Orlando City at Inter Miami: Three Keys to Victory

Orlando City continues its Leagues Cup campaign Wednesday night at DRV PNK Stadium against Inter Miami. Orlando City is the only group-winning MLS club that will have to be the away team in the Round of 32 and the only one other than Inter Miami to have to play another group winner. I’m sure that there’s no Messi reason for this Messi situation, but who can tell?

What does Orlando City need to do to defeat its South Florida rival to advance in the Leagues Cup?

Forwards Provide Pressure

If the Orlando City attack can keep the ball in Inter Miami’s half it will be difficult for Lionel Messi to get too involved. That means the forwards will need to press Miami’s back line and also Sergio Busquets. The midfielders will need to cut down the passing lanes, and intercept as many passes as possible to stifle Miami’s ability to work the ball through the midfield.

This will accomplish a couple of things if properly executed. First, it will provide opportunities for Orlando City to score goals. Goals change games. Second, it will limit the amount of time that Messi has the ball. We can call out the shenanigans it took to get him to Miami, but the reality is the Lions will still need to deal with him. Keeping him from getting too many touches, or forcing him to drop deeper to get on the ball, can help with that.

Score Early, Score Often

It is likely that the referees in this match will call fouls on anyone glancing too hard at Messi. The way to counteract this is not to play conservatively against Miami, but rather to score as early and often as possible. Orlando City needs to jump out to a multi-goal lead if it can, and attacking players must bury their chances.

The obvious choice for the first goal is Orlando City’s prolific rookie, Duncan McGuire. McGuire has 10 goals this year in all competitions, and I don’t think he’s done. McGuire usually has some sort of chance very early in most matches, but he needs to make sure to finish that chance this match. After that, the Lions must keep their foot on the gas. Multiple goals is likely the only way to counteract the gifts that Messi will be given.

Contain Messi

Stopping — or at least containing — Messi is the most obvious key, but also potentially the most important. Inter Miami is riding high off of the Messi bump the club has gotten since his arrival. Messi has scored three goals in two Leagues Cup matches for Miami, and he has brought confidence to a club that is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference in MLS. Orlando City will need to shake that confidence. 

It is going to be up to Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena to shut down most of what Messi hopes to do. They will need to do that as carefully but effectively as possible (see above). That means they will need to work together depending on where he goes, and to switch off so that he is never running free. That is the mistake that Atlanta United made, and Messi made them pay. Once Messi makes a pass, one of the two needs to follow him or at least make sure that someone else on the back line picks him up. It’s Messi’s movement off the ball that is so very dangerous.

That is what I’ll be looking for this Wednesday night as the Lions take on Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.