Commentary
Orlando City maintains MLS's grip on U.S. Open Cup trophy
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Sep 8, 2022
Winning without goals worked for Sacramento Republic when it won its U.S. Open Cup semifinal with a shootout at home over Sporting Kansas City after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer. That marked the third MLS team that the USL Championship club from California's capital defeated en route to the final, after more impressive victories over the LA Galaxy (2-1) and the San Jose Earthquakes (2-0).
But a fourth win over an MLS team proved elusive as Orlando City beat Republic FC, 3-0, to extend MLS's domination in the USA's oldest cup competition to 21 seasons.
Even in the final, 2,900 miles away from home, the tactic of getting as many players in the penalty area as possible to block shots when the foe threatened worked for 75 minutes.
That's when Orlando's Ivan Angulo robbed Dan Casey of the ball he couldn't control from teammate Conor Donovan's pass in the penalty area. Benji Michel relayed Angulo's pass to 22-year-old Uruguayan striker Facundo Torres, whose one-touch strike curved into the high left corner of the net.
The opening goal came soon after Casey's central defense partner, Lee Desmond, got yellow-carded — and looked to have banged his head quite hard — for clashing into Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Sac Republic, which ended its Open Cup run on a 240-minute scoring drought, unravelled quickly after conceding its first goal since the quarterfinals.
In the 80th minute, Casey again helped Orlando get on the scoreboard with a reckless (to say the least) sliding tackle from behind on Michel. Referee Ramy Touchan not only didn't caution Casey but he also let Rodrigo Lopez off easy, issuing only one caution despite Lopez repeating his aggressive dissent — screaming into Touchan's face from inches away. Torres converted the penalty kick.
Facundo Torres, one of three Uruguayans who are key Orlando players.
As the USL Championship club ended its remarkable U.S. Open run with a meltdown, Orlando squandered a couple big chances to increase the score before Michel made it 3-0 six minutes into stoppage time.
Sac Republic, while failing to become the second lower division team after the Rochester Rhinos in 1999 to win the Open Cup in the MLS era, will go into American soccer annals for being the fourth non-MLS team to reach the final since MLS's 1996 launch.
For Orlando City, whose predecessor of the same name played in the USL in 2011-14 and won USL Pro titles in 2011 and 2013, the victory marked its first trophy since joining MLS in 2015. It fielded Brazilian World Cup winner Kaka for its first three seasons and went through three coaches — Adrian Heath, Jason Kreis, James O'Connor — without reaching the playoffs until Oscar Pareja took over for the 2020 season, when after finishing runner-up at the MLS is Back Tournament it reached the 2020 MLS quarterfinals. It fell in the first round of the playoffs in 2021.
Orlando City is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and in good position to reach the playoffs with a team dominated by foreign players. The Lions became the first MLS champion to start 11 foreigners in the Open Cup final: three Brazilians, three Uruguayans, one Argentine, one Austrian, one Colombian, one Peruvian and one (U.S. college-educated) Portuguese.
But Wednesday's victory also delivered hometown pride. Michel, a key to all three goals after coming of the bench in the 61st minute, was born and raised in Orlando.
The 24-year-old played for Orlando City's Development Academy team and after three seasons with the University of Portland Pilots signed a Homegrown contract ahead of the 2019 season.
Before the final, Michel said, "It will mean a lot to me and the city, just growing up and watching Orlando in the USL days [before joining MLS in 2015], winning championships. For me to be able to make history with this team, it just means a lot. It goes a long way, especially for my family here."
He certainly delivered.
Sept. 7 in Orlando, Florida
Orlando City 3 Sac Republic FC 0. Goals: Torres 75, pen. 80, Michel 90+6.
Orlando City — Gallese; Ruan (Smith, 83), Antonio Carlos, Schlegel, Moutinho; Junior Urso (Perea, 90+1), Araujo, Pereyra (Cartagena, 90+1); Torres, Kara (Michel, 61), Angulo (Akindele, 83).
Sac Republic FC — Vitiello; Casey, Donovan (Ross, 88), Desmond; Gurr, LaGrassa (Cuella, 78), Luis Felipe, Viader; Keko (Martinez, 65), Foster (Archimede, 78), Lopez.
Yellow cards: Orlando City — Antonio Carlos 69, Pereyra 90+1; Sac Republic FC — Desmond 74, Luis Felipe 77, Lopez 79.
Referee: Ramy Touchan (USA).
Att.: 25,527.
Photos: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Congrats to Orlando, or was that Sacramento, or ANY MLS ( or for that matter, EFL, most BPL, Etc.. etc...).??? . I was watching and I thought to myself, (As I have Stated here previously)... You Could Switch the Jerseys on 99% of the Players and, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.!!!... Same Cookie Cutter Players, except that FW for Sacramento... Somewhat, enjoyable game
Congrats to Orlando and Oscar, staff and players. Also, well done to Sacramento. Making it to final, you played all the games, you leave nothing on the pitch. I don't take USL for granted. Prior to 2017, just 5 years ago, USL was not even D2. It was USL and PDL, two leagues. D2 was NASL with 12 teams and no academies. Today, USL has Championship, One, Two, Academy and Ladies coming. Consider that a young man graduating HS prior to 2017, since MLS was not playing 18 y.o.'s, had basically college, or, almost nothing. I attended Open Cup final in Houston some years back with son and his team. Two MLS Teams do not make the game better. It was Dynamo v KC. KC parked the bus. Was like watching paint dry. Dynamo won, Beasely most underated, underappreciated US pro ever, got another trophy. FC San Anotonio in USL Championship has a nice little stadium, their academy is full scholarship and they play the academy boys in first team. Just getting started is USL. Keep it going!
Humble... I think if MLS was Wise... They would Also have a Franchise in San Antonio...
Instant Rivalry with the Uppies in Austin vs the Hipanics in SA...
Not to mention a Texas Shootout, with Houston and Dallas.
Santi, it is a very careful dance they play, where to have a franchise USL. Remember SAC was to be and then not to be in MLS. Look at the former USLC Austin Bold, now Las Vegas Lights and if MLS comes to Vegas next, who knows...also look at Chicago, there was a lot of hoopla that USLC was coming to town when Fire was in Bridgeview, now ... crickets. USL is very cautious and careful at the same time methodical and strategic about markets they enter. The are quietly filling the gaps in the landscape, wise to the fact that soccer is a grass roots game with a myriad of levels of investment to get it off the ground, and that MLS will always be major metros, they can never cover even every state, with the model they chose. There will never ever be a Frieburg in MLS. Thanks to USL we have pro soccer in Madison, WI, the world renowned and much copied 'Mingos of Forward Madison, my hometown, whodathunkit 5 years ago?
I was at this game and it was a fantastic atmosphere. The ref was unfortunately atrocious. I'm not sure I agree with the comment about switching jerseys and it being the same. There really is nothing similar between Orlando and Sacramento. Being at the game it was quite obvious to see Orlando was the better team.
Yes, Chris... Looked like a Good Crowd ...
Don't get me wrong...
I did Enjoy, Somewhat, Watching the Game,(Which i didn't expect to)
Level of Play was Decent... From Both Teams...
Just VERY Little STOOD OUT... That is my Point.
Do you think the Result would have been the Same,
If the Game was Played in SAC or on Neutral Field.???