Tomorrow night, MLS side Orlando City SC will take on division two Sacramento Republic of the USL Championship in the finals of the US Open Cup from Exploria Stadium.
The expectation is that the MLS side in Orlando will beat the second-tier Sacramento Republic, giving the first tier of the U.S. soccer pyramid their 20th straight USOC title.
However, if this year’s USOC has taught soccer fans in the United States anything, it’s that the pyramid has become more arbitrary, something Orlando City seems pretty mindful of. So mindful in fact Orlando City is apparently spying on the Sacramento Republic ahead of tomorrow night’s matchup according to ESPN’s Taylor Twellman.
Considering the way the USSF coddles MLS, it’s hard to believe Orlando City will suffer any consequences from this. However, lower-league soccer fans in the United States can perhaps take this as further verifcation that the gap between the first and second tiers is only separated by big budgets that don’t necessarily carry over to talent.
Now, if Sacramento were to beat Orlando City tomorow night, it would be the first time since the Rochester Rhinos in 2000 that a non MLS franchise won the United States’ most prestigeous domestic tournament.
KCRA reporter Michelle Dapper confirms Taylor Twellman’s report saying that a OCSC staffer “was asked multiple times to leave Sacramento’s closed training practice” Monday and “refused multiple times”.
