Orlando City Lions make history with win over Sac Republic to take U.S. Open Cup
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 07: Orlando City hoist the trophy after winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against the Sacramento Republic FC 3-0 at Exploria Stadium on September 07, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando City Lions made history on Wednesday before a sellout crowd, winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship in a 3-0 defeat of the USL's Sacramento Republic FC.
Facundo Torres broke through with a goal in the 75th minute, then converted on a penalty to give Orlando City its first-ever trophy as a Major League Soccer club. Torres' penalty kick in the 80th all but sealed it for the Lions, who had not won a title since joining Major League Soccer in 2015. Orlando native Benji Michel added a stoppage-time goal.
Sac Republic, which plays in the USL, was looking to become the second lower-division club to win the Open Cup championship in a quarter-century. The Rochester Rhinos won the title in 1999.
Torres' first goal came off a tap by Michel, a homegrown player signed before the 2019 season. The Uruguayan's goal prompted the sellout crowd at Exploria Stadium to chant "We want the cup!" Michel was fouled in the box to make way for Torres' penalty, then scored himself in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Orlando City had beaten the New York Red Bulls 5-1 in the Open Cup semifinals to advance to the title game. Sacramento advanced 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw with Sporting Kansas City in the semifinals. The Republic also downed the San Jose Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy in Open Cup play.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 07: Facundo Torres #17 of Orlando City celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half against the Sacramento Republic FC during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Exploria Stadium on September 07, 2022 in Orlando, Florid
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 07: Maalique Foster #99 of Sacramento Republic FC and Antônio Carlos #25 of Orlando City battle for possession in the second half during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Exploria Stadium on September 07, 2022 in Orlando, F
Before Wednesday night, the closest the Lions came was in 2020, when they were runners-up in the MLS is Back tournament. Orlando City became the first Florida team to win a major pro soccer trophy since 2001 when the Miami Fusion won the MLS Supporters' Shield.
This was the 107th edition of the Open Cup, which was not played for the past two years because of COVID-19.
Over 25,500 were in attendance at Exploria Stadium.
Orlando City SC announced after the match that the club will take its celebrations to the steps of City Hall in downtown Orlando on Thursday afternoon. The event is set to start at 12 p.m. ET. Hosted by former Lions goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo along with City’s sideline reporter Gabrielle Amado, the event will include speeches from City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando City Chairman Mark Wilf, and Head Coach Oscar Pareja, with the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy in full display.
The event is free and open to the public, with fans encouraged to come out and celebrate with the team and the Orlando community, as the Lions lift their first trophy in the MLS era.
U.S. Open Cup Champions by year
2022--Orlando City
2021--canceled
2020--canceled
2019--Atlanta
2018--Houston Dynamo
2017--Sporting Kansas City
2016--Dallas
2015--Sporting Kansas City
2014--Seattle Sounders
2013--D.C. United
2012--Sporting Kansas City
2011--Seattle Sounders
2010--Seattle Sounders
2009--Seattle Sounders
2008--D.C. United
2007--New England Revolution
2006--Chicago Fire
2005--Los Angeles Galaxy
2004--Kansas City Wizards
2003--Chicago Fire
2002--Columbus Crew
2001--Los Angeles Galaxy
2000--Chicago Fire
1999--Rochester Raging Rhinos
1998--Chicago Fire
1997--Dallas Burn
1996--D.C. United
1995--Richmond Kickers
1994--Greek-American
1993--San Francisco CD Mexico
1992--San Jose Oaks
1991--Brooklyn Italians
1990--AAC Eagles
1989--St. Petersburg Kickers
1988--St. Louis Busch Seniors
1987--Club Espana
1986--St. Louis Kutis
1985--Greek-American
1984--AO Krete
1983--New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
1982--New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
1981--Maccabi Los Angeles
1980--New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
1979--Brooklyn Dodgers SC
1978--Maccabi Los Angeles
1977--Maccabi Los Angeles
1976--San Francisco
1975--Maccabi Los Angeles
1974--Greek American AA
1973--Maccabi Los Angeles
1972--Elizabeth SC
1971--New York Hota
1970--Elizabeth SC
1969--Greek American AA
1968--Greek American AA
1967--Greek American AA
1966--Philadelphia Ukrainians
1965--New York Ukrainians
1964--Los Angeles Kickers
1963--Philadelphia Ukrainians
1962--New York Hungaria
1961--Philadelphia Ukrainians
1960--Philadelphia Ukrainians
1959--McIlvane Canvasbacks
1958--Los Angeles Kickers
1957--St. Louis Kutis
1956--Harmarville Hurricanes
1955--Eintracht
1954--New York Americans
1953--Falcons
1952--Harmarville Hurricanes
1951--German Hungarian
1950--St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
1949--Morgan-Strasser
1948--St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
1947--Ponta Delgada
1946--Chicago Viking
1945--Brookhattan
1944--Brooklyn Hispano
1943--Brooklyn Hispano
1942--Gallatin
1941--Pawtucket
1940--No final. Baltimore and Chicago Sparta shared title.
1939--Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic
1938--Chicago Sparta
1937--New York Americans
1936--Uhrik Truckers
1935--St. Louis Central Breweries
1934--Stix, Baer and Fuller
1933--Stix, Baer and Fuller
1932--New Bedford Whalers
1931--Fall River Marksmen
1930--Fall River Marksmen
1929--New York Hakoah
1928--New York Nationals
1927--Fall River Marksmen
1926--Bethlehem Steel
1925--Shawsheen Indians
1924--Fall River Marksmen
1923--Paterson Silk Sox
1922--St. Louis Scullin Steel
1921--Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock
1920--Ben Millers
1919--Bethlehem Steel
1918--Bethlehem Steel
1917--Fall River Rovers
1916--Bethlehem Steel
1915--Bethlehem Steel
1914--Brooklyn Field Club