The Colorado Rapids have shown over the last few years that they have not been too concerned about a good showing in the US Open Cup. 2014 looks to be a different year though. With the World Cup break allowing the Rapids to get healthy (having three weeks off between MLS games) the Rapids were able to put out a near starting line-up to face Orlando City SC in their first match of the US Open Cup. 

The top strikers returned to the 18 for Colorado Tuesday Night. Edson Buddle and Vicente Sanchez had been out for a number of games due to injuries, but with the extended break that the team has with the World Cup break, they were able to crack the lineup, even if it was starting on the bench. 

Colorado needed to put out a strong lineup against Orlando. With 10 days rest after their previous game and 11 days before their next, it was very important for the team to stay in top shape. 

Colorado's defense started the game strong, limiting Orlando City to a couple of counter attacks but nothing truly dangerous. Offensively, the Rapids were clearly the better team, getting many quality chances in the first 15 minutes of the game. 

Even with a quality start by the Rapids defense, Orlando City was able to get on the board first when Midfielder Adama Mbengue took a shoot that saw its way into the back of the net. In the 35th minute the Rapids would strike back however. Deshorn Brown would find himself in the perfect position to put away a rebound. Dillon Serna started the play by dribbling along the top of the 18 and taking an off balance shot. The shot defelected off an Orlando City defender and Brown was able to pull it out of the air and blast the ball into the back of the net to tie up the game. 

Colorado would tack on another goal before the half was over. Defender Marc Burch found himself alone on the left side and was able to cross into a streaking Nick LaBrocca. LaBrocca's initial shot was blocked by Orlando's Keeper, Gallardo, but LaBrocca followed the ball and and finished it off putting the Rapids in the lead going into the half. 

The Rapids came out of the half intent on increasing their lead. And that they did. In the 47th minute Deshorn Brown tracked down a ball over the top and used his speed to run past the Orlando City Defender. Brown then easily placed the ball where the keeper could not get it.

Colorado did not let off the gas either. in the 55th minute, Brown took another ball over the top, this time from Jose Mari, and chipped the ball over Gallardo. With the struggles that Brown had scoring for a long stretch this year, his confidence was definitly starting to show for the boys in Burgundy. 

In the 64th minute, Edson Buddle and Vicente Sanchez made their long awaited return to the Rapids. After Brown's third goal of the night, that put them up 4-1. It was time to bring them on to get some minutes before MLS regular season play started again. 

In the 71st minute, the Rapids gave Orlando City a corner kick. Defender Luke Boden for OCSC was able to get his head on the ball and put it past Clint Irwin who appeared to lose the ball while in the air. The Rapids would answer two minutes later as Vicente Sanchez dropped a ball to Dillon Powers. Powers took no chances though and rocketed a shot past Gallardo giving the Rapids a 5-2 lead. 

Orlando kept pressuring the Rapids, but the Rapids proved to be a step above the future MLS'ers. Colorado may have taken the US Open Cup "off" in the past, but the World Cup break forced them to play their starters in this one. With just the Atlanta Silverbacks standing between them and the quarterfinals, this might be the year that Colorado actually does something in the oldest tournament in the US.