Brighton Vs Chelsea

As Florida’s fiercest soccer rivals, Orlando City and Inter Miami prepare to face off in their final pre-season match before the start of a new campaign. The two sides will battle it out at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay on Friday, with both teams eager to conclude their pre-season preparations on a high note.

Orlando City’s previous pre-season encounter ended in disappointment, as they suffered a 2-1 extra-time defeat against CF Montreal in an exclusive match for season ticket members. Meanwhile, Inter Miami displayed their attacking prowess by securing a commanding 5-0 victory over Honduran outfit Olimpia last weekend.

After a strong run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2024, optimism surrounds Orlando City as they look to build on their previous success. Under the guidance of head coach Oscar Pareja, the Lions have established themselves as one of the most consistent teams in Major League Soccer, securing consecutive top-four finishes in the Eastern Conference. Over the past four regular seasons, Orlando has amassed over 50 points on three occasions, highlighting their steady progression.

Offensively, the team was highly productive during the 2024 MLS regular season, scoring 59 goals in 34 matches—the highest tally the club has achieved since joining the league in 2014. However, it was their defensive discipline that truly stood out during the playoffs. Across five postseason matches, they conceded only two goals, showcasing their resilience and tactical organization.

Orlando’s home form in the latter part of the 2024 season was particularly impressive. The Lions secured victories in six of their final nine home fixtures in both the regular season and playoffs while keeping four clean sheets in the process. Despite these positives, their pre-season campaign has been inconsistent. They managed a penalty shootout victory against Atletico Mineiro (6-5) but struggled to find the net in regulation time on two occasions.

On the other hand, Inter Miami appears to be hitting their stride after a slow start to pre-season. Their defensive stalemate against Universitario in Peru resulted in a goalless draw in normal time, but since then, Javier Mascherano’s men have found their rhythm in attack. Back-to-back victories this month have seen them score a total of eight goals while conceding just once, signaling their return to peak form.

With a squad boasting seasoned professionals who have competed and triumphed in Europe’s most prestigious competitions, expectations are high for Miami. Many anticipate them successfully defending their Supporters’ Shield title this season, given the depth of talent at their disposal.

Despite their recent offensive resurgence, their last encounter against an MLS side ended in disappointment. In the opening round of the 2024 playoffs, they were eliminated by Atlanta United, losing two games to one in the series. A defeat on Friday would mark a rare occurrence for Miami—three consecutive losses against MLS opposition, a streak they have not endured since May to June of the 2023 regular season, spanning seven matches.

Inter Miami enters this fixture with a psychological advantage, having gone unbeaten in their last four encounters with Orlando City across all competitions. Notably, they did not concede a single goal against the Lions during the entirety of the 2024 regular season. With that in mind, they will be confident in extending their dominance over their Florida rivals as they fine-tune their squad for the upcoming campaign.

As both teams finalize their pre-season preparations, this match presents an opportunity to gain momentum and establish a winning mentality ahead of the new MLS season. Orlando City will be determined to prove their progress and sharpen their attack, while Inter Miami will aim to maintain their recent scoring spree and assert themselves as a title-contending force once again.