ORLANDO, Fla. (May 24, 2022) - Orlando City SC returns to play in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, May 25, set to host its neighbors to the south in fellow Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami CF in a Round of 16 matchup at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET with tickets available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY, with fans able to tune in on ESPN+.
Wednesday will serve as the first meeting between City and Inter Miami in 2022, with the Lions taking a 2-1 victory a year ago along with a pair of draws through three contests. The last time the sides squared off in a tournament setting came in their inaugural meeting on July 8, 2020 to open the MLS is Back Tournament, with former Lions captain Nani scoring a 97th-minute game-winner to give City a 2-1 victory.
City punched its ticket to the Round of 16 thanks to a 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union on May 10, with Ercan Kara and Andrés Perea scoring for the side in what served as each of their first Open Cup goals.
The Lions come into the midweek after taking a 2-2 draw at Austin FC on Sunday night. Kara and Ruan accounted for the visitors’ finishes in the match, with the side able to take a point back to Orlando despite being reduced to nine men on the night.
Kara now leads the side in goals scored in all competitions in 2022 with four on the year, followed by Alexandre Pato and Júnior Urso.
Inter Miami clinched its berth in the Round of 16 off a 3-1 victory over USL League One side South Georgia Tormenta FC on May 10. A brace from Ariel Lassiter along with a finish from Robbie Robinson secured the victory for the Ft. Lauderdale-based side.
The Herons enter Wednesday’s contest coming off a 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls this past Sunday. Lassiter and Robert Taylor each found the back of the net in that match, with Drake Callender tallying four saves to preserve the clean sheet.
Following Wednesday’s match, the Lions close out a stretch of three games in seven days, by hosting FC Dallas on Saturday, May 28 at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff for that match is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
