Chasing the Cup
The Lions return to U.S. Open Cup action on Wednesday night following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over intrastate foes Inter Miami CF in the Round of 16 just over a month ago. Following a scoreless regulation, Facundo Torres found the back of the net for the Lions in extra time to force the two sides to penalty kicks, where goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar made one save while the Lions converted all four of their chances from the spot to advance to the Quarterfinals of the nation’s oldest cup competition.
Back in the Mix
Defender Antonio Carlos made his first appearance for the Lions in over two months in their last outing against FC Cincinnati this past Friday, entering the match as a halftime substitute. The Brazilian defender had been sidelined since April 2 with a thigh injury, with Friday’s minutes serving as his return.
Against Nashville
Wednesday will serve as the first meeting between Orlando City and Nashville SC in 2022 after meeting four times in all competitions a year ago, battling to a trio of draws in MLS regular-season action before the Lions fell on the road in the First Round of the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs at Nissan Stadium to their midweek opposition. Nashville’s last visit to downtown Orlando came last Halloween in what finished as a 1-1 draw, after what looked to be a stoppage-time game-winner for the Lions was waived off following a video review.
In Between the Sticks
The midweek will see a new man in net for the Lions along their current U.S. Open Cup run with goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar sidelined with a jaw injury. Stajduhar has started in between the sticks for Orlando City in each of its three matches thus far in the 2022 edition of the nation’s oldest cup competition, with either Peruvian international Pedro Gallese or Lions’ cup hero Adam Grinwis set to occupy the sticks for Wednesday’s match.
Last Time in the Quarterfinals…
The last time the Lions featured in the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup came on July 10, 2019 in the Running of the Wall, where goalkeeper Adam Grinwis denied NYCFC’s Maxime Chanot to send Orlando City through to the Semifinal round for the first time in Club history, totaling two saves in the shootout for the home side.
