Orlando City
Orlando City at Inter Miami: Five Takeaways
Here’s what we learned from Orlando City’s shocking 4-3 victory over Inter Miami.
Well, that was a wonderful gift. Orlando City traveled to Inter Miami’s new Nu Stadium for the latest edition of Tropic Thunder. The Lions defeated the Herons 4-3 in a wild one that no one realistically saw coming. At least for one night, the world was a bit brighter, and Florida is purple!
Here are my five takeaways from the match.
An Expected Start
I was expecting Inter Miami to come out swinging, and that is what it did. It took less than four minutes for Ian Fray to put the Herons up in their new stadium. Miami scored a second goal in the 25th minute. Braian Ojeda allowed Lionel Messi to make a run to the post and the Argentine dropped it back to Telasco Segovia for an easy tap-in. A mere eight minutes later, Messi scored what many would have thought to be the nail in the coffin for Orlando City’s hopes. You can’t allow Messi space and the ball at the top of the box. If you do, he will likely score like he did in the 33rd minute. I was not surprised by the score and expected it was just the beginning. I was correct, but not in the way I suspected.
Crepeau the Great
Typically, if a team goes down by three goals, it’s a wrap. You also assume that the keeper that allowed three goals didn’t do a good job. That was not the case for Maxime Crepeau against Inter Miami. Crepeau made a series of four saves in the first half that were very impressive. In the battle of the Canadian keepers, Crepeau defeated Dayne St. Clair. Crepeau was seemingly everywhere, making leaping, diving, and acrobatic saves. Despite the three goals, this was the type of performance Orlando City needs from Crepeau on a regular basis.
Hat Trick Ojeda
If Martin Ojeda is not awarded Player of the Matchday, we riot. His first goal was an absolute rocket. Ojeda took the ball to the top of the box, and then with three defenders between him and the goal, he spun and buried a left-footed shot inside the left post in the 39th minute. Ojeda didn’t get goal number two until the 68th minute. This goal came from almost the same spot just outside the box, and instead of going left, Ojeda opted to skim the ball off the inside of the right post. The third came on a penalty kick. Ojeda had a slight hesitation to send St. Clair the wrong way before hitting the ball under the crossbar. He outscored Messi in his own stadium. That’s good enough for me, but he still deserved the accolades.
Cardiac Cats Strike Again!
Find yourself someone who loves you as much as Tyrese Spicer loves scoring late goals. I was very happy for Orlando City to leave Miami with a road point and ruining Messi’s night. Fortunately, Spicer decided that one point wasn’t enough. Braian Ojeda sent a pass up through the middle of the pitch towards Martin Ojeda. However Martin had come back from an offside position and allowed the ball to go through to a streaking Spicer who cheekily put the ball past St. Clair to score the winning goal. What can you even say?
An Unexpected Finish
As I mentioned above, I did not expect Orlando City to win this match. In fact, I predicted a 4-2 loss on The Mane Land PawedCast. I’ve never been more happy to be wrong about one of my predictions. There’s something truly wonderful about spoiling Messi’s and Miami’s day. The Herons were looking for their first victory in their new (Nu?) stadium, and everyone thought they would decimate a struggling Orlando City on short rest. Not only was that not the case, but the Lions became only the third team to come back to win an MLS match after going down three goals. This was an unexpected, but very welcome, victory.
Those are my takeaways from Orlando City’s surprising victory over its Florida rivals. This was a Topic Thunder match for the history books, and one I will savor during the dark times. Let us know your thoughts about the Inter Miami match in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Final Score 4-3 as Ojeda Leads Lions’ Historic Comeback Win
The Lions fell behind 3-0 but rallied behind a Martin Ojeda’s hat trick to win 4-3 on the road.
Orlando City conceded early and often in falling behind 3-0 on the road in a game that might have been far worse without Maxime Crepeau’s saves. However, the Lions improbably rallied from three goals down behind Martin Ojeda’s hat trick and Tyrese Spicer’s late winner to shock Inter Miami 4-3 at Nu Stadium.
With the win, Orlando City becomes the first visiting team to beat the Herons (5-2-4, 19 points) in their new home, where they are now 0-1-3, and Inter Miami remains winless there. It was the first road victory of the 2026 MLS season for the Lions (3-7-1, 10 points), and Orlando City became just the third MLS team in the league’s history to win after trailing by three goals.
“Well, happiness for the result. Like I said 48 or 72 hours ago, the effort of the players is what we should be highlighting now, because they are doing a huge effort,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said after the match.
Perelman’s lineup featured Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Iago, and Griffin Dorsey. Luis Otavio and Braian Ojeda started in central midfield between wingers Ivan Angulo and Tiago. Martin Ojeda and Justin Ellis led the attack up top.
Miami was dangerous from the jump and Orlando could not get out of their own end as has been the case so many times this season already. The Herons paid off that pressure just four minutes in off a corner kick. The initial ball was partially cleared, but Miami recycled it and a simple ball into the box found multiple wide-open Miami attackers in front of Crepeau’s goal. Ian Fray was the man who got his head to it to make it 1-0 before the crowd had even settled in.
The Herons should have gone up 2-0 just a couple of minutes after opening the scoring. Berterame had a wide-open look in front but he sent his curling shot wide of the right post.
Orlando’s first decent-looking attack came from a takeaway in the midfield in the 14th minute, but the resulting counterattack broke down as Dorsey ignored an open Martin Ojeda at the top of the area and instead got his cross blocked, ending the threat without a shot attempt. Martin Ojeda then had a chance to equalize in the 17th minute when left alone in space outside the box. The Argentine got plenty of power on his shot, but he couldn’t keep the ball on target and it fizzed over the crossbar to waste a good opportunity.
Things nearly got worse when Lionel Messi got in behind Jansson in the 18th minute. The Swedish center back turned into a linebacker, tackling the Miami star and earning a yellow card only because Iago was behind enough to negate the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.
Crepeau then made a series of jaw-dropping saves on the ensuing set piece and in its aftermath. The Canadian denied Messi’s free kick and Luis Suarez twice before making a leaping stop on Rodrigo De Paul from distance.
Two corners later, Crepeau did well on Miami’s short corner to tip Messi’s curling effort over the crossbar.
Miami’s second came on the counterattack off a terrible pass from Angulo straight to an opposing player. At the end of the counter, Suarez sent Messi to the end line and the Argentine centered it for a tap-in for Telasco Segovia, who had beaten Marin. The game was effectively over already just 25 minutes in.
Angulo continued to give the ball awaywhen Orlando had possession, and the Lions were fortunate to stay within 2-0 for a short spell as the counterattacks continued. However, that ended in the 33rd minute when Messi stepped past an overcommitted Iago and curled a left-footed shot inside the left post to make it 3-0.
Another huge save by Crepeau on Segovia in front kept the score from becoming more embarrassing in the 36th minute. He then made two more big saves to stop De Paul and Berterame, as Miami kept putting the ball into threatening spots.
The Lions spoiled the shutout in the 39th minute with a quickly played goal down the middle. Jansson sent a long ball to Ellis, who chipped the ball to Martin Ojeda in space. The Designated Player made a move to the right to lose two defenders, spun to freeze a third and put the ball on his favorite left foot, and smashed a perfectly placed shot inside the left post past Dayne St. Clair to make it 3-1.
The Lions gave up another corner and looked to break after clearing it, but once again it was Angulo giving the ball away in space near midfield with plenty of options available.
Orlando kept looking for a second as time wound down in the first half, but Miami’s defense was able to clear two dangerous-looking crosses in the box early in stoppage time. The Lions then looked to be set up with a free kick in a dangerous spot in the fourth added minute when Maxi Falcon held Tiago from behind. Falcon was initially booked but the flag came up, negating both the set piece and the booking, despite the replay clearly showing two defenders keeping Tiago onside, which is not reviewable.
Inter Miami’s dominance on the scoreboard was reflected on the stat sheet, as the Herons dominated in possession (61.7%-38.3%), shots (16-2), shots on target (10-1), corners (8-0), and passing accuracy (90.4%-75.2%). If not for Crepeau’s seven saves, the match would have already been a massacre by the break.
“We knew that wasn’t the performance we should be having,” Perelman said about his team’s first half. “But as well we knew that we trust in ourselves, and we knew we were able to turn around the game. We spoke that we scored four goals in the past, so we can do it again, one goal at a time.”
Perelman made two changes at the break to try to get his team back in it, sending Eduard Atuesta and Spicer on for Otavio and Tiago.
The first look at goal of the second period fell Ellis’ way in the 49th minute. Near the top of the area on the left, Ellis sent a shot toward goal that deflected up into the chest area for St. Clair to catch.
Atuesta ignited Miami’s first look at goal after halftime with a heavy touch near midfield, setting up a four-on-four counterattack. Messi picked out Segovia on the left but he got under his shot and sent it badly off frame in the 51st minute.
Duncan McGuire returned from a lower leg injury in the 59th minute, replacing Ellis, who had played a big role in Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup win. McGuire’s return took place midway between two decent back-post balls from Dorsey that found no teammate making a run. The second of those set up a corner kick. Martin Ojeda picked out Braian Ojeda at the top of the area, but the ball came in awkwardly for the midfielder, who sent it off target off his upper leg.
Spicer’s giveaway led to Miami breaking three on three in transition, but an uncharacteristically heavy touch from Messi ended the threat. Orlando quickly recovered and scored at the other end. Marin ran onto a clearance from Miami and carried it forward before finding Ojeda to his left. The Designated Player quickly smashed it in off the right post to make it 3-2 in the 68th minute.
“I’m so happy for Martin,” Perelman said. “Martin played 90 minutes 72 hours ago. He doesn’t want to leave the field, not even one second. He’s an exceptional player, an amazing person. I’m so happy for him and for us to have a player like him.”
Inter Miami quickly won a corner just seconds after the restart but De Paul’s shot was blocked. The Lions went the other way, but Yannick Bright broke up the play by fouling Martin Ojeda and perhaps was fortunate not to receive his second yellow. The set piece found Iago on the right and the big Brazilian headed it dangerously back in front but he was offside on the play, ending the threat.
Orlando should have done better in transition in the 73rd minute when a pass split the defense and sent Atuesta down the middle. The midfielder, however, did not have the pace to get in cleanly. He took a touch to his left and could have shot, but instead he waited and found Martin Ojeda on his right. Ojeda took a touch, allowing St. Clair time to get off his line and cut down the angle, ultimately making a point-blank save to keep the game 3-2.
Two minutes later, McGuire got down the left side and tried to sneak a shot past St. Clair at the near post but the Canadian international made the save. Orlando City won a corner kick and the set piece led to Orlando’s opportunity to pull level. The referee was watching a battle between Iago and Falcon, holding up the set piece to talk to both players. After the ball came in, Iago shook free of Falcon, who caught up and pushed the Brazilian down from behind. The foul in the box was called and Orlando City had a penalty kick with a chance to tie the match.
Martin Ojeda stutter-stepped late in his run-up, sent St. Clair one way, and completed his hat trick into the empty side of the net in the 79th minute, tying the match at 3-3.
“I enjoy those moments. I like those moments, those penalties,” Ojeda said. “From when I was a kid, I was prepared for those and trained for those. I never feel pressure in those moments. The pressure that I feel is in my life, when my son or when my family is sick with an illness or or a flu. In those moments, I don’t feel pressure on the pitch. And so, I think when I get to those moments, I try to enjoy them. I think of of my son, of my family, of all the people behind me that are giving me that hand of support in those moments and try and find a moment of peace when there’s those pressure moments.”
Despite improbably pulling level, Orlando quickly allowed another golden opportunity for a Miami goal. The ball cycled in from the right to Tadeo Allende in the area. He mishit his shot and sent it left to Berterame, who was offside. However, the ball skipped just wide of the net and would likely have counted since it didn’t appear to be touched.
Orlando forced a good opportunity to take the lead in the 81st minute when Angulo poked the ball away in Miami’s defensive third. Spicer sent it to Martin Ojeda on the left near the top of the area. Again St. Clair rushed quickly off his line and this time the shot hit the goalkeeper in the face. Spicer sent the rebound well off target from distance. St. Clair needed treatment and went through concussion protocol but stayed in the match.
Atuesta and Bright traded unsuccessful chances in the final minutes of normal time, and Martin Ojeda saw his shot blocked during a two-on-two transition attack in the first of eight added minutes.
Two minutes later, Orlando took its first lead of the match. Braian Ojeda sent a ball forward that an offside Martin Ojeda let go. Spicer blazed past the last defender to reach the loose ball first and tucked in the ultimate game winner through St. Clair’s legs.
Miami didn’t stop threatening, however, and an ill-advised Iago foul set Messi up with a dangerous free kick just outside the area deep in stoppage time. Messi’s free kick cleared the wall and fizzed just inches over Crepeau’s crossbar in the sixth added minute.
The Lions survived a corner in the 99th minute and the final whistle finally ended an unlikely comeback victory.
At full time, Inter Miami held the advantage in possession (61.2%-38.8%), shots (25-13), shots on target (10-8), corners (10-2), and passing accuracy (90.8%-78.7%). However, it was Martin Ojeda’s precision and a better defensive second half that helped the Lions forge a way back into the match, with Spicer’s speed and fresher legs making the difference.
“We tried at the beginning to close internal spaces where they were strong, but we couldn’t,” Perelman said. “And then we tried to press little bit higher. Even that was a risk, but we were down in the score, so we were forced to do it. And then offensively, I think the most important adjustments were focused on the offensive side.”
“There’s a huge emotion that I feel within that’s inexplicable, because, you know, the way that we came out in the first half, it wasn’t us,” Martin Ojeda said. “We fell behind. And I think it showed going into halftime, and then in the second half, we came out, we showed who we can be as a team.”
Orlando City will continue its road swing with a match at CF Montreal a week from tonight.
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More
The Lions head to Nu Stadium for the first time looking to avenge their home loss against the Herons from early in the season.
Welcome to your match thread for a Saturday night Tropic Thunder matchup between Orlando City (2-7-1, 7 points) and the team’s Publix Enemies, Inter Miami CF (5-1-4, 19 points) at Nu Stadium (7:15 p.m., Apple TV). It’s the second of the two scheduled meetings between the sides this season, wrapping up the season series early.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.
History
Orlando City is 7-5-4 in MLS regular-season games in the all-time series and 7-7-5 in all competitions between the clubs. The Lions are 3-4-0 on the road against the Herons in MLS play and 3-6-0 away in the series in all competitions. Tonight will be Orlando City’s first visit to Nu Stadium, having previously traveled to Fort Lauderdale to face Inter Miami, which has a name that is finally geographically correct.
The most recent meeting between the sides took place in Orlando on March 1. Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda staked Orlando City to a 2-0 lead by halftime, but things fell apart for the Lions after the break. Matteo Silvetti scored just minutes after the restart and Lionel Messi tied the game less than 10 minutes later. The game appeared headed for a 2-2 draw before Telasco Segovia struck late and Messi completed his brace at the end of normal time in a 4-2 Orlando City home loss.
The last meeting in South Florida came in Leagues Cup at Chase Stadium on Aug. 27, 2025, with Miami winning a predictably controversial game 3-1. Leading 1-0 on a Pasalic goal, Ivan Angulo was quite obviously fouled in the penalty area by Sergio Busquets, but it was ignored by match referee Walter Lopez. Miami later went up a man and tied the game from the penalty spot when Tadeo Allende baited Lopez into a call at the other end, sending David Brekalo off with a second yellow card. Messi scored from the spot and later gave Miami the lead just before stoppage time, with Telasco Segovia adding a late insurance goal.
Before the Leagues Cup match, the teams met only a couple of weeks earlier, on Aug. 10, when the Lions blew out the Herons 4-1 in Orlando to sweep the regular-season series. Luis Muriel scored early, only to see Yannick Bright equalize moments later. Muriel and Ojeda scored eight minutes apart early in the second half to blow open a close game, and Pasalic added an insurance goal.
On May 18, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando City got its first win over a Messi-led Herons side. The Lions got goals from Muriel, Pasalic, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson to win 3-0 at Chase Stadium.
Just about one year to the day before that meeting, the teams played to a scoreless draw at Inter&Co Stadium on May 15, 2024. The Lions’ trip to South Florida in 2024 resulted in a forgettable 5-0 loss for Orlando at Chase Stadium on March 2. Luis Suarez and Messi scored braces and Robert Taylor added a goal in a match Orlando City was never in, as it was already 2-0 just 11 minutes after kickoff.
The Florida rivals played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 24, 2023. Duncan McGuire brought Orlando back from a 1-0 deficit after David Ruiz had given the Herons a 1-0 lead early in the second half. On Aug. 2 of that year, the teams met in Leagues Cup action and it was just as controversial as the 2025 Leagues Cup affair. The Herons were fortunate to not see Messi sent off with a second yellow late in the first half, and even more fortunate to get a soft penalty call on Antonio Carlos, as they won, 3-1. Messi opened the scoring after being ignored in the box early. Cesar Araujo made up for his uncharacteristic defensive lapse on the first goal by scoring 10 minutes later. Josef Martinez put Miami back on top with the Downy-soft penalty just after halftime, and Messi sunk in the dagger in the final 20 minutes.
The teams also met in Fort Lauderdale in MLS play on May 20, 2023, with Orlando City winning, 3-1. Ercan Kara’s early goal was canceled out by Leonardo Campana shortly before the hour mark, but Ojeda and Rafael Santos found the net in the second half to power the Lions to victory.
Inter Miami won at home, 4-1, on Oct. 5, 2022. Campana scored in the game’s first minute and Orlando City never settled in. Gonzalo Higuain added two goals — one from the spot — and Ariel Lassiter also scored before Kara pulled one back to spoil the shutout.
The first regular-season meeting of 2022 finished with a 1-0 Orlando City win at Exploria Stadium on July 9, as a stoppage-time own goal by Damion Lowe was the difference between the Lions earning just one point or all three. The ball was sent into the box by Jake Mulraney.
The teams also met at Exploria Stadium on May 25, 2022 in U.S. Open Cup action, with the two sides needing extra time after a scoreless 90 minutes. In extra time, Miami got a goal from Jean Mota against the run of play, but Facundo Torres quickly equalized for Orlando. The match ended 1-1 and Orlando won the ensuing penalty shootout, 4-2. Bryce Duke was denied by Mason Stajduhar and DeAndre Yedlin missed the net during the spot kicks, while all four Orlando shooters scored.
The intrastate rivals played to a scoreless draw in Orlando on Aug. 27, 2021. Tesho Akindele missed a penalty in the match, but the Lions had several other good opportunities to score (but didn’t) in a wasteful performance. Orlando and Miami battled to a 1-1 draw at Exploria Stadium on Aug. 4, 2021. Carlos scored in first-half stoppage time but was knocked into concussion protocol on the play by Kelvin Leerdam. Kieran Gibbs equalized in the 66th minute on a header in front of a less-than-attentive Ruan. Akindele had a goal called back after video review for being offside and the teams split the points. Earlier in the season, the Lions came from behind in Fort Lauderdale to win 2-1 on a pair of brilliant goals by Chris Mueller and Nani on June 25, 2021.
In the final meeting of 2020, the Lions saw their 12-match unbeaten streak end on Oct. 24 in a 2-1 road loss in Fort Lauderdale. Miami defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez’s header in the 89th minute was the difference after a Daryl Dike goal and an own goal off Robin Jansson saw the game tied up at halftime. The teams met in Orlando on Sept. 12, 2020 with Orlando battling to a 2-1 win on Mauricio Pereyra’s goal. The Lions had taken the lead on an own goal by Andres Reyes. Former Lion Brek Shea tied things up in the second half before Pereyra answered.
The first meeting in Fort Lauderdale opened Phase 1 of Major League Soccer’s return to regular-season play after the MLS is Back Tournament during the pandemic. That one was an uncharacteristically sloppy match for the Lions, who fell 3-2 in Inter Miami’s first-ever home match. It was Miami’s first franchise win after an 0-5-0 start. Orlando trailed by more than one goal for the first time all season in that game. Dike and Nani provided the offense for Orlando, but Julian Carranza’s brace and Rodolfo Pizarro’s insurance goal were enough to lift the Herons.
The first Tropic Thunder match went Orlando City’s way, with Nani scoring late to lift the Lions to a 2-1 win over the upstarts from South Florida in the opening match of the MLS is Back Tournament. Despite it being a tournament match, it was also a league game. Juan Agudelo opened the scoring for the Herons, but Mueller equalized, setting the stage for Nani’s 97th-minute winner.
Overview
The Lions are coming off a wild 4-3 U.S. Open Cup win against the New England Revolution on Wednesday and a late-game collapse in a 3-2 road loss at D.C. United a week ago in league play, as Orlando City prepares to play its third match in eight days. The Lions have started scoring goals of late —10 in their last three games across all competitions — but Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman opted to play some starters (including both Martin and Braian Ojeda) heavy minutes in the midweek to get the result.
City’s defense has been spotty, playing mostly well since Robin Jansson returned from foot surgery, but it’s been leaky the last two games. Orlando City is still looking for its first road win of 2026 with an away mark of 0-4-1 and has been outscored 20-3 in five MLS games outside of Orlando this season.
Inter Miami also last played against New England, drawing the Revolution 1-1 at home one week ago, meaning tonight’s hosts will be on regular rest as compared to much of Orlando City’s lineup, which is visiting its third city in eight days. The Herons are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions (6-0-6) and they’re both winless and unbeaten in their new stadium (conveniently called Nu Stadium) at 0-0-3. The Herons will hope to make their in-state rivals their first victims in their new home, and just about everything is going in their favor for this match. They are playing much better soccer than Orlando this year, are at home, are better rested, have fewer injuries, and have been better at home than the Lions have been on the road.
Taking any points from this game will be a tall order for Orlando City. As usual against Miami, the Lions must do what they can to limit chances, especially by denying Messi the ball as much as possible and forcing him to give it up quickly when he gets it. It is not enough to be close to Messi when he gets inside the penalty area. His quick movements in either direction can open up either foot with just enough room for a well-placed shot, as was on display in the first meeting between the teams in March. Orlando must also pay close attention to Messi’s attacking teammates and avoid getting too caught up in trying to help cover Miami’s No. 10. Segovia and Tallende are dangerous, and German Berterame has started scoring as well.
The Lions will face a tough goalkeeper in Dayne St. Clair at the other end. It’s not easy to break out against Miami’s pressure, but if Orlando can do so cleanly — something the Lions did well in the first half but not at all in the second half back in March — the team’s attackers can get at the Herons’ back line and create opportunities.
Although the odds are heavily in Miami’s favor, it’s a rivalry game, so anything can happen.
“They changed their structure the last two games, but we know them, they know us, I think we are preparing (for) the game, especially preparing our team, which is always the priority,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We’re looking forward to (having) a good game. It’s not an easy task, especially because now we are recovering some of our guys, but we had a lot of injuries, so that makes more difficult the task…but the players are responding. They are doing a huge effort, an amazing effort.”
The Lions will be without Pasalic (thigh) and Joran Gerbet (knee), while Eduard Atuesta (shoulder), Brekalo (lower leg), McGuire (lower leg), and Nolan Miller (knee) are all listed as questionable. Miami will be without Silvetti (hamstring) and Sergio Reguilon (hamstring).
Match Content
- Our Ben Miller presents his three keys to an Orlando City victory in tonight’s match.
- The most recent episode of the PawedCast includes our key matchups and predictions for tonight’s match.
Official Lineups:
Orlando City (4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.
Defenders: Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Iago, Griffin Dorsey.
Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Luis Otavio, Braian Ojeda, Tiago.
Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Justin Ellis.
Bench: Javier Otero, Tahir Reid-Brown, Zakaria Taifi, David Brekalo, Eduard Atuesta, Wilder Cartagena, Colin Guske, Tyrese Spicer, Duncan McGuire.
Inter Miami (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Dayne St. Clair.
Defenders: Noah Allen, Maximiliano Falcon, Micael, Ian Fray.
Midfielders: Yannick Bright, Rodrigo De Paul, Telasco Segovia.
Forwards: German Berterame, Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi.
Bench: Rocco Rios Novo, Gonzalo Lujan, Facundo Mura, Cesar Abadia-Reda, Daniel Sumalla, Preston Plambeck, Alexander Shaw, Tadeo Allende, Daniel Pinter.
Referees:
REF: Guido Gonzales Jr.
AR1: Chris Elliott.
AR2: Adam Garner.
4TH: Fotis Bazakos.
VAR: Kevin Stott.
AVAR: Fabio Tovar.
How to Watch
Match Time: 7:15 p.m.
Venue: Nu Stadium — Miami.
TV/Live Stream: Apple TV.
Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).
Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.
Enjoy the game. Go City!
Orlando City
Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: Three Keys to Victory
If Orlando can check these three boxes, the Lions will have a good chance at coming away from South Florida with a victory.
Orlando City got the job done in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, as a mixture of starters and backups managed to eke out a late 4-3 victory over the New England Revolution. All eyes now return to league play, where the Lions will hit the road once again, albeit in a much shorter trip to South Florida to face Inter Miami. What follows are my three keys to Orlando leaving Miami-Dade County with all three points.
Win the Midfield Battle
In the first meeting between the two teams, the game changed after halftime when Miami made substitutions, tweaked its formation to get more bodies into the midfield, and started controlling the match as a result. Colin Guske and Braian Ojeda did what they could, but Orlando City ultimately ceded too much control in the middle of the field, and Miami did a much better job at possessing the ball in dangerous central areas than it did in the first half. Plain and simple, that can’t happen on Saturday. Luis Otavio will likely start in the heart of midfield and if he can have the sort of game he did against Charlotte FC, it should help the Lions immensely. Otavio was key in that 4-1 win, as he recorded three tackles, one clearance, four interceptions, and eight recoveries, while winning five of his seven ground duels, and scoring an outstanding goal. Even if the goal isn’t replicated, having a repeat defensive performance would be huge.
Find the Release Valve
Teams that play Inter Miami tend to not have a lot of the ball. That’s simply a fact of facing off against the Herons, and it’s a fact that the Lions will be will acquainted with, given that Miami had 61% possession in the first meeting of the season between the two teams. When playing against teams that have high possession numbers, it’s important to make the most of the limited time that you get with the ball, especially if you win the ball in your own half while the opposition has numbers pushed upfield. Miami has shown itself to be vulnerable on the counterattack due to the number of players it gets into the attack, but Orlando needs to be precise with the ball after winning it in order to take advantage. That means getting the ball to a teammate further up the field, most likely Justin Ellis, and him holding up play successfully until other players can forward to provide support and options. If Orlando simply clears the ball to Miami’s defenders, or the Lion furthest upfield can’t hold up the ball well, pressure on the defense will slowly build while the team can’t generate looks at the other end.
Keep the Goals Coming
Following a positively barren start to the season in front of goal, the Lions have found their shooting boots and scored 10 goals in their last three games across all competitions. It probably isn’t an accident that Orlando has won two of those three games and should have taken at least a point from the other one. Soccer games are simply easier to win when you’re scoring, and doing so more than once, although it’s certainly no guarantee of success. Miami has scored at least twice in five of its last six games and has three wins and three draws in those contests. Against OCSC’s shaky defense, the Herons’ tendency to score multiple goals probably isn’t going to change, and that means the Lions are going to need to compensate at the other end of the field if they want to pick up a result.
There you have it, folks. As in life, there are no guarantees in soccer, but if the Lions can win the battle in midfield, find players up the field who can then hold up play after winning possession in their own defensive third, and continue the recent trend of scoring multiple goals, then it should put them in good position to come away from their trip to South Florida with all three points. Vamos Orlando!
Orlando City at Inter Miami: Five Takeaways
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Mike
May 3, 2026 at 12:11 pm
After my internet came back up, I tuned in when the score was already 2-0. It was shortly then 3-0. Oddly, opposed to earlier this season, I didn’t turn it off in disgust. Call it faith or hope. I no longer thought “We are out of it.” Okay, wasn’t going to be three points but let’s see what happens. Let’s see if they can keep scoring goals like they have been. Et voila! Would have loved to have been in the Miami locker room and heard about the “unfinished business” Mura was talking about earlier in the week in the MLS preview article.