Tesho Akindele wins US Open Cup for second time

Tesho Akindele is a two-time US Open Cup winner. The 30-year Canadian striker helped Orlando City SC lift the Lamar Hunt Trophy on Wednesday night after a 3:0 win over Sacramento Republic FC. Akindele is the first Canadian in modern history to feature in the US Soccer final twice with the winning side.

Akindele, now in his fourth season at Orlando City SC, featured as a substitute in the Wednesday win at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. He previously featured with the winning side in 2016 when FC Dallas won 4:2 over the New England Revolution.

Since 2000, the only other Canadians to feature for the winning side in the US Open Cup Final are Dejan Jakovic and Dwayne De Rosario in 2013 when D.C. United won 1:0 over Real Salt Lake.  Kyle Porter also dressed for the winning side, but he did not feature in the Final. Marcel de Jong was part of the 2015 winning side Sporting Kansas City (he did not dress for the Final) while Jakovic (2009), Chris Williams (2008), Marco Reda (2008) and Adrian Serioux (2007) have all featured with the runners up since the start of the millennium.

In 1999, both Pat Onstad and Mauro Biello were part of the winning side when Rochester Raging Rhinos won 2:0 over the Colorado Rapids. Way back in 1946, Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honoured members Dick Arends and Harry Phillips famously helped Chicago Viking AA win a two-match Final over Fall River Ponta Delgada before rejoining Toronto Greenbacks SC for the 1946 North American League season.

With the win on 7 September, Akindele and Orlando City SC also qualified for the 2023 edition of Concacaf Champions League.

Photos by Orlando City SC / Mark Thor