Losing a crazy game 3-5 to D.C. United on Monday, there’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves with Orlando City SC now facing Florida rivals Inter Miami in the first MLS Sunshine Clásico of 2022.
Really disappointingly, it’s not been a case of home sweet home this season. Exploria Stadium has already hosted five Orlando City SC defeats – simply not good enough with only half the MLS regular season elapsed.
Currently sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference, just two points above the red line, Orlando City SC have been frustratingly inconsistent this year.
For every extreme high, like recently qualifying for the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semi-finals, there’s been a soul crushing low never too far away.
Only managing consecutive MLS fixtures just once this year, there’s much room for improvement from this talented roster.
Right now, Orlando City SC can ill afford sleepwalking their way through the rigours of a busy MLS mid-season.
Especially with Florida rivals Inter Miami now visiting town, a side Orlando City SC are unbeaten against in the last four meetings (league and cup).
Casting our minds back to Monday (if we have to!), Taxiarchis Fountas’ hat-trick put D.C. into a seemingly unassailable 0-3 lead by just 51 minutes.
A real shocker, especially considering D.C. had just lost three consecutive MLS games, Facundo Torres was subbed in at half-time to help turn the tide.
And turn the tide he did. The Uruguayan rooted Rafael Romo for a sweet 57th minute consolation strike (1-3) before assisting an Ercan Kara header on 66 minutes (2-3).
With the wind in Orlando City SC‘s sails, Kirmani Smith’s 74th minute breakaway goal (2-4) was a sucker punch, but wait?
After Alexandre Pato tucked home an 80th minute penalty (3-4), you wondered, could City salvage a point from a simply ludicrous game?
Robin Jansson and Ercan Kara then went oh so close to beating D.C. United stopper Rafael Romo.
This was before a stoppage time Nigel Robertha strike (3-5) capped an away win D.C. United will never forget.
The same July 4 evening, Saturday’s opponents Inter Miami picked up a 1-1 draw at FC Dallas.
Leonardo Campana’s very late equaliser cancelled out Alan Velasco’s first-half strike for a valuable cross-conference point.
Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami – 2020/22 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC last faced Inter Miami in May, dumping The Herons out of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 16.
This victory was ultra memorable given the way in which we reached the quarter-finals.
Overcoming Phil Neville’s side 4-2 on penalties, in front of The Wall no less, a Mason Stajduhar save on Bryce Duke and a skied DeAndre Yedlin effort saw the Lions progress.
With City successfully converting all four of their penalty kicks, the better side eventually prevailed on the night.
Before penalties, Orlando City SC were shellshocked when Jean Mota opened the scoring just four minutes into extra-time (0-1).
With City spurning several chances throughout the 90, you wondered whether it was one of those nights, but Facundo Torres had other ideas.
Barely three minutes after Jean Mota’s near post strike, the outstanding Torres scored a beautiful solo equaliser (1-1).
The Lions then toughed it out until penalties where they finally saw off their Sunshine Clásico rivals.
Orlando City SC 1 Inter Miami 1 (4-2 on penalties A.E.T.) – Highlights – May 25, 2022 (Credit: Miami Total Futbol)
Including the clubs’ inaugural fixture in the #MLSisBack Tournament curtain raiser, Orlando City SC hold THREE victories to Inter Miami’s TWO.
2021 was a year of firsts in this Florida rivalry too.
The August 4 meeting saw Orlando City SC and Inter Miami draw for the first time (1-1) before the aforementioned second draw (0-0) on August 27.
Elsewhere, in the clubs’ first meeting of the season, the Lions achieved their first ever victory (1-2) in Fort Lauderdale.
Despite City being second best to The Herons for much of the game, Oscar Pareja‘s side got a second wind late on.
Superbly taken smash-and-grab goals from Chris Mueller and Nani sealed our first ever victory at DRV PNK Stadium.
With a large contingent of travelling Orlando City SC supporters present, they headed back up Florida’s Turnpike victorious!
Inter Miami 1 Orlando City SC 2 – Highlights – June 25, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
In truth, Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami has been a competitive and tight Florida rivalry from the start.
In FIVE of SEVEN MLS head-to-heads, just ONE goal has separated the Florida rivals (2-1, 3-2, 2-1, 2-1, 1-2).
Aditionally, the fact Orlando City SC needed penalties to overcome The Herons in the cup in May underlines how competitive fixtures between these two are.
A lot is written and spoken about what makes a true soccer rivalry.
Sure, the Sunshine Clásico is still in its infancy.
But you can tell with each passing game that these teams are learning to despise each other.
Orlando City SC form
Still adjusting to life in MLS, Ercan Kara is at least starting to hit some consistent goalscoring form recently.
The 26-year-old has scored in Orlando City SC‘s last THREE consecutive home fixtures, bagging FOUR goals in this streak.
Scoring against FC Dallas (1-3), bagging a brace against Houston Dynamo (2-1), and scoring against D.C. United (3-5), this is encouraging despite Orlando City SC‘s inconsistency in terms of results.
Orlando City SC 3 D.C. United 5 – Highlights – July 4, 2022 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Inter Miami form
Leonardo Campana’s 88th minute equaliser at FC Dallas on Monday snapped a barren Inter Miami streak.
Phil Neville’s side had drawn a blank in FOUR away fixtures prior to Monday’s 1-1 draw.
In this streak, The Herons lost 2-0 at New England Revolution and lost 1-0 at Charlotte FC.
This was before drawing 0-0 at Philadelphia Union and losing 2-0 at Atlanta United.
On Saturday, hopefully Inter Miami’s frontline continues to be blunt in front of goal.
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami will be shown LIVE on FreeSports at 01:05 (GMT) in the early hours of Sunday morning.
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @InterMiamiCF will be shown LIVE on @FreeSports_TV in the early hours of July 10. 😄📺⚽👏🏽
VIEW TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#OCTwitter #ORLvMIA #OrlandoCity #InterMiamiCF #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/33HD45A3hH
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) July 5, 2022
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