After going into shutdown in March amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, the Major League Soccer is returning to play at the MLS is Back Tournament in Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The first game will open up on July 8 with a match between two local clubs from the Sunshine State that have a lot to prove.
Orlando SC which is one of the hosts of the MLS is Back Tournament will face the new Major League Soccer expansion club Inter Miami CF for the first game of the no-fan, enclosed bubble tournament in the Disney-owned complex in Orlando, where teams have already started to arrive or early training and health checks.
Not as new as Inter Miami, but Orlando SC is a relatively-new side to the MLS Eastern Conference, debuting in the 2015 MLS season. The Lions are looking to claw their way into an MLS position of power under new manager Oscar Pareja, and hopefully clinch a seat in the playoffs for the first time in the club’s history. Pareja, a former FC Dallas boss came back to the MLS after a short sting in Liga MX as boss of Club Tijuana.
The Lions worked hard this offseason on building defensive power, bringing Peruvian international goalkeeper Pedro Gallese who should be good keeping Orlando’s net empty. Helping Gallese to fortify Orlando’s back is Brazilian center back Antonio Carlos, while Nani and Mauricio Pereyra should give attacking power at the front.
Maybe it was because Nani was suspended at the beginning of the 2020 season, but probably more because Orlando’s moving parts were still not tuned up. The MLS 2020 Regular season back in March started for Orlando with a pretty uninspiring goalless tie at home against Real Salt Lake, followed by a 2-1 loss at Colorado Rapids.
Inter Miami got to play only two games since debut of the 2020, starting with one difficult game on the road against LAFC and reigning Golden Boot and Landon Donovan MVP holder Carlos Vela crew. Vela scored the only goal in the match, giving LAFC a 1-0 in Miami’s inaugural game. It followed by another painful 2-1 loss on the road the following week to D.C. United, where the first goal in the team’s history scored by Designated Player Rodolfo Pizarro wasn’t enough.
The team which is partly owned by David Beckham did a pretty big and noisy shopping trip for talent, and landed some big players beside Pizarro such as Matias Pellegrini and Julian Carranza. And of course they are joined by MLS veteran, New York Red Bulls legend goalkeeper Luis Robles.
So will Miami’s head coach Diego Alonso, who already coached Pizarro in Monterrey be able to get the Miami newcomers up to speed for the MLS is Back tournament? There is also youngster forward Robbie Robinson who showed promise in the first two games, and Scottish international, ex Celtic midfielder Lewis Morgan who will support Pizarro in midfield.
We are certainly looking to see both attacks working against the two talented goalkeepers.