Update: The Villages SC was disqualified from the US Open Cup after fielding an ineligible player. Orlando City will face the winner of Jacksonville Armada FC and the Charleston Battery.
In a battle of Sunshine State teams, Orlando City SC will take on the winner of Jacksonville Armada FC or The Villages SC in the fourth round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
The Open Cup fourth round draw was announced on Thursday following the end of the second round last night, and will feature all 17 MLS teams based in the U.S.
Jacksonville Armada FC is a North American Soccer League (NASL) team and The Villages SC operates in the Premier Development Team (PDL). Much like Orlando is new to MLS, both of theses teams are new to their leagues as well. Armada is in the midst of their second season in the NASL and Villages just began their very first year in the PDL.
The match between the two lower-tier teams will be on June 1st in Jacksonville, and is likely to draw a large crowd for the two budding franchises. Both teams will come in with the goal of getting a shot to take on Orlando City.
However, tournament rules could prevent The Villages SC from continuing to the third round. According to Jason Longshore of DirtySouthSoccer.com, Villages fielded Paulo Vaz, who had previously started for Boca Raton FC. Ventura Country Fusion ran into this problem in the first round, and their victory over L.A. Wolves FC was nullified and the Wolves moved onto the second round.
The fourth round match, to be held on June 15th, no matter which squad City faces, will be a shining example of the growth of soccer in the state of Florida. And it will occur on the stage of the oldest soccer competition in the United States.
