After the achievement of clinching qualification to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the very first time, Orlando City SC hit Florida’s Turnpike to visit in-state rivals Inter Miami.
With Toronto FC’s 1-0 win over Atlanta United sealing City’s passage to the post-season, Oscar Pareja‘s side will be craving a first ever victory at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
Seeing plenty of our new rivals in this one-of-a-kind 2020 season, Orlando City SC have gone 2-0-1 against The Herons, reinforcing that Florida is purple.
Despite Inter Miami adding big name arrivals like Blaise Matuidi and Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Alonso’s side have lacked consistency in their inaugural MLS campaign.
The David Beckham owned-side will contest this game without captain Higuain too.
The Argentine received a red card for a post-game confrontation with referee Tim Ford in a 2-1 loss to Montreal Impact last time out.
With Higuain’s absence providing Orlando City SC a huge boost, Julián Carranza or Robbie Robinson will likely replace the 32-year-old at centre forward.
It was actually Carranza who terrorised the Lions with a brace the last time City visited Inter Miami CF Stadium on August 22.
The first Sunshine Clásico in Fort Lauderdale, Oscar Pareja‘s side have impressively gone 12 MLS games unbeaten since this loss two months ago.
Seconds away from sealing their own qualification to the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs last Sunday, a stoppage time equaliser from New York Red Bulls’ Brian White broke Orlando City SC hearts (1-1).
Drawing our last three consecutive MLS games, injuries and a congested schedule seem to have caught up with the Lions.
Nevertheless, Pareja’s side have still shown a steely determination to stay unbeaten and achieve our first ever post-season appearance.
Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC – 2020 head-to-head stats
The last time Orlando City SC faced Inter Miami on September 12, it was The Herons’ first ever visit to Exploria Stadium.
With every single Lion driven by a desire not to let Inter Miami get a first win in our house, City showed great courage to win 2-1.
The third game in the Sunshine Clásico series so far, you can see this is turning into a proper Major League Soccer rivalry fixture.
With players visibly showing a clear dislike to one another, not to mention several tough challenges, Orlando City SC dealt with adversity in this one.
On 65 minutes, Brek Shea tied the game 1-1 on his return to the 407, the second time he’s hurt City for a visiting side.
Cancelling out Andrés Reyes’s 35th minute own goal that gave City a 1-0 lead, Mauricio Pereyra beautifully swept home the match winner on 69 minutes however.
It was a deadly accurate strike fitting to win any game, especially this one that left sections 108 and 109 of travelling Inter Miami fans rather quiet.
Orlando City SC 2 Inter Miami 1 – Highlights – September 12, 2020 (Credit: Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami)
So far, so good from an Orlando City SC perspective.
Earning TWO victories to Inter Miami’s ONE, the Lions not only won the inaugural rivalry fixture (2-1) but the first meeting at Exploria Stadium too (2-1).
With City holding the bragging rights, for now, Inter Miami won the other game 3-2 at Inter Miami CF Stadium on August 22.
Both sides still await a first victory in enemy territory.
The Florida rivals’ first ever meeting took place at ESPN Wide World of Sports in the #MLSisBack Tournament opener in July.
Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC has been a competitive MLS rivalry right out of the gate.
You couldn’t say this about City’s rivalry with Atlanta United which has been largely one-sided until recently.
Indeed, in all THREE Sunshine Clásico games so far, the Florida rivals have been separated by just ONE goal on every occasion (2-1, 3-2, 2-1).
A lot is written and spoken about what makes a true soccer rivalry.
While the Sunshine Clásico is still in its infancy, you can tell with each passing game that these teams are learning to despise each other.
Inter Miami 3 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – August 22, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Inter Miami form
Earlier in this stats preview, we spoke about Brek Shea returning to Central Florida to haunt Orlando City SC with a goal.
Despite Shea now being in the latter years of his career, he’s proving he can still cut it at MLS level.
The former USMNT winger has TWO goals in his last TWO appearances for The Herons, scoring against Atlanta United (1-1) and Montreal Impact (2-1).
These goals took the Texan’s tally to four strikes for the season.
With many MLS pundits expecting Brek Shea‘s MLS career to trail off, he’s been one of Inter Miami’s better players lately.
With Inter Miami Sporting Director Paul McDonough signing Brek Shea at Atlanta United and now Inter Miami, that trust has seemingly paid off this season.
Montreal Impact 2 Inter Miami 1 – Highlights – October 17, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
Sealing our first ever MLS Cup Playoffs appearance thanks to a run of 12 MLS games unbeaten, Orlando City SC and Oscar Pareja deserve huge praise.
Especially after how our first five Major League Soccer campaigns had gone.
But recently, there’s signs that injuries and fatigue from a congested MLS season is catching up with the team.
Drawing FOUR of our last FIVE MLS fixtures, Orlando City SC have been without several first team starters for some time.
With Benji Michel, João Moutinho, Mauricio Pereyra and Uri Rosell injured in recent months, City still await Matheus Aiás and Alexander Alvarado‘s debuts.
Not filling the full quota of nine substitutes in recent league outings, it’s crucial that we get our main men back for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
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Don’t forget, Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Mix on Saturday evening at 20:50 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @InterMiamiCF 🆚 @OrlandoCitySC is LIVE on @SkySports Football at the early time of 8:50pm this Saturday evening. 😁👍🏽📺⚽️
It’s the fourth time the Sunshine Clasico has been on Sky. 👏🏽
VIEW TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/Y955kC1XPJ
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) October 19, 2020