Orlando City to take on Sac Republic for U.S. Open Cup title
And we have an amazing opportunity.”Major League Soccer's Lions host United Soccer League upstart Sacramento in the title match of the Open Cup on Wednesday night in Orlando, Florida. In addition to a trophy, the Open Cup winner also earns a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League. Orlando defeated the New York Red Bulls 5-1 in the Open Cup semifinals to advance to the title game. The Republic also downed the San Jose Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy in Open Cup play. For the Open Cup, Sacramento coach Mark Briggs is keeping his team grounded.
wftv.comLions win, will host final of the U.S. Open Cup in September
ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City will host the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Finals against Sporting KC or the Sacramento Republic FC on September 7 at Exploria Stadium. The Lions came out in the second half, determined to host the finals. Two minutes into the second half, Captain Mauricio Pereyra scored from the top of the box, giving Orlando a 2-1 lead. The last time Orlando scored five goals against an opponent was in the regular season in 2021 verse the San Jose Earthquakes. Orlando City now waits for the winner of the Sacramento Republic FC and Sporting Kansas City.
wftv.comMichel scores in 84th minute, Orlando City beats Crew 2-1
ORLANDO, Fla. – Benji Michel scored in the 84th minute to help Orlando City beat the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Wednesday night. Orlando City (11-3-8) broke a tie for third place with Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings with one game left. With Orlando City down a man after Nani received a red card in the 52nd minute, Michel headed the ball to himself and tapped it between goalkeeper Eloy Room's legs for his fifth goal of the season. Harrison Afful scored his first goal of the season for Columbus, connecting from the 18-yard box in the 56th minute. Orlando nearly scored 30th minute, but Room made an incredible double save.
Orlando City defeats Kansas City 2-1
All rights reserved)Orlando City defeated Kansas City 2-1 on Wednesday. Tesho Akindele and Benji Michel scored the two goals for Orlando City. Kansas City had 16 shots on the night and Orlando City put 8 shots on goal. Orlando City had possession of the ball for 44 percent of the game. Kansas City committed 18 fouls in the game and Orlando City committed 16 fouls.
Mueller, Orlando City beat Fire 4-1, extend unbeaten streak
ORLANDO, Fla. – Chris Mueller had a goal and an assist, Luís Carlos “Nani” Almeida da Cunha also scored, and Orlando City beat the Chicago Fire 4-1 on Saturday. Mueller cut back to evade a defender and scored on a left-footer that deflected off Chicago's Álvaro Medrán before trickling into the net top open the scoring in the 11th minute and Orlando City led the rest of the way. Orlando City (6-2-4) is unbeaten, with four wins, in its last six games. Mueller lofted an entry to Nani who headed home the finish from point-blank range to make it 2-0 in the 24th. Pedro Gallese had just two saves for Orlando City but had a diving left-handed stop of a penalty kick by the Fire’s Álvaro Medrán in the 36th minute.
Atlanta United ties Orlando City 1-1 on Jahns late header
ORLANDO, Fla. Adam Jahn scored on header in the final minutes of second-half stoppage time to give Atlanta United a 1-1 draw with Orlando City on Saturday night. Benji Michel scored in the final minute of the first-half stoppage time for Orlando City (4-2-4). Cubo Torres' wide-open header was wide. Orlando City goalie Pedro Gallese batted away Emerson Hyndman's shot from distance seconds later. Orlando City nearly added a second goal in the 79th minute, but Nanis laser free kick glanced off the post.
Michel, Orlando City play Nashville to 1-1 tie
NASHVILLE, Tenn. Benji Michel scored his first goal of the season, Pedro Gallese had three saves and Orlando City tied Nashville SC 1-1 on Wednesday night. Michel, a 22-year-old homegrown who scored five goals in limited action last season as a rookie, won a challenge against Anibal Godoy, took a couple dribbles and then blasted a rising side-netter from just outside the area to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute. Orlando City (4-2-3) has just one loss in its last seven games. Randall Leal scored his first MLS goal for Nashville (2-4-2) in the 47th minute. The 23-year-old rookie played a ball to Hany Mukhtar near the top of the area who one-touched it back to Leal for the finish from the corner of the 6-yard box.
Urso, Mueller help Orlando City beat Atlanta United
ATLANTA Jnior Urso scored his first MLS goal, Chris Mueller added a goal and Orlando City beat Atlanta United 3-1 on Saturday. Orlando City (4-2-2) has won back-to-back games, beating Atlanta for the first time in nine career meetings. Urso, a 31-year-old Brazilian in his first MLS season, headed home a corner kick by Mueller to open the scoring in the 13th minute. Brooks Lennon slipped a header, off a cross by Jrgen Damm, from the center of the area just inside the right post for Atlanta (3-4-0) in the in the 83rd minute. Urso stole the ball from Pity Martinez deep in the attacking half and fed Lus Carlos Almeida da Cunha for a goal that capped the scoring in the 86th.
Katai, Frankowski help Fire beat Orlando City 5-2 in finale
ORLANDO, Fla. - Przemyslaw Frankowski scored twice, Aleksandar Katai added a goal and an assist and the Chicago Fire beat Orlando City 5-2 on Sunday in the season finale for both teams. Katai tapped a pass to Fabian Herbers on the baseline, who first-timed a pass to Sapong for the one-touch finish from point-blank range. Tesho Akindele first-timed a pass from Benji Michel that bounced off the post and then deflected off goalkeeper Kenneth Kronholm into the net to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. Katai played a low cross to Sapong that Orlando City's Kyle Smith redirected for an own goal to tie it in the 17th. Orlando City (9-15-10) is winless in its last eight games dating to a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 14.
Orlando City eliminated from playoffs in 1-1 draw with Cincinnati
CINCINNATI - Benji Michel scored a minute into extra time to give Orlando City a 1-1 tie with FC Cincinnati on Sunday. The late goal was the 75th conceded by expansion Cincinnati, the most in MLS history. The previous record was established by Orlando City last season. Orlando City was eliminated from the playoff chase. Brian Rowe made six saves for Orlando City (9-14-10), while Przemyslaw Tyton had two for Cincinnati.
Toronto FC rallies, ties Orlando City 1-1
TORONTO - Patrick Mullins tied it in the 77th minute and Toronto FC played to a 1-1 draw with Orlando City on Saturday night. Benji Michel scored for Orlando City (8-11-6) in the 69th minute. Toronto midfielder Marky Delgado was issued a yellow card in the 34th minute for a hard tackle on Nani. The Orlando midfielder stayed in the game after a brief delay for examination by the medical staff. In the 82nd minute, Orlando's Lamine Sane was shown a yellow card for a hard tackle.
Toronto FC rallies to tie Orlando City 1-1
TORONTO - Patrick Mullins tied it in the 77th minute and Toronto FC played to a 1-1 draw with Orlando City on Saturday night. Benji Michel scored for Orlando City (8-11-6) in the 69th minute. Toronto midfielder Marky Delgado was issued a yellow card in the 34th minute for a hard tackle on Nani. The Orlando midfielder stayed in the game after a brief delay for examination by the medical staff. In the 82nd minute, Orlando's Lamine Sane was shown a yellow card for a hard tackle.
Michel scores in 84th to lift Orlando City past Crew, 1-0
ORLANDO, Fla. - Benji Michel scored his first MLS goal in the 84th minute to help Orlando City beat the Columbus Crew 1-0 on Saturday night. Lamine San sent an entry pass up the right channel, Ruan flicked a cross into the area and Michel poked it into the back of the net for Orlando (7-9-4). Gyasi Zardes' shot crashed off the crossbar in the sixth minute and Harrison Afful's knuckler was saved by Brian Rowe in the 88th minute. Orlando's Dom Dwyer was sent off in second-half stoppage time for an elbow to Josh Williams' face. Columbus lost its fifth in a row and extended its winless streak to nine.