Inter Miami CF vs. Orlando City SC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 20
Inter Miami CF vs. Orlando City SC
Inter Miami CF Stadium – Fort Lauderdale
October 24 – 3:30 PM ET

TV: Univision, TUDN

STREAMING: Twitter in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

Inter Miami CF look to re-create the magic of a late August Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale when they celebrated their first-ever MLS win when they take on rival Orlando City SC Saturday afternoon at Inter Miami CF Stadium.

Inter Miami CF (5W-13L-3D) are hoping to move back above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference and bounce back from a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Impact Saturday, while Orlando City SC (8W-2L-8D) extended an unbeaten streak to 12 with a playoff-clinching 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls.

This is the fourth meeting this season between the sides. Orlando City enjoyed matching 2-1 victories in Orlando, the first the opening match of the MLS is Back Tournament, while Inter Miami won 3-2 to open their new stadium on August 22.

Inter Miami CF

A modest three-match unbeaten streak was snapped at Red Bull Arena Saturday night following a 2-1 loss to the Impact. Brek Shea canceled out Bojan's early strike to level, but Maxi Urruti put Montreal back in front 10 minutes from full time and when a late penalty shout went unanswered, Gonzalo Higuain was shown a post-match red card for "offensive, insulting and abusive language," and he'll miss this critical match to suspension.

"Without a doubt we don’t like any player to be sent off," Diego Alonso said Thursday. "We spoke about it, we had a conversation about it. ... It’s something we need to correct."

While Higuain is out, Rodolfo Pizarro has returned from international duty with Mexico and completed his quarantine and is available for selection Saturday. Another positive for Miami is the return to training for Andres Reyes, who missed five straight league matches after a clash of heads in a Sept. 27 match against the Philadelphia Union.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: George Acosta (M) - left knee injury
- OUT: David Norman Jr (M) - left ankle injury
- OUT: Denso Ulysse (D) - left lower leg injury
- OUT: Luis Robles (GK) - fractured left arm
Suspended: Gonzalo Higuain (F)
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Orlando City SC

Despite conceding a late equalizer Sunday night at Red Bull Arena, Orlando made history by clinching a playoff berth for the first time in club history following a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls, coupled with Toronto FC's win over Atlanta United. Rookie of the Year candidate Daryl Dike, who drew a penalty that Nani converted to put the Lions in front, said his team isn't satisfied with just being in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

“We've put ourselves in a good position,” Dike said after the match. “Obviously we just made the playoffs today, but I think we're going to carry on. The goal wasn't just playoffs. We're not done now. We just keep going and keep going. We want three points every single game and we want to finish the highest in the table. That's the main goal.”

Oscar Pareja told reporter on a video conference call Thursday Matheus Aias and Alexander Alvarado are available for the rivalry match against Miami.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Dom Dwyer (F) - knee injury
- OUT: Joao Moutinho (D) - groin injury
- OUT: Uri Rosell (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Mauricio Pereyra (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Joao Moutinho (D), Mauricio Pereyra (M), Rodrigo Schlegel (D)
International duty: None