After a frustrating 0-0 draw against CF Montréal in our 2024 MLS home opener last Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest games on this year’s schedule – an away trip to Fort Lauderdale to face fierce Florida rivals Inter Miami.
This year’s Sunshine Clásico falls earlier than ever before with the Lions hoping to achieve the mouthwatering prospect of defeating Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and co in The Herons’ own backyard at Chase Stadium.
Last time out
On Tuesday, Orlando City SC defeated Cavalry FC 3-1 in the second leg of our Round One tie in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Winning the first leg by a convincing 0-3 scoreline, Oscar Pareja rotated heavily with new boy Luis Muriel starting and playing 79 minutes on his City debut.
With Nicolás Lodeiro scoring his first ever City goal and Ramiro Enrique scoring a long range stunner too, our comprehensive 6-1 aggregate win should instil confidence ahead of flying south to Fort Lauderdale.
But reflecting on our 2024 MLS home opener, CF Montréal frustrated the Inter&Co Stadium crowd by settling into the first-half more convincingly than the Lions.
On Laurent Courtois’ debut as an MLS head coach, his side started the game on the front foot.
Very aggressive with their press, CF Montréal forced four early shots on Pedro Gallese‘s goal in the opening exchanges.
Defensively resilient too, Orlando City SC really struggled to fashion any high quality chances on Jonathan Sirois’ goal with Duncan McGuire and Wilder Cartagena both visibly frustrated.
Each picking up first-half yellow cards, Oscar Pareja needed to tweak something tactically at half-time to turn the tide and force a breakthrough.
Pareja proactively took no risks with Wilder Cartagena, subbing the booked Peruvian off for Martín Ojeda in a bold attacking move.
In fairness to Papi, Orlando City SC pushed and pushed more convincingly in the second-half.
Agonisingly however, we just couldn’t break down CF Montréal’s stingy centre back trio of George Campbell, Gabriele Corbo, and Joel Waterman who all put in valiant shifts to stifle the home side.
Orlando City SC teased their latest Cardiac Cats moment as the clock moved towards full-time.
On 80 minutes, sub Felipe Martins thought he’d finally opened the scoring, but after the linesman’s flag and video review, the goal was ruled out because Facundo Torres was offside.
Agonisingly, after Felipe’s header struck Jonathan Sirois’ bar, the ball fell to El Cuervo who was in an offside position when tapping home on the goal line.
Then, two minutes into second-half stoppage time, City thought they’d earned a last-gasp penalty when Samuel Piette felled Iván Angulo in the box.
Painfully however, the linesman correctly flagged Jack Lynn offside in the build-up.
Even before this late drama, the 75th minute saw Dagur Dan Thórhallsson strike just inches over Jonathan Sirois’ bar after a perseverant Martín Ojeda kept a play alive to send a dangerous cross to CF Montréal’s back post.
I’d be lying if I said CF Montréal didn’t have their own chances to steal away all three points in a second-half where they soaked up a lot of City pressure.
Heart-stopping moments included a 79th minute scuffed shot wide from sub and City villain Josef Martínez who was set up perfectly by former lion Ruan.
Could you imagine?
A huge let off, Orlando City SC also survived the 93rd minute where Pedro Gallese came up big to deny Mahala Opoku who ran clear through on City’s goal one on one.
Having to be content with a point in the end, it was a disappointing way to open 2024, especially given our lofty ambitions of going for the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and winning MLS Cup this year.
But as we all know, the MLS regular season is a marathon, not a sprint, and with new players still getting acclimated, we have to give some leeway to the team as they try to find their feet so early in a new campaign.
Last head-to-head
Last meeting in MLS at Inter&Co Stadium back in September 2023, Orlando City SC rescued a one-goal deficit to draw 1-1 with Inter Miami.
In a passionate Sunshine Clásico full of aggression and needle, a scrappy derby had flashes of promise but ultimately ended even.
Admittedly a fair result on the balance of play, the Lions were very wasteful in front of goal despite Duncan McGuire‘s 66th minute equaliser – a goal that ensured Inter Miami have still never won at Inter&Co Stadium.
An attritional and unruly game of few chances, it was the visitors who stunned the Lions on 53 minutes.
After a smart through ball from Leonardo Campana, City villain Josef Martínez escaped the Orlando City SC defence, firing a shot at Pedro Gallese, a shot he could only parry into the path of the onrushing David Ruiz.
With the teenager simply tapping into an empty net, Orlando City SC supporters grappled with the fear that The Herons might just earn their first ever victory in Central Florida.
However, just three second-half minutes after a glaring Iván Angulo miss, Duncan McGuire – being the poacher he is – capitalised on a loose rebound.
Making an instinctive run, Duncan McGuire caught former Lion Kamal Miller napping to fire his chance right between Drake Callender’s legs – sealing redemption after a big first-half miss.
This nutmeg finish was just what the doctor ordered as a packed Inter&Co Stadium went crazy!
What’s at stake this time?
Whenever Orlando City SC face Inter Miami, state bragging rights are at stake – plain and simple.
Sure, Florida is purple, but we need to make sure it stays this way on the field.
In MLS, the Lions hold five victories to Inter Miami’s three in this Eastern Conference game series.
However, Inter Miami always raise their game against City with these rivalry fixtures usually being chippy affairs with little to choose between the sides.
As we already mentioned, Inter Miami are yet to win an MLS game in the 407.
But Orlando City SC can proudly lay claim to the fact they’ve won not once, but twice at Chase Stadium in MLS – winning 1-2 in June 2021 and 1-3 in May 2023.
Unforgettable experiences for the travelling Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm, we’re all desperately craving our third victory in enemy territory – especially over Lionel Messi and his pals.
Furthermore, Inter Miami have already played two MLS games compared to City’s one.
Kicking off the 2024 MLS season with a 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake on February 21, The Herons followed this up by salvaging a 1-1 draw in stoppage time at LA Galaxy on February 25.
Already three points in front of the Lions, City will be looking to peg back their downstate rivals from South Florida.
Opposition danger men
Speaking of Lionel Messi, what can we say about the world’s greatest ever player that hasn’t been said already?
Making South Florida his home in July 2023, 36-year-old Messi has only tallied two goals and three assists in eight Major League Soccer appearances so far.
Surprised?
While you’d expect better, don’t forget that Messi scored 10 goals en route to Inter Miami becoming 2023 Leagues Cup champions.
The top goalscorer in that competition, Lionel Messi did hit the ground running at Chase Stadium and will no doubt be fired up in this important rivalry fixture.
Of all the games Lionel Messi has played for Inter Miami so far, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner was definitely most rattled in the 2023 Leagues Cup game against Florida rivals Orlando City SC back in August 2023.
This sentiment didn’t go unnoticed by former USMNT forward and pundit Herculez Gomez who, later on in the tournament, commented on the Lions’ unique approach to unsettle Messi.
In an ill-tempered, highly controversial knockout game that ended 3-1 to Inter Miami, Orlando City SC definitely ruffled the feathers of eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.
Don’t get me wrong.
Lionel Messi’s goals and spatial awareness were class – and too much for Orlando City SC to handle – on the night.
However, there was an abnormal number of downright bad calls that favoured Messi and The Herons, helping them to progress.
A bitter pill for us City supporters to swallow, for sure.
Let’s just hope favouritism doesn’t reign supreme this time around.
We have our doubts though.
Especially after last Sunday where LA Galaxy’s Mark Delgado received a farcical second yellow card – and red – from referee Gabriele Ciampi for minimal contact – if any at all – on Sergio Busquets on 88 minutes.
This was just minutes before Lionel Messi’s stoppage time leveller (1-1) at Dignity Health Sports Park.
New opposition faces
When it comes to Inter Miami new boys, the vastly experienced Luis Suárez is The Herons’ new number nine.
Joining the club in December 2023, the former Liverpool and Barcelona striker has now reunited with his old pals Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Lionel Messi in South Florida.
Now 37-years-old, Suárez is in the twilight of his illustrious career but has always been a prolific goalscorer over the years – much like Gonzalo Higuaín at Chase Stadium before him
Somehow not a Designated Player in Fort Lauderdale, something Jordi Alba isn’t either, Inter Miami’s controversial roster building has definitely irked opposition supporters around MLS.
But you already know about that!
Elsewhere, Inter Miami also recruited Julian Gressel in the off-season.
An MLS Cup champion with Atlanta United back in 2018, the six-cap USMNT international has a wand of a right boot and is always a trusty provider of assists.
With Inter Miami representing Gressel’s fifth club in MLS, the German-born midfielder has tallied an impressive 66 assists during his time in the league.
Therefore, cutting off Gressel and Sergio Busquets’ supply line to Messi and Suárez will be key for the Lions to achieve a positive result.
Injuries and suspensions
Heading into the Sunshine Clásico, Oscar Pareja has the luxury of selecting from a fully fit roster.
Rodrigo Schlegel has now served his one-game MLS suspension and returns to the fold.
Finally receiving his P-1 Visa on Monday, a first ever MLS appearance awaits Luis Muriel too.
Benjamin Cremaschi (sports hernia surgery), Facundo Farías (left ACL), Ian Fray (left ACL), Franco Negri (right ACL), and Robbie Robinson (medical evaluation) are all out injured for Inter Miami.
Additionally, Drake Callender (left ankle), Nicolas Freire (left quad), and David Ruiz (left calf) are questionable after The Herons’ 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy.
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Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- May 20, 2023: Inter Miami 1 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- August 2, 2023: Inter Miami 3 Orlando City SC 1 (2023 Leagues Cup)
- September 24, 2023: Orlando City SC 1 Inter Miami 1 (MLS)
2020/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-1 the last time the sides met (September 2023)
- Played Inter Miami 11 times in MLS – Miami 3, Draws 3, Orlando 5
- Six of 11 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by 1 goal
- Inter Miami have failed to win 3 of their last 5 home games in MLS
- Orlando went 9-4-4 on the road in the 2023 MLS regular season – the best away record across the league
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Watching the game
Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at the earlier time of 21:30 (GMT) on Saturday, March 2.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2024 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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