U.S. Open Cup ends for Orlando City SC but another streak will begin | OneFootball

The U.S. Open matches supporters wanted for Orlando City SC came this year. But now they’re over.

Nashville SC knocked Orlando City SC out of the U.S. Open Cup 3-2. It was only the Lions’ second game in the tournament. But they exit in the Round of 16.

Now that it’s over, the disappointment still burns that Orlando’s unbeaten streak across all competitions comes to an end at 12 matchs. They’ve matched the club’s 2020 record.

Last season, supporters groups all around MLS organized aggressive boycotts of the Leagues Cup competition if their teams weren’t also in the U.S. Open Cup. Some Orlando City supporters groups pledged to join the boycott.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber assured supporters MLS didn’t abandon the U.S. Open Cup. But the league did commit to put more emphasis on the Leagues Cup. When league number crunchers put attendance in the spreadsheets, they advised MLS commissioners that the Open Cup wasn’t drawing enough fans to justify their efforts.

Neither tournament brings the attendance that MLS games do. Yet it wasn’t necessary to consider another boycott or even a negative social media post this season. The Lions were in the U.S. Open Cup.

They mounted an effort to stay in it.

Only 17 minutes into the match, forward Marco Pasalic gave Orlando the lead over Nashville, with an assist to Alex Freeman.

But six mlnutes later, defender Rodrigo Schlegal slid for a block on Nashville striker Teal Bunbury in the six-yard box. Instead, the ball deflected off Schlegel’s foot into the net for an Own Goal. So Nashville equalized, despite themselves, in the 23rd minute.

But the Coyotes wanted to score on their own. In the 43rd minute, midfielder Matthew Corcoran completed a pass to forward Ahmed Qasem. He dribbled into the box and hit a low drive into the bottom-right corner of the net. That made it 2-1 for Nashville.

During halftime, Orlando employed both effective defensive and offensive strategies that held Nashville until the 58th minute. That’s when Pasalic grabbed the ball on the right flank and fed it immediately to forward Ramiro Enrique. It was a two-touch finish to equalize the match 2-2.

But it was a back-heel pass from Nashville midfielder Patrick Yazbeck that sealed the Lions’ fate. This led the ball into space for midfielder Myatt Meyer. He put the ball into the net just beyond the reach of Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese for a 79th-minute score. The final was 3-2 for Nashville.

This brief run in the U.S. Open Cup taught Orlando City SC to keep on their toes for the rest of this season. It’s time to start another unbeaten streak.