Orlando City SC will face the world’s greatest ever player Lionel Messi in their next club fixture. A wild sentence that seemed implausible a few years ago, that is the reality with City now visiting Florida rivals Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32.
Qualifying from our “South 2” group to the knockout stage courtesy of home triumphs over Houston Dynamo (1-1 at full-time, 5-4 on penalties) and Santos Laguna (3-2), Orlando City SC probably couldn’t have faced a tougher MLS opponent right now – such has been the relentless nature of Messi’s start to life in South Florida.
With Lionel Messi recently debuting for The Herons against Cruz Azul, there was a stoppage time storybook ending.
Replacing Benjamin Cremaschi from the bench on 54 minutes, the Hollywood script writers couldn’t have wrote a better ending.
Expertly bending a 94th minute free-kick beyond a helpless Andrés Gudiño, Messi stole the headlines in the most dramatic way possible.
Did we really expect anything else from such a genius on his debut?
With The Herons qualifying from their “South 3” group with the maximum six points, Lionel Messi stole the show yet again when facing Atlanta United.
Scoring a brace in a 4-0 demolition of The Five Stripes, the unerring nature of Messi’s start to life at Inter Miami truthfully has every opponent in fear.
But Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC have always been up for a fight and will need to bring their A-game in enemy territory.
Buoyed by the fact we’ve already visited DRV PNK Stadium and won 1-3 earlier this MLS regular season, the task will no doubt be tougher this time around.
Now coached by Tata Martino, the fellow headline acquisitions of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba look to have turned Inter Miami’s lowly fortunes around – almost overnight.
Casting our minds back to the Santos Laguna match, Orlando City SC won a wild game 3-2 thanks to Wilder Cartagena himself – but we’ll get to that.
After an inevitable July weather delay, the Lions knew it was a “win and we’re in” type of assignment.
Santos Laguna didn’t read the script though and took the lead on 41 minutes after an uncharacteristic mistake from Pedro Gallese.
Raúl López capitalised on a poor first touch from Iván Angulo before curling a strike past El Pulpo with his left instep.
Unsighted a tad, replays confirmed the strike came right down the centre of Gallese’s goal and through his fingertips – a rare misjudgement from the usually dependable Peruvian.
Oscar Pareja‘s Lions licked their wounds and remarkably turned it around either side of half-time.
On 44 minutes, Duncan McGuire (who else?) emphatically headed home a timely equaliser off a perfectly placed Rafael Santos cross.
McGuire’s tenth goal (all competitions) of an incredible rookie season, cue scenes of his now trademark somersault and cartwheel in front of The Wall.
Fired up entering half-time, City came out swinging, taking the lead through a rare Mauricio Pereyra goal just 35 seconds after the restart.
A magnificently accurate goal from our captain, Pereyra immaculately set himself before unleashing a deadly precision strike past Gibrán Lajud.
From here, it was all about holding our nerve, but Orlando City SC faced more adversity on 58 minutes.
Danger man Harold Preciado scored his third goal in two tournament games, getting between Antônio Carlos and Duncan McGuire in City’s penalty area to head home an equaliser.
With Alan Cervantes offside in the build-up, yet inactive, Antônio Carlos called foul on Preciado, but Victor Rivas ruled that the goal was legitimate and would stand.
Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC sides have always battled until the end and stoppage time provided City supporters with another great memory they’ll cherish forever.
A fitting end to a dramatic night, Wilder Cartagena tapped home the crucial game winner – and his first ever City goal – on 92 minutes.
The goal that sealed our qualification to the Round of 32, sparing the prospect of a nervy penalty shootout, Ercan Kara and César Araújo were at the heart of this clutch play.
With Araújo sending a red carpet pass right across Santos Laguna’s penalty area, Wilder Cartagena delicately dinked the ball through Gibrán Lajud’s legs to send Exploria Stadium into a frenzy!
Cue scenes of Orlando City SC starters and substitutes bundling each other, not to mention looks of anguish and disbelief on the shocked faces of Santos Laguna’s players.
Showcasing character, fight, and a never-say-die attitude yet again, these qualities will be required in abundance at Inter Miami in Wednesday’s mouthwatering Sunshine Clásico – 2023 Leagues Cup edition.
Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- July 9, 2022: Orlando City SC 1 Inter Miami 0 (MLS)
- October 5, 2022: Inter Miami 4 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- May 20, 2023: Inter Miami 1 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
2017/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 1-3 to Orlando the last time the sides met (May 2023)
- Played Inter Miami 10 times in MLS – Miami 3, Draws 2, Orlando 5
- Six of 10 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by 1 goal
- Lionel Messi has scored 3 goals in his last 2 Inter Miami appearances
- Orlando have won 18 and lost 12 knockout fixtures since 2015*
(*Includes Tigres UANL defeat across two legs)
…
Watching the game
Inter Miami vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 01:00 (GMT) on Thursday, August 3.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season and 2023 Leagues Cup fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
…
Support Orlando City UK
Passionate about what we do, Orlando City UK content will always be free. The most important thing for us is sharing our love of Orlando City SC with you all and donations are by no means expected. However, if you enjoy our content, a token towards the regular maintenance of Orlando City UK is hugely appreciated!
