Orlando City B (4-5-6, 21 points) vs Inter Miami CF (6-6-4, 22 points)
When: Sunday, July 14, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, FL
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (Subscription Required)
Last Time Out
Orlando City B welcomed expansion team Carolina Core FC to Osceola County Stadium for the second time this season, and it’s been mixed results so far. The Lions needed a second-half comeback to secure a 2-2 draw in their first matchup and were looking to come out and carry that momentum over to their second meeting. The first half didn’t see much action, but OCB forward Shak Mohammed got on the board with a first-half stoppage time goal, just moments before the whistle. Unfortunately, OCB was unable to sustain that lead and the Foxes scored two goals in the 60th and 67th minutes to secure the win. The loss broke the Lions’ three-game unbeaten streak.
Third Times A Charm
The young Lions are set to host intrastate foes Inter Miami CF II in the third and final matchup of the regular season. The Herons have gotten the better of Orlando through the first two games, winning both by an aggerate score of 5-1. Historically, the Lions and Herons have played evenly, with Orlando City B winning three matches to Miami’s four. The last OCB win was a 1-0 decision in May 2023 at Chase Stadium, with Orlando City First Team striker and 2023 MLS NEXT Pro MVP Jack Lynn scoring the game-winner. The Lions currently trail Inter Miami by one point in the Eastern Conference standings with one less game played.
Better Than the Record Shows
Despite a 4-5-6 record, Orlando City B statistically has shown promise and the ability to compete over the final stretch of the season. The Lions are 11th in MLS NEXT Pro with a plus-three goal differential, which is better than seven teams currently ahead of them in the standings. OCB also ranks in the top half of the league in goals scored at 28 and near the middle of the pack in goals conceded with 25. Only four teams in the league have more shootout wins than the Lions, who have been able to steal an extra point in three matches.
A Well-Traveled Young Lion
Orlando City Academy product Alex Freeman has bounced around this season, splitting time between Orlando City B and the First Team. The 19-year-old defender has appeared in 13 MLS NEXT Pro matches to date, recording two goals and two assists so far this season. He most recently saw action in Orlando City’s 5-0 win over D.C. United this past weekend and picked up his first career MLS assist in the 85th minute. Freeman signed with Orlando City’s academy in 2020 and then signed a four-year contract as a Homegrown prior to the 2022 season.
