ORLANDO, Fla. (June 14, 2016) – Following a 17-day break since their last game, Orlando City SC begins its 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run in the fourth round against the North American Soccer League’s (NASL) Jacksonville Armada FC on Wednesday, June 15, at Southern Oak Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.
“[Jacksonville] have had a difficult start of spring season, but the one thing is, if you look at most of the games, they’ve been in most of them. We watched them over the weekend and they have pace in the right areas, they’ve got strength and a lot of players that we know,” Lions head coach Adrian Heath said. “We were Jacksonville a year or so ago [not playing in MLS] and we did really well in the Open Cup because, invariably, the MLS clubs don’t [traditionally] treat it with enough respect and don’t treat the game serious enough, and if we do that tomorrow night, we will be in trouble, but that’s my job and my staff’s job, to make sure that we are prepared for the game.”
The Lions enter in the fourth round courtesy of their MLS status. NASL teams enter the annual tournament in the third round.
City begins its quest after repeating its furthest run in the nation’s oldest soccer tournament last year, reaching the quarterfinals following a defeat over the Charleston Battery in a 10-round penalty shootout in the fourth round and overpowering the Columbus Crew SC at home in the Round of 16. Since its first appearance while being in USL in 2011, Orlando has registered a dominant 10-5-0 record in the Open Cup.
Jacksonville advanced to the fourth round with its 2-1 win in extra time over the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League (USL). Patrick Otte scored in the 17th minute and Alhassane Keita scored the game winner in the 108th minute.
Orlando City hasn’t played since its 2-2 draw at New York City FC in MLS play on May 29. The Lions fought back from a two-goal second half deficit when Kevin Molino assisted on Júlio Baptista’s first MLS goal before Molino’s header rang off the bar and in on Orlando’s last touch of the game.
This is the first-ever competitive encounter between both sides and the second overall. Armada FC won a preseason friendly 2-1 on Feb. 13 of this year at Community First Park. Kaká scored a dazzling free kick in the first half before Jacksonville’s Mechack Jérȏme and Keita scored in the second half.
Wednesday’s encounter will include the faceoff of various familiar faces, as Jacksonville’s roster includes former Orlando City players Miguel Gallardo, Bryan Burke and Jerome.
The Lions return to MLS play on Saturday, June 18, when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at Camping World Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. E.T.
