ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City won the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday night, topping Sacramento Republic FC 3-0 to claim the crown.
🎥 Facu perfect from the spot. Good thing #orlandocity had a lot of film on Sacramento in PKs after their semifinal matbb cvs #ORLvSAC pic.twitter.com/CLy7zLZe8q
— Danielle Stein (@Danielle_Stein9) September 8, 2022
Facundo Torres broke through with a goal in the 75th minute, then converted on a penalty to give Orlando City its first-ever trophy in front of a sold out crowd of 25,527 fans at Exploria Stadium.
FINAL | Orlando City 3, Sacramento Republic 0
— Danielle Stein (@Danielle_Stein9) September 8, 2022
A brace from Facu and the dagger from the homegrown Michel: #OrlandoCity wins its first trophy of its MLS era with the Open Cup pic.twitter.com/7l6xJxEnHY
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 in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
You can’t be happier for anyone more than Benji Michel. An complete difference maker in the match and to do it in front of his hometown crowd behind him. What every kid dreams of #OrlandoCity pic.twitter.com/3Cv3hUu6Q2
— Danielle Stein (@Danielle_Stein9) September 8, 2022
The team will celebrate the title Thursday at noon at City Hall. The event is free and fans are encouraged to celebrate with the team.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation is looking into Orlando City Soccer after allegations of spying were reported.
It’s said an Orlando City Soccer staffer was spying on a Sacramento Republic training session before Wednesday night’s sold-out game.
“It’s part of the game we understand that. The only thing I say is nobody is spying on anybody,” said coach Oscar Pareja.
“I think in this cup we deserve to be the champions” #OrlandoCity pic.twitter.com/4qhngZk0G8
— Danielle Stein (@Danielle_Stein9) September 8, 2022
Pareja says they will cooperate with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, but he wants the focus to remain on the players’ hard work and big win.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.