Twelve days before the club’s home kickoff, Miami United FC announced that it would be moving venues, leaving Ted Hendricks Stadium at Milander Park for the North Miami Athletic Stadium.
Miami United hosted Peñarol at Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah in Jan. 12, 2018. Photos by Lee Ifans.
Miami United were the center of soccer attention in Miami-Dade County, hosting defending Uruguayan champions Peñarol. After a shaky start, United rose to the occasion and earned a 2-2 draw with the Carboneros.
When Jorge Mas said this was going to be a team for the entire city and the entire the community, he certainly meant it. The Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks reported earlier this morning that the Mas brothers met with Miami-Dade mayor and the parks & recreations top brass regarding a training facility as a county owned park. Did your mind immediately jump to Tropical Park? Guess again.
Miami United FC earned a historic matchup when it defeated Jacksonville Armada FC in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup: Orlando City SC is traveling to Hialeah tonight. You can check the Magic City Soccer pregame show here!
Pre-Game Show Live from Ted Hendricks for @miamiunitedfc v @orlandocitysc #MagicCitySoccerLive https://t.co/H2trhg5kiQ
— Magic City Soccer (@MagicCitySoccer) June 6, 2018
The game will kick off at 7:30 pm from Ted Hendricks Stadium. If you can’t catch it live, you can watch it here!
The Magic City will get to see MLS competition for the second straight year courtesy of Miami United FC and their deep run into this year’s U.S. Open Cup tournament. In a first for the club, Miami United FC will host Major League Soccer side Orlando City SC in Round 4 of the U.S. Open Cup on June 5 or 6.
The fourth-round draw took place this morning and in a shocking turn of events, Orlando City opted out of a chance to host for the round. Orlando City has had poor attendance and even worse luck in this round of the tournament in previous years, especially when taking on an opponent from South Florida.
Miami United advanced to Round 4 by defeating FC Kendall, The Miami FC 2 and Jacksonville United.
Mixed history
Miami United will look to be the newest addition to the club of lower division sides to knock off Orlando. In 2016, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers were able to get past Orlando in extra time with a game winning goal from Victor “PC” Giro (now on the OCSC roster). In 2017, now NPSL foe, Miami FC knocked out Orlando with a hat trick from Stefano Pinho (now also on the OCSC roster). Miami United has the right amount of firepower up front and tactical ability on defense to provide South Florida with another #cupset for the third consecutive year.
The match date has a placeholder for June 6th (subject to change) and it will take place at Milander Park in Hialeah. This will be City’s first visit to South Florida in the history of its existence in MLS. For years, the South Florida market has been ignored by City amidst the talks of a possible MLS Miami team coming in. Perhaps leaving the South Florida market untapped may come back to haunt Orlando as United look to pack the stadium in a true showing of Miami soccer pride.
Matthew Bunch contributed to this report.
The endless rollercoaster of indecision that is David Beckham’s quest for an MLS franchise has a new twist as of last week. Claro. The Miami Herald reported that Beckham’s group, primarily newly minted owner Jorge Mas, are looking at potential stadium sites other than the Overtown plan which was close to being finalized. The new locations, no less than five according to Mas, span from Downtown to Doral to Hialeah.
They seem to concede that after years of bluffing about requiring a stadium in the “urban core”, MLS doesn’t really care where they put it as long as it’s in the county.
One of the sites that’s making Miamians do a double take is Hialeah Park. And it could be the perfect location for Beckham to base his MLS franchise.
Hear me out, groaning Miamians.
In another twist in the ongoing saga of Fútbol Miami MLS, partner Jorge Mas told the Miami Herald the group is now considering “five or so” locations for a new soccer stadium for Major League Soccer. This is a stark on-the-record departure from the ownership group’s position since late 2015.