1. Eight times in a row. Orlando City SC got its 2025 U.S. Open Cup run off to a hot start as the Lions trounced their cross-state rivals, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, for the eighth straight time across all competitions and the largest margin of victory ever between the two teams.
2. It was a bit of a slow start for the Lions for the first 30 minutes, with both sides combining for only one shot. After a water break in the 30th minute, Orlando started to get going offensively. It may have been the best water break the Lions have ever had.
3. The 34th minute brought a moment to remember for the youngest player on the pitch. After Rafael Santos played a cutting through ball in for MartÃn Ojeda, the Lions' number 10 hit a cross towards the center of the 18-yard box and right into the run of 16-year-old Gustavo Caraballo, who smashed home his first professional goal, becoming the youngest Orlando City player to score a goal for the first team.
4. But Caraballo wasn't done there. Just two minutes later, he doubled the lead. Some great pressing by Kyle Smith, who came all the way up into the attacking third, forced a turnover just above the Rowdies' box. Dagur Dan Thórhallsson took the ball, patiently waited and slid it into the path of Caraballo, who picked out the bottom corner to score a brace. Naturally, he's the youngest Lion to ever score a brace, but to add to that, it's the fastest brace in U.S. Open Cup history.
5. The Lions didn't stop there as just three minutes before halftime, they added a third to the scoresheet. A spectacular long ball by César Araújo from right at the midfield line found a sprinting Rafael Santos into the box. After a quick touch, he crossed the ball to the near post and into the path of Ramiro Enrique, who redirected the ball into the back of the net.
6. The second half saw the substitution of Duncan McGuire into the game and in the 59th minute, he finally notched his first goal of the year. A long ball from Rodrigo Schlegel was touched down by McGuire, right to Nico Rodriguez. He immediately played it back into the path of McGuire, who dribbled around a defender and slotted it home. It's been a long time coming for the Lions forward, who missed the first part of the year recovering from a shoulder injury. Now, the goalscorer extrordinare has one in the box score.
7. The game was comfortably in hand for the Lions as it approached full time, but Thórhallsson wanted to get in on the party. After a run from Iván Angulo, who had just subbed in, Dagur found himself wide open at the top of the box and fired in the chance.
8. Kyle Smith, centerback. The Swiss Army Knife of Orlando City once again played in a different position tonight, slotting in alongside Rodrigo Schlegel as a centerback. Not only that, but he played excellently, notching yet another shutout for the team. In the last few games, Smith has played as a left back, defensive midfielder and now centerback. A true do-it-all soldier for Head Coach Oscar Pareja and the Lions.
9. Now, the Lions head back to league play as they get set to host the New England Revolution this weekend. Kickoff for that one is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Inter&Co Stadium.
