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U.S. Open Cup 2016: Orlando City to Host Fort Lauderdale Strikers in Round 5
Orlando City learned its opponent for the fifth round of the 2016 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup this afternoon.
#USOC2016 CENTRAL REGION:@ColumbusCrewSC* at@ChicagoFire*@FTLStrikers at@OrlandoCitySC
*Winner will host Quarterfinal
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) June 16, 2016
The Lions will host the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League on June 29 at Camping World Stadium. It will be the first time the two Florida clubs have faced off in a competitive game in their history.
The Strikers, with a squad that boasts two former Lions in Jean Alexandre and Giuseppe Gentile, entered the tournament in the third round, defeating the Richmond Kickers on penalties. They followed that up by defeating D.C. United last night, again on penalties.
Orlando City entered the tournament with the rest of the American MLS clubs in Round 4 on Wednesday night, defeating the Jacksonville Armada, also of the NASL, 1-0 on a goal by defender David Mateos.
The winner of the game on June 29 will travel to Columbus or Chicago to face the winner of the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire. The Crew and Fire also play on June 29. If the Lions were to make it to the semifinal of the Open Cup, they would then face the winner of the East Region which features the New England Revolution, New York Cosmos, New York Red Bulls, and Philadelphia Union.
The draw for hosting of the semifinals and final will occur on July 21.