Sports

Orlando City’s US Cup run ends early with 1-0 loss to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC – Orlando City SC lost to Charlotte FC on Tuesday in their opening match of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament for 2023. The Lions were the winners of the 2022 cup, the clubs first-ever cup win in history. The early exit in the round of 32 was a disappointment.

The Match was the first road game on this tournament for Orlando since June 2019 when hey had to play at USL’s Memphis 901 FC on their way to the semifinals.

Orlando came to the pitch with Head Coach Oscar Pareja giving Mason Stajduhar the starting nod, and he proved worthy with 3 extended save that kept Orlando in the match.

Charlotte managed to get one into the net in the 70th minute when Karol Swiderski took on a City defender one-on-one and was taken down. With advantage given, Charlotte substitute Kamil Józwiak carried on the play, taking two touches in the Lions’ box before chipping goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar.  

“Disappointed with being out of the [Open] Cup. We came with the highest intentions to defend the Cup and advance, but it was not like that. The game was frustrating with the options that we had to tie it up and just making mistakes that were costly. With the Cup, it is hard, but it is what the game brings when you have these objectives and try to do things and we couldn’t get the result and we are very disappointed.” 

The Lions next head to Ohio to take on the Columbus Crew in MLS regular-season action on Saturday, May 13. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET

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