The Pitch: Orlando City SC Look to Lift First Trophy in Their MLS History: Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final this Wednesday

Orlando City SC enters the finale of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with one goal in mind: hoisting the first trophy in the club’s MLS history. The Lions host Sacramento Republic FC of the USL Championship at Exploria Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 7 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

The Lions have played all five of their 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches at Exploria Stadium and come Wednesday, they will be looking to send a sellout crowd home happy.

Orlando City earned their first-ever spot in the U.S. Open Cup final, etching their position in the finale following a 5-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in the semifinals. In that victory, Orlando City was led by a breakout performance from 21-year-old midfielder César Araújo, who recorded the first multi-goal game of his career with the Lions. Araújo has started 25 games in his first season with the club.

With so much on the line, Orlando City will look to their offensive standouts – first-year midfielder Facundo Torres (six goals, nine assists in MLS play) and forward Ercan Kara (nine goals, two assists in MLS play) – to lead their charge against Sacramento.

Orlando currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, 10th in the Supporters’ Shield ranks, and enters Wednesday’s Open Cup final on a winning spree across MLS play, with four wins in their last four outings.

No stranger to Open Cup play, Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja will be coaching in the final for the second time – having previously led FC Dallas to an Open Cup championship in 2016.

The Galaxy Look to Quiet Nashville and Hany Mukhtar’s Western Conference Rampage

Western Conference action on Saturday kicks off with a red-hot Nashville SC side hosting the LA Galaxy, with both clubs jockeying for positioning in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs (3:30 p.m. ET, Univision / TUDN).

Nashville has won each of their last four games by at least three goals with MVP hopeful Hany Mukhtar scoring or assisting on 10 of the club’s 14 goals during that stretch. After finishing runner-up for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award in 2021, the German midfielder has reentered the conversation after his brace against Austin FC, his third multi-score game in his last four matches. Mukhtar is just the fifth player in league history to record a 20-goal, 10-assist season and with 21 goals and 11 assists so far this season, he also leads the race for the MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi, sitting…