Orlando City roars into 2022 U.S. Open Cup final with 5-1 demolition of New York Red Bulls

Orlando will host the U.S. Open Cup final after a big win

César Araújo wasn’t supposed to be the hero, but Orlando City is in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup final after the young midfielder scored his first two goals for the club in a wild 5-1 win over the New York Red Bulls Thursday night.

Despite the typical Florida heat, a high-tempo, acrimonious game saw both teams create plenty of chances. Patryk Klimala’s bicycle kick thwacked off the crossbar, with Luquinhas nearly scoring in the chaos that followed only for Pedro Gallese to make a sharp save.

Klimala beat Gallese again just minutes later, but that 20-yard bid thumped off the post and away to safety. Orlando were struggling as the half wore on, but produced a beautiful 39th minute counter-attack that ended with Alexandre Pato firing over the bar from a promising spot.

There were chances galore, but in first half stoppage time Lewis Morgan finally produced the finish required. The Red Bulls went long on the counter, and while Klimala’s pass missed Omir Fernandez, Morgan pinged a laser of a first-time shot into the upper corner to give the visitors the lead.

It wasn’t enough for the Red Bulls to actually get into the locker room ahead, though. With virtually the last play of the half, Antonio Carlos snapped a header down past Carlos Coronel, only for it to, you guessed it, hit the post. Orlando’s César Araújo swept the rebound home, capping off a wild half.

The clouds opened during the break, but nothing much else changed. Joao Moutinho’s cutback fooled the Red Bulls defense, leaving a window for Maurico Pereyra to make it 2-1 roughly 100 seconds after play resumed.

Just after the hour mark, Araújo bagged a brace in a near repeat of his first goal. Again, it was an Orlando corner that wasn’t initially cleared, and though it didn’t take a shot off the post this time, Araújo guided the rebound home through a herd of players.

From there, Orlando were rampant on the counter. Facundo Torres, amid suspicions of Benji Michel being offside earlier in the counter, made it 4-1, a goal that required nearly a full minute of discussion between referee Victor Rivas and his crew to sort out. Michel then cleverly flicked a fifth past Coronel seven minutes later.

The win means Orlando is guaranteed to host the Open Cup final, which will take place in either the first or second week of September. They’ll play either Sporting Kansas City or Sacramento Republic FC.

Check out all the goals here!

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