The biggest Florida Derby yet is set for this Wednesday night, as Orlando City SC (13-13-6, 45 pts.) battles Inter Miami CF (13-13-6, 45 pts.) with a spot in this year’s Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs on the line for both teams. The match, presented by JetBlue, is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET and will be televised locally on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, with pre-game coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. Local radio coverage will be available from 7:30 p.m. ET on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9 FM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about Inter Miami:
Key Transactions
Key Additions - AM Alejandro Pozuelo (Toronto FC), CF Leonardo Campana (Wolves, loan), F Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa, loan), CM Jean Mota (Santos), RB DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray), CB Damion Lowe (Al Ittihad), D Chris McVey (Elfsborg), AM Bryce Duke (LAFC), CF Ariel Lassiter (Houston Dynamo), AM Robert Taylor (Brann)
Key Departures - AM Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey, loan), CM Blaise Matuidi (retirement), RW/AM Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls), CF Julián Carranza (Philadelphia Union), CB Leandro González Pirez (River Plate), CB Nicolás Figal (Boca Juniors), LB/CB Christian Makoun (Charlotte FC), AM Federico Higuaín (retirement), GK Clement Diop (New England Revolution)
Take a look at Miami’s full roster here.
News
Miami striker Gonzalo Higuaín added a significant amount of juice to this already-massive matchup on Monday, when he announced his retirement from professional soccer at the end of the 2022 season. Higuaín’s legendary career includes 14 trophies, including three league titles in both Spain and Italy, along with 31 goals in 74 appearances for his native Argentina. “Pipita” has been on a tear for Miami, scoring five times in the Herons’ last four matches.
Team Form
Miami looked nearly out of things a few weeks ago, but the pink side of Florida has been red hot down the stretch to put itself in control of its own destiny heading into Wednesday’s game against Orlando City. Inter Miami has won three in a row, with Higuaín scoring the winner in the 82nd minute or later in all three matches. If Miami beats Orlando on Wednesday, it will clinch a playoff berth for the first time in club history (Miami technically played a play-in game in the shortened 2020 season as the 10th-place team, but did not reach the postseason proper).
Head-to-Head
Orlando has a 4-2-3 record overall against Miami, though one of those draws turned into a penalty-kick shootout win for the Lions in this year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which Orlando would go on to win. City also knocked off its southern neighbors 1-0 at Exploria Stadium back on July 9, with Jake Mulraney forcing the league’s first-ever stoppage-time own goal winner from Miami center back Damian Lowe in the 92nd minute.
Rasmussen University Fact
The Florida Derby, El Clásico del Sol, whatever you want to call it – Orlando vs. Miami has delivered time in and time out. All nine games in the budding rivalry have been decided by one goal or fewer, with the result-decider coming in the second half or later in every match.
