy (1-2) in the third round and quarter-final respectively.
This is of course discounting the four goals they conceded in their 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Sporting Kansas City in the semi-finals.
Orlando City SC 5 New York Red Bulls 1 – Highlights – July 27, 2022 (Credit: Orlando City SC)
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