Orlando City to host Inter Miami in MLS matchup

Orlando City will host Inter Miami on Saturday at 8 p.m. in an MLS match for the first time this season, but they’ve already met at Exploria Stadium.

The sides tied 1-1 in regulation in a U.S. Open Cup meeting after Facundo Torres scored in extra time for Orlando City to force a penalty-kick shootout. The Lions won it when Mauricio Pereyra converted his kick and they advanced to the quarterfinals.

Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja is trying to get his team back in form after a 5-3 loss to D.C. United. While his team registered a season-high in goals scored behind Torres, Ercan Kara and Alexandre Pato, they were pelted on the defensive side.

Inter Miami is coming off a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas, scoring a goal just before the 90th minute to salvage a point.

The Lions are 3-2-2 vs. Inter Miami.

“They have had a good period and are getting good results,” Pareja said of Miami. “It seems like they’re finding some stability in the way they do things and that’s something we recognize, but we’re trying to be ready and be prepared and worry about what we can do.”

The Lions (7-7-4, 25 points), who parlayed their Open Cup victory to another one over Nashville to advance to the July 27 semifinals, are slightly ahead of Miami (6-7-4, 22 points) in the East standings.

Orlando City announced that homegrown defender Mikey Halliday has returned after playing with the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team.