Game Recap, MLS is Back Tournament

Group A

Major League Soccer 2020 Season kicked off again after a moratorium amid the Coronavirus pandemic that took the league into shutdown in March, only two weeks into the season.  The MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando kicked off on Wednesday with derby between two teams from Florida, where local Orlando City SC faced MLS expansion side Inter Miami CF.

After a first half that was goalless and mostly controlled by Orlando, Miami’s Juan Agudelo scored the first goal of the MLS is Back Tournament with a close range finish (47’), tapping in a cross from  Victor Ulloa who worked with Matias Pellegrini in the 18-yard box.

On the 51st minute, Miami’s center back Andres Reyes clashed with Orlando striker Dom Dwyer and had to be carried off the field on a stretcher.  He was subbed by Rodolfo Pizarro.

Orlando’s Chris Mueller equalized with a back-post run, receiving a cross from Designated Player Nani (70’) who came down charging with speed from the left wing.  Already going into stoppage time, Nani secured a purple win with a somewhat opportunistic finish, taking a shot at a cross from 10 yards out (90+7’).

And so, Nani who was suspended for the first two games of 2020 picked up his powerful game for Orlando right where he left off in 2019 where he registered 12 goals and 10 assists, also opening the 2020 season with a goal and assist for his record.