ORLANDO, FL. – It took something out of nowhere for Orlando City to win the US Open Cup.
For 75 minutes, Orlando City walked away with commanding control of the ball. At the end of the game, Orlando City collected 52% of the possession. While not a number comparable to a club like Manchester City, Barcelona or Bayern Munich, most of that possession came in the attacking half.
However, for 75 minutes, the Sacramento Republic did enough to prevent any real chance on goal. Every time the hosts really made inroads into the attacking third, an errant pass or step up from the visitors eliminated any threat.
It really was a game of nothing. Sacramento kept possession in its own half to look for some control. Torrid pressure from Benji Michel allowed Iván Angulo to force a turnover. When the ball passed to Michel, he fired it to Facundo Torres. Seconds after Sacramento turned the ball over, the right winger launched the ball from 18 yards to beat Sacramento goalie Danny Vitiello.
From then on, everything unraveled for the team to bid to be the first non-MLS team to win the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup in nearly a quarter of a century.
In stoppage time, local talent and fan favorite Benji Michel capped off the best night in the Purple and Gold’s young history with City’s third. A raucous Exploria stadium witnessed history. The Lions, who launched as a club in 2013, secured their first US Open Cup trophy.
Fittingly, it was Michel who led the celebrations in front of the north wall of fans in the city of Orlando.
Orlando City wins the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup
Despite the 3-0 scoreline at the end, Orlando City did not get past the Sacramento Republic. Yes, Orlando City racked up more possession and shots. However, Sacramento always posed a threat on the counter.
In which specific iteration, Antônio Carlos lost track of Sacramento Republic’s Maalique Foster. Foster forced the Orlando City center back to drag him down at the risk of a one-on-one with Orlando City goalie Pedro Gallese.
In the end, MLS-caliber talent proved too much for a USL team currently ranked fourth in the USL Western Conference.
Sacramento Republic’s magical streak ends
Don’t take anything away from Sacramento. The fact that they have made it to this game is a celebration in itself. The last team outside of Major League Soccer to match Sacramento’s accomplishments in the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup was the Charleston Battery. That was 14 years ago. Before that, it was that 1999 Rochester Rhinos cup-winning team.
This race to the final began in the second round. In their six wins, the Sacramento Republic eliminated three MLS teams, including two wins over other teams from California, San Jose and the LA Galaxy.
According to the MLS table, Orlando City was the ‘best’ team Sacramento played in this streak. A talented group of Lions made the clock strike midnight.
Facundo Torres’ Man of the Match performance
In any endgame, regardless of importance or significance, a winning team needs a player who steps up to make the difference. For Orlando City, that player was Facundo Torres.
The opening goal was a pearl, simple as that. A team effort to get the ball back, for sure. However, Sacramento’s Danny Vitiello’s shot from the top of the box to the right side is a goal worthy of a club’s first US Open Cup trophy.
Torres scored the penalty five minutes later. Then, to top off his brilliant second-half display, he set up Benji Michel to score. Michel himself made a big difference from the bench. In addition to his goal, he picked up the assist on the first goal. In addition, he is the player who won the penalty that Torres took advantage of to convert. His speed against a somewhat tired Sacramento backline proved to be a body shot in this boxing match of a final.
