Inter Miami CF (6W-3D-9L, 22 points) will return to MLS regular season action on the road by facing Orlando City SC (9W-7D-4L, 34 points) on Friday, Aug. 27. The matchup at Exploria Stadium is set to start at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Where to Watch
The match will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Fans worldwide can follow live updates including video highlights and stats on the Club’s App. Download and Register your Profile here: https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/club/app.
Up Against Orlando Once Again
On Friday, Inter Miami will face Orlando City for the third time this season and seventh time overall in Club history, after drawing 1-1 at Exploria Stadium on Aug. 4 in the last matchup between the sides.
Inter Miami midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, who became the Club's first-ever All-Star earlier this week, will be returning to MLS regular season action after his 2021 MLS All-Star Game appearance. Pizarro participated in the 2021 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G on Tuesday, Aug. 24 and will partake in the 2021 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target set to be played on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at Banc of California Stadium (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, FS1 / Univision / TSN / TVA Sports) against the best LIGA MX players. Orlando City players Pedro Gallese and Nani were also called up for the MLS All-Star festivities.
Additionally, Inter Miami midfielder Gregore will miss the match against Orlando as he will be serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation.
Positive Run of Results
Inter Miami CF travels to Central Florida this week after its 3-1 win at home against Toronto FC on Saturday. With the victory, Inter Miami extended its winning run at home to four and its home unbeaten streak to five. Pizarro, who bagged a brace and earned Heineken Man of the Match Honors, and Robbie Robinson scored the team’s goals in the team’s win over Toronto, while defender Leandro González Pirez recorded two assists in the match.
Inter Miami will seek to extend its run of positive results when it faces Orlando, having won three of its past four 2021 MLS regular season fixtures.
Team of the Week Honors for LGP and Pizarro, Pizarro Named MLS Player of the Week
Both LGP and Pizarro were named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 21 of the season due to their stellar performances against Toronto. Additionally, Pizarro was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 21 of the campaign, becoming just the second player in Club history to earn Player of the Week honors.
Familiar Faces
The match may also feature a series of reunions between former teammates or rivals for Inter Miami and Orlando City SC players. Gonzalo Higuaín battled on the field against Orlando’s Alexandre Pato in the UEFA Champions League on several occasions between 2009 and 2011 during his time playing for some of the top teams in European soccer. The last time they faced each other in the prestigious club competition Higuaín’s Real Madrid drew 2-2 against Pato’s AC Milan. Higuaín’s latest encounter with Pato was in an international friendly where Argentina clashed against Brazil in 2012; the match ended 4-3 in favor of Higuaín and Argentina.
Inter Miami defenders Kieran Gibbs and Ryan Shawcross may once again encounter Orlando City’s Nani after previously facing him in the English Premier League. During his tenure at Stoke City F.C., Shawcross played Nani and Manchester United seven times between 2009 and 2013, while Gibbs played against Nani in 2013 during his days as an Arsenal F.C. player.
Midfielder Federico Higuaín, meanwhile, played with Club Atlético Colón against Orlando 's Emmanuel Más and Mauricio Pereyra in Argentina 's first division in the 2011-12 season.
Goalkeeper Nick Marsman played against Orlando winger Silvester van der Water in the round 16 of the KNVB Beker Cup in the Netherlands during the 2020-21 season. The match ended 3-2 in favor of Marsman’s Feyenoord.
Lastly, Gonzalo Higuaín also participated in international matches featuring Orlando 's Más and Pedro Gallese. Higuaín shared the pitch three times with Más for Argentina in World Cup qualifiers between 2015 and 2016. Meanwhile, Orlando goalkeeper Gallese rivaled Higuaín’s Argentina with Peru in a World Cup qualifying match in 2016; Higuaín scored a goal in the fixture that ended in a 2-2 draw.
Orlando City SC's Record
Orlando will enter this weekend’s fixture after its 1-0 win at home against the Chicago Fire FC in the team’s last game. In 2021, Orlando has recorded nine wins, seven draws and four losses, with Nani leading the team with nine goals and six assists so far this season.
