ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2021) - Orlando City SC (9-4-7, 34 points) hosts intrastate foes Inter Miami CF (6-9-4, 22 points) as part of MLS Rivalry Week, presented by Heineken, on Friday, Aug. 27 at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
The match will be nationally broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, while being transmitted on 96.9 The Game in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish. Tickets are available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
“The boys have good energy preparing for the derby. We have played Miami already twice this year and they have improved results [recently]. They have some changes that we can see in the way they’re playing,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said ahead of the match. “We have the opportunity now to fight for those three points that aside from it being a derby, are important for our position in the standings. That’s what we’re looking forward to now, trying to get a good game and get those points. That’s no doubt what we want”
City will look for its sixth-consecutive result on Friday, while looking to remain unbeaten against its neighbors to the south this season. The Lions battled to a come-from-behind victory on June 25 at DRV PNK Stadium before playing to a 1-1 draw with the Herons earlier this month at Exploria Stadium.
The Lions enter Friday’s fixture following a 1-0 victory over Chicago Fire FC this past Saturday in downtown Orlando. Benji Michel scored the eventual game-winner in the 51st minute of play, with goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar tallying five saves to earn the first clean sheet of his MLS career.
Nani leads City with nine goals this season, followed by Michel with four. Mauricio Pereyra holds the team-high in assists with eight, with Nani following right behind with six helpers of his own.
Inter Miami comes into the matchup following a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC this past weekend at DRV PNK Stadium. A brace from Rodolfo Pizarro and a finish from 2020 MLS SuperDraft selection Robbie Robinson propelled the home side to their fourth-consecutive victory in Fort Lauderdale.
Gonzalo Higuaín leads the Herons with eight finishes on the year, followed by Robinson with four. Higuaín also holds the team-high in assists, with five to his credit.
Following Friday’s fixture, the Lions will close out a three-game home stint on Saturday, Sept. 4 when they host the 2020 MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew SC at Exploria Stadium.
