ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2020) - Orlando City SC (2-1-2, 8 points) will return to action in its 2020 Major League Soccer regular season on Saturday, Aug. 22, traveling to face intrastate foes Inter Miami CF (0-5-0, 0 points). The match will mark the Lions’ first visit to Ft. Lauderdale at Inter Miami CF Stadium, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s contest will be locally broadcast on Fox 35 Plus with Evan Weston, Miguel Gallardo and Ali Krieger on the call, while being transmitted on 96.9 The Game in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish.
“Miami is a team who has been evolving for sure. It’s a new franchise with a new coach and what we learned from the tournament is that they have players with a lot of intensity and that are trying to respond to an idea of the game,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “Like any other game, we’re trying to pick at stuff from our prior game, but as I always say it’s a new story, it’s a new game that needs to be prepared for. Now we’re preparing for a totally new game.”
The game will serve as a rematch of the MLS is Back Tournament opener, with the Lions taking the inaugural Florida Derby between the two sides in a 2-1 victory on July 8. Juan Agudelo opened the scoring for Miami in the 47th minute, but Orlando City answered with finishes from Chris Mueller in the 70th followed by a 97th minute game-winner from Nani.
The Lions return to play for the first time since falling 2-1 in the MLS is Back Tournament Final to the Portland Timbers on August 11. Larrys Mabiala struck first in the 27th minute, with Mauricio Pereyra answering for the Lions in the 39th minute, but an eventual game-winner from Dario Zuparic in the 66th was enough to end the Lions’ run at MLS is Back.
Chris Mueller leads the team with four goals in regular season play, followed by Nani, Mauricio Pereyra and Tesho Akindele each with one apiece. Nani leads the Lions in assists with two to his credit.
Inter Miami’s run at MLS is Back concluded following group play, falling 1-0 to NYCFC in their third and final match in Group A on July 20. Saturday’s match will serve as Miami’s first at home since joining MLS after starting the 2020 campaign on the road for their first two matches prior to the season suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rodolfo Pizarro leads Miami with two goals in 2020, followed by Agudelo with one. Matias Pellegrini and Lewis Morgan share the team-high in assists with two apiece.
Following Saturday’s match, Orlando City will return home for the first time since Feb. 29, hosting Nashville SC at Exploria Stadium for its first match against the 2020 expansion side on Wednesday, Aug. 26. That match will be open to a limited number of fans, with Season Ticket Members receiving priority access.
