Photo by: Sacramento Republic FC
Sac Republic – with LaGrassa – Finish as U.S. Open Cup Runners-Up
9/7/2022 8:52:00 PM | Men's Soccer
SAN LUIS OBISPO – With Sacramento Republic FC – featuring former Cal Poly men's soccer midfielder Matt LaGrassa in the starting lineup – attempting to become the first non-Major League Soccer side in 14 years to capture the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, Orlando City SC scored three times in the final 16 minutes to prevail in Wednesday evening's final at Exploria Stadium.
LaGrassa started and played the initial 77 minutes for Sac Republic, the first non-MLS side to reach the U.S. Open Cup final since Charleston Battery in 2008. Orlando City, however, received a 75th-minute goal and 80th-minute penalty from winger Facundo Torres before forward Benji Michel scored in the 96th to round off the final (Michel also scored against Cal Poly while at Portland in 2018).
Since Major League Soccer's inception in 1996, just one non-MLS club – Rochester Rhinos in 1999 – has captured the U.S. Open Cup.
Orlando City, appearing in and capturing its first cup, booked a spot as one of four U.S. clubs in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
Competing in the second-tier USL Championship, Sac Republic reached the U.S. Open Cup Final after eliminating Sporting Kansas City in penalties following a scoreless draw in the July 27 semifinal round.
LaGrassa, a three-time All-Big West Conference honoree at Cal Poly (2011-15), has appeared in 23 of 28 matches for Sac Republic this season with two goals.
Sac Republic currently sits fourth in the USL Championship. Orlando City, which handed New York Red Bulls a 5-1 semifinal defeat to reach the final, is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference table.
Played annually since 1914 (but suspended in 2020 and 2021), the U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination knockout competition for professional and amateur clubs and remains the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States.
Sac Republic eliminated three successive MLS sides to reach this year's final. Sac Republic began this season's 103-club competition in the second round on April 7, knocking out Portland Timbers U23s. Sac Republic then eliminated Central Valley Fuego FC (April 20) and Phoenix Rising FC (May 11) before putting out Major League Soccer clubs in San Jose Earthquakes (May 25) and LA Galaxy (June 21).
LaGrassa, who completed his Cal Poly career ranked fourth in program history with 18 goals, LaGrassa is in his first year with Sac Republic after making 82 appearances for Major League Soccer's Nashville SC from 2018-21. LaGrassa also played for Sac Republic in 2016.
LaGrassa started and played the initial 77 minutes for Sac Republic, the first non-MLS side to reach the U.S. Open Cup final since Charleston Battery in 2008. Orlando City, however, received a 75th-minute goal and 80th-minute penalty from winger Facundo Torres before forward Benji Michel scored in the 96th to round off the final (Michel also scored against Cal Poly while at Portland in 2018).
Since Major League Soccer's inception in 1996, just one non-MLS club – Rochester Rhinos in 1999 – has captured the U.S. Open Cup.
Orlando City, appearing in and capturing its first cup, booked a spot as one of four U.S. clubs in the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League.
Competing in the second-tier USL Championship, Sac Republic reached the U.S. Open Cup Final after eliminating Sporting Kansas City in penalties following a scoreless draw in the July 27 semifinal round.
LaGrassa, a three-time All-Big West Conference honoree at Cal Poly (2011-15), has appeared in 23 of 28 matches for Sac Republic this season with two goals.
Sac Republic currently sits fourth in the USL Championship. Orlando City, which handed New York Red Bulls a 5-1 semifinal defeat to reach the final, is fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference table.
Played annually since 1914 (but suspended in 2020 and 2021), the U.S. Open Cup is a single-elimination knockout competition for professional and amateur clubs and remains the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the United States.
Sac Republic eliminated three successive MLS sides to reach this year's final. Sac Republic began this season's 103-club competition in the second round on April 7, knocking out Portland Timbers U23s. Sac Republic then eliminated Central Valley Fuego FC (April 20) and Phoenix Rising FC (May 11) before putting out Major League Soccer clubs in San Jose Earthquakes (May 25) and LA Galaxy (June 21).
LaGrassa, who completed his Cal Poly career ranked fourth in program history with 18 goals, LaGrassa is in his first year with Sac Republic after making 82 appearances for Major League Soccer's Nashville SC from 2018-21. LaGrassa also played for Sac Republic in 2016.
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