KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Florida Derby has a new backdrop this season.
After years of making the trip down I-95 to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Orlando City SC heads south on Saturday to face Inter Miami in the actual city proper for the first time at Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park. While the venue is new, the rivalry is very much the same.
Coming off a confidence-building U.S. Open Cup win against the New England Revolution in Rhode Island, Orlando City turns its attention back to MLS play and right into a rivalry match.
"It was much more about recovering players, training those ones that needed the load, and preparing the game," Interim Head Coach Martín Perelman said at Orlando Health Training Ground at Osceola Heritage Park. "Always fighting and competing from the first to the last minute."
The two clubs already met earlier this season, a 2-4 loss at home, but since then a lot has changed from both clubs. Both coaches from that March matchup are now gone, new playstyles have been implemented and lineups have been rotated.
"They changed their structure the last two games," Perelman said. "But we know them. They know us. We are preparing the game, especially preparing our team, which is always our priority, and looking forward to playing a good game."
One of the brightest storylines for Orlando heading into Saturday is the continued emergence of 18-year-old Homegrown forward Justin Ellis, who has taken his opportunities over the last three matches and turned them into two goals and two assists. While he's still settling into the professional level, the talent has certainly shown as of late.
"I'm still adjusting to the level, and I can keep on improving. Adjusting to the physicality of the new level that I'm playing at," Ellis said. "But it's good that I'm getting goals and assists because ultimately that's what I want to do most."
The fifth-youngest player to start for the Lions, Ellis is still getting used to the MLS level, particularly the league's physicality and the players.
"I feel, in terms of technical (ability) and my understanding of the game, I think I've been ready for this level for a while," Ellis said. "It's just the physicality that is a big difference. So I have to do extra work off the field, which I've been doing."
Now Ellis and the Lions head into the match in Miami with a full head of steam, hoping to take a result in their rival's home.
"There's no shying away from this game," Ellis said. "We all know in the club how big this game is, how big this week is. We just have to show out and try and win."
Kickoff at Nu Stadium at Miami Freedom Park is set for Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET, with the match available on MLS on Apple TV and on FS1.
