Orlando City is kicking off their second year of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament tonight against KC Athletics who are an amateur team from Kansas City, Kansas. The lions preformed quite well last year in the Open Cup as an inaugural team. Take a look back at Orlando City’s run in the 2011 USOC.

First Round - Orlando City 4, ASC New Stars 0 - 6.14.2011

Orlando City’s first round opponent in the 2011 U.S. Open Cup were the ASC New Stars from Houston, TX. The ASC New Stars are an amateur side that was founded in 1974. The match was held at the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium.

In the 27th minute City broke through the New Stars defense when Dennis Chin found space in the final third and delivered a pass to Devorn Jorsling for a diving header and Orlando took the earlier 1-0 lead. Just before the halftime whistle Jorsling, and Molino had a brilliant give and go just at the top of the 18 yard box and Molino found space and put the ball right past the keeper and City found themselves up 2-0 at the half.

In the 58th minute the match came to a stop due to severe weather. The lightning delayed the match one hour and 24 minutes as the teams and fans were forced to wait out the storm. Immediately after the delay Dennis Chin scored his debut goal in the 60th minute as he puts a shot away towards the low far post. Chinny’s performance in the match was definitely his breakout game of the season.

Orlando City extended their lead to 4-0 in the 77th minute when Jorsling scored his second goal of the night on a cross by Charlie Campbell.

Second Round - Orlando City 1, Charleston Battery 0 - 6.21.2011

City’s second round opponent of the 2011 Open Cup were against fellow USL PRO side Charleston Battery. Orlando City were playing away at Charleston’s Blackbaud Stadium.   The Battery are 18-5-3 in that stadium all-time in USOC play. A win at Blackbaud Stadium would make Orlando City the first non-MLS team to win at the stadium in U.S. Open Cup play.

The match started out slow, with neither team getting much of an opportunity to score. Just before the half City broke through in the 39th minute, when Rob Valentino blasted in the lone goal of the contest. 

The goal was Valentino’s second in 2011, and his first in the U.S. Open Cup. Orlando City advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open Cup with the 1-0 victory over the Charleston Battery. The third round of the tournament is when MLS teams enter, Orlando City travel to Dallas, TX the following week to face FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.

Third Round - Orlando City 2, FC Dallas 3 - 6.28.2011

Many City supporters remember this dramatic match as if it were yesterday. Orlando City & FC Dallas have had history previously up until this point. The Lions have played FC Dallas earlier in the year at the 2011 Disney Pro Soccer Classic and received a tough 1-0 defeat on a second-chance rebound goal by Dallas’ Milton Rodriguez. The Lions headed into Pizza Hut Park with the goal of upsetting the 2010 MLS Cup runners-up.

Former lions midfielder Lewis Neal crossed the ball to Kevin Molino at the back post for a flick back to the center, where Griffin would rise above Ugo Ihemelu for the opening strike of the game 24 minutes in. Orlando City take the early 1-0 lead.

Dallas provide the equalizer in the 39th minute, picking up a long ball behind the defense from Ricardo Villar placing a shot that got past Gallardo for a level 1-1 score at the halftime break.

Five minutes into the second half Ricardo Villar scored his second goal of the night for FC Dallas on a free kick 20-yards out from the left side of the 18 yard box. The shot from Villar swayed inside the far post for a 2-1 Dallas lead.

Former Orlando City forward Yordany Alvarez stunned everyone with a shot from outside the penalty area to tie the match at 2-2 late in the 90th minute. Shortly after Yordany’s equalizing goal Milton Rodriguez of FC Dallas headed in a heartbreaking goal with seconds left in regulation to end Orlando City’s USOC campaign.