Putting Orlando City’s Open Cup Loss into Perspective

I’m not happy that Orlando City was knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup competition the other night in Charlotte. The 1-0 loss to Charlotte FC in the Round of 32 was disappointing to say the least. Orlando City’s inability to finish chances or get shots on target — let alone into the back of the net — doomed the 2022 champs on a forgettable Tuesday night. Having said all of that, I think it’s time to put some things in perspective regarding the loss.

Winning any trophy is difficult. The calls have to go your way, injuries cannot be a factor, and yes there is a bit of additional luck needed as well. Orlando City manifested that in their cup run last year. Of course, playing every match at Exploria Stadium didn’t hurt either. Orlando City got a bad draw this time around on the road at Charlotte. It was a winnable match for the Lions, and I’m not absolving anyone of their share of the blame.

Orlando City rotated the lineup for this match, but not in any shocking way. The players I expected to be on the bench were on the bench, and the backups I expected to start, started the match. The problem was the same one that Orlando has had in plenty of matches this year — an inability to finish whatever limited chances the team generates or to take advantage of an opponent’s blunders. Charlotte took advantage of a Michael Halliday mistake, and that was the match. It wasn’t like the hosts were peppering Mason Stajduhar in goal. Charlotte only managed six shots, with four on target, but only one goal was needed to advance.

It is frustrating that Orlando City was not able to win one match in its title defense, but it’s not unheard of either. Atlanta United, the 2019 U.S. Open Cup winners, also lost in the Round of 32 in the 2022 tournament (there was no Open Cup in 2020 nor 2021 due to COVID-19). If we look at how the champs did in every competition since Orlando City joined the league, no team has repeated as champions. 

Sporting Kansas City, which won the title in 2015, lost in the Round of 16. FC Dallas (coached by Oscar Pareja) won it in 2016 and then lost in the quarter-finals. Sporting won it again in 2017 but then lost in the quarterfinals in 2018. That year, the Houston Dynamo won the title and then lost in the Round of 16 the next season.

The Seattle Sounders repeated back in 2009, 2010, and 2011, but MLS has expanded greatly since then. What I’m getting at is that historically the odds of Orlando City repeating were not great. 

So, who do we blame? I know that many people are looking for someone or something to blame for the loss. Do you blame Pareja and the coaching staff? I don’t think they had the tactics wrong. As I mentioned above, the Lions limited Charlotte to six shots. That isn’t easy to do. But let’s say you do blame the coaches. What is your solution? Fire them and start over at this point in the season? Would it go something like this quote I made up?

Management: “Well Oscar, I know you’ve taken the team to three straight playoff appearances, the final of the MLS is Back tournament, and won the U.S. Open Cup in 2022, but I’m afraid our supporters haven’t seen enough success or progress. It’s been nice. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

FAKE QUOTE BY DAVID ROHE

That’s ridiculous. Might there be a time that Pareja is on the hot seat if things don’t get better? Sure, but that isn’t where things are right now. As coach, Pareja accepts the blame on behalf of his team, but that is what coaches do. There is plenty left to play for going forward.

Perhaps we blame the players? Duncan McGuire missed a sitter. Facundo Torres and some others missed some open looks at goal. Halliday made the error that resulted in Charlotte’s goal. These things happen in a soccer match for every single club in the world at some point or another. It’s unfortunate that it happened to the Lions in this particular match, but that’s just soccer.

We could blame the referees for calling the foul on Maguire when the defender went down easier than a cold beer on a hot day that negated his goal. Goals change matches, and that call certainly changed things, but as I mentioned above, a team that advances needs to have those calls go the right way, and those calls don’t always do.

How about we blame MLS for scheduling the Lions with away matches three days before and four days after the Open Cup match? That is patently ridiculous, given no one knew where or which team Orlando City would play that match when the MLS schedule was made. I know! Blame random chance for the away match draw.

There are still 24 regular-season matches left to play for Orlando City. That literally means that the Supporter’ Shield and making the playoffs are still possibilities. This loss hurts. I don’t like it, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to put soccer in the proper perspective. Supporting a club is generally minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years of frustration and heartbreak with brief shining moments of absolute joy sprinkled in. Go and enjoy the sprinkles.