Orlando City SC will begin its 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run on Wednesday, June 6, when it visits National Premier League Soccer (NPSL) side Miami United FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Tim Hendricks Stadium.
The match will be streamed at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE.
“The fact of the matter is it’s the shortest path to make it to the CONCACAF Champions League, which is becoming a really big deal, a big deal for everyone in MLS. We look at this as an opportunity. It’s also a chance to win a trophy. We’re never going to take that situation lightly,” Lions head coach Jason Kreis said. “[Miami United] has quality players, they have experienced players, they have players that are mostly foreign players that are coming from lots of professional experiences in their countries and it’s a team that is pretty well tactically versed as well. For me, we need to respect this opponent, we need to do the right things.”
This is the 105th edition of the U.S. Open Cup - the oldest cup competition in U.S. soccer. Major League Soccer teams enter in the fourth round. Miami United defeated American Premier Soccer League (APSL) side FC Kendall 5-2, Miami FC (NPSL) 3-1, and most recently the Jacksonville Armada (NPSL) 2-0 to advance to the Round of 32. Miami United is the only NPSL side remaining in the tournament.
City is coming off a 3-0 loss to 2015 expansion rival NYCFC on Saturday. Goals from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi in the 35th and 79th minutes and an insurance goal from Maxi Morález in the 87th gave the Pigeons the victory.
Miami United FC currently sits atop the NPSL standings and has won seven of its last eight matches, with three of those victories coming in the Open Cup. David Ochoa and Nicolas Gorobsov lead Miami with six goals each in 2018.
The winner of Wednesday’s match will move on to the Round of 16. An open draw will decide the Round of 16 matchups on June 7.
The match is the second of four consecutive road games and the first of three in eight days for the Lions. City returns to MLS play when it visits Vancouver on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET before traveling to Montreal for a match on Wednesday, June 13.
