Description
Match Date: July 10, 2019
Competition: U.S. Open Cup
Location: Exploria Stadium
Match Story:
Despite having not lifted a trophy since their days in the lower leagues, Orlando still boasts one of the league’s most boisterous supports. And more recently, the team has shown signs of living up to their former glories. One of those signs came in the form of a deep run during the 2019 Open Cup. After besting Memphis in the fourth round, an extra-time victory against New England saw them earn a spot in the quarterfinals. There they’d face New York City, a side with whom they entered MLS in 2014. Though Orlando looked to be on their way to victory following a strike just after the hour Chris Mueller, New York equalized six minutes into added time. After a half-hour of scoreless overtime, six rounds of penalties would be needed to decide the winner. And when Maxime Chanot failed to convert NYC’s sixth kick, Orlando claimed the win and advanced to their first semifinal in the competition.
Design Story:
The match side of the design features the focused eyes of a lion, a nod to the club’s nickname. The reverse depicts an endless sea of purple suns, meant to recall the “Sunshine State” moniker for which the Central Florida region is frequently known.
