Orlando United: MLS shows support for shooting victims
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Major League Soccer showed support for Orlando on Saturday as league play resumed and Orlando City tied 2—2 with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Orlando City’s match at the Citrus Bowl on Saturday was the first major sporting event in the city since last week’s shootings at a local gay nightclub.
Returning from its international break, MLS released a video in solidarity with Orlando and the shooting victims.
Players from Orlando City SC and the Orlando Pride also made the following video tribute where they declare “We are Orlando United.”
The players took the field with special shirts with a rainbow heart and #OrlandoUnited on the front while "All You Need is Love" from the Beatles played.
Balloons placed in 49 seats in the stadium in honor of the victims.
In the 50th minute, a moment of silence was held as both teams stopped to remember the 49 victims.
The sentiment was shared across NWSL and MLS, as the Washington Spirit, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC held a moment of silence before their respective games to remember the victims.
The pitch featured rainbow flags in each corner.
Kaka and Commissioner Don Garber posed with a heart of flowers as well.
U.S. Soccer has also shown its support in the past week, releasing a video of its own, while USMNT captain Michael Bradley donned a rainbow armband in the Copa America quarterfinal match vs. Ecuador.
