After all of the waiting and anticipation, we finally have an Orlando City SC fixture this week and what a fixture too!
There won’t be any supporters but every soccer fan is relieved we’re finally getting the #MLSisBack Tournament underway with the inaugural Florida Derby – Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami.
Talked about for years, David Beckham’s Florida franchise are now a reality. Two games into their club history, they now face their first ever meeting with Orlando City SC.
Not the original July 10 regular season meeting we anticipated, it’s still a fixture exciting every Floridian soccer fan.
Kicking off the action in the six-team Group A at the #MLSisBack Tournament, this will be Orlando City SC first competitive action in 123 days since our 2-1 defeat at Colorado Rapids on March 7.
>> VIEW THE #MLSISBACK TOURNAMENT COMPETITION GUIDELINES HERE <<
With full team training resuming on June 15, the Lions have had just under a month to properly condition themselves for this curtain raising game.
With not only Orlando City SC supporters but the wider world watching on, there’s a lot of pressure on delivering good quality soccer.
Crucially, Oscar Pareja‘s side will welcome talisman and captain Nani back into the team. To clarify, the Portuguese missed the first two games of the regular season through suspension.
City are able to name a 23-man squad on #MLSisBack Tournament matchdays. This means four members of Orlando City SC‘s complete roster will miss out on matchday one action.
Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami – Head-to-head stats
This fixture will represent the first time that Orlando City SC and Inter Miami have faced each other in MLS.
Tampa Bay Rowdies, New York City FC and Atlanta United have all enjoyed rivalry with the Lions over the years. However, City now have an in-state MLS rival in their own market and backyard.
This inaugural Florida Derby follows years of trash talk between both sets of supporters with a mutual dislike apparent online.
Set to always be comparable given their geographical location, the battle for state supremacy is about to begin.
Back in April, Orlando City SC attempted to spice up this rivalry fixture by aiming a marvellously topical dig at their new neighbours to the south.
True story. 🦠 pic.twitter.com/TCBeWjEpei
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) April 14, 2020
Orlando City SC form
On the very early evidence of two games, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC appear way more organised than previously – for 45 minutes at least!
Keeping things extra tight against Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids, both Antônio Carlos and Robin Jansson looked comfortable and assured at the back as they grew used to each other’s game.
Sure, the way Drew Moor stole all three points for Colorado Rapids in March (2-1) was bitterly disappointing.
You could say Younes Namli’s goal was preventable too given the fact he left both Jhegson Méndez and Andrés Perea flat footed.
However, Oscar Pareja has only just started at Orlando City SC and you can already tell the squad is more regimented tactically.
Colorado Rapids 2 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – March 7, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Taking into account the start of 2020 and the end of 2019, Orlando City SC have drawn FOUR of their last SEVEN Major League Soccer fixtures.
Now heading into the #MLSisBack Tournament format, three point hauls rather than one will be extra vital considering the six-team makeup of Group A.
A new era under Oscar Pareja, there is still a lot of unknowns about his Orlando City SC.
Viewed as an also-ran from the outside, it’s up to Pareja and his coaching staff to turnaround a losing culture.
It’s their mandate to reinstill the supporters’ faith in a competitive product on the field.
Orlando City SC 0 Real Salt Lake 0 – Highlights – February 29, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
For whatever reason, recent Orlando City SC fixtures have seen their fair share of yellow cards.
With AT LEAST TWO yellow cards produced in the Lions’ last FOUR MLS fixtures, it’s vital not to provide PRO Referees any encouragement early on in the #MLSisBack Tournament.
Discipline received in the first two matches of the 2020 MLS regular season carries into the tournament.
So far, Orlando City SC‘s yellow card status is as follows:
- Mauricio Pereyra (yellow vs. Real Salt Lake)
- João Moutinho (yellow at Colorado Rapids)
- Rodrigo Schlegel (yellow at Colorado Rapids)
Handed a red card in Inter Miami’s 2-1 defeat at D.C. United in March, Román Torres is suspended for this game.
All group stage discipline resets for the beginning of the knockout stage. This is except for red cards (including 2nd yellow cards) and/or Disciplinary Committee action(s) which carry into the knockout stage.
There will not be a yellow card accumulation policy for the knockout stage.
Inter Miami form
On very early evidence, Inter Miami have entered MLS very competitively despite going pointless so far.
Unenviably starting at Los Angeles FC away, a single Carlos Vela goal proved the difference on opening weekend.
Then Diego Alonso’s men were defeated 2-1 at D.C. United on matchday two.
After Rodolfo Pizarro opened the scoring as early as the second minute, a second-half capitulation followed.
Quickly conceding Yamil Asad and Frédéric Brillant goals, The Herons were denied their first MLS point twice by a single goal.
D.C. United 2 Inter Miami 1 – Highlights – March 7, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Football in the early hours of Thursday morning.
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
NEW #OrlandoCityUK blog | @SkyFootball are showing LIVE coverage of @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @InterMiamiCF in the inaugural Florida Derby and #MLSisBack Tournament opener. 👏🏽😁📺⚽️
READ 📕: https://t.co/Ha8FUF3YAY#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/vQCx45UEN8
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) June 29, 2020