Before we begin, Orlando City SC‘s 3-1 defeat to Inter Miami in the 2023 Leagues Cup on Wednesday evening was bitterly disappointing for players and supporters alike. Disappointing because ever since our 2011 founding, the club have long enjoyed a love affair with cup competitions, none greater than last season’s victorious 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup triumph – our first title in our MLS era.
A rivalry fixture – with state bragging rights at stake – it’s always gutting losing , especially in knockout competition in enemy territory, but genuine supporters accept these highs and lows as part and parcel of The Beautiful Game.
What I must admit though – and I reiterate that these opinions are the thoughts of Orlando City UK (Taylor Williams), not Orlando City SC – is that I had cynical feelings that our Inter Miami defeat would play out the way it did – and so it proved on a controversial night at DRV PNK Stadium.
As I write this blog, I’m under no illusions that rival supporters may be reading these emotional paragraphs as nothing more than “jealousy” and “sour grapes”.
Believe me, our Twitter (or should I say X) account has been inundated with Inter Miami burner accounts aiming their fair share of fun and mockery at me this week.
And who can blame them?
#OCTwitter certainly did – myself included – when winning 1-3 against a Lionel Messi-less and Phil Neville guided Inter Miami side back in May.
I’m a big boy, and I can take it. This is all part of rivalry in sport after all.
Credit where credit’s due, let the record be known that Lionel Messi’s goals and spatial awareness were class – and too much for Orlando City SC to handle – on the night.
But what I want to discuss today surrounds “integrity” and the incidences that took place between these goals.
Before you read these next few paragraphs, you should also know that I’m actually a huge Lionel Messi fan too. I mean, who isn’t?
An avid follower of Major League Soccer since the 1.0 days, seeing that the world’s greatest ever player would be joining the league was something that filled me with huge excitement – even if it was with Orlando City SC‘s in-state Florida rivals.
Heck, I probably watched clips of Messi’s debut free-kick against Cruz Azul 20 or so times!
In my household, I’ve never wavered from Messi in the age old and tiresome Messi vs. Ronaldo debate, so this disclaimer can prepare you for what you read next.
As legendary ex-City head coach Adrian Heath wisely said – “goals change games”.
A simple, yet watertight concept, the entire momentum of Wednesday’s game swung Inter Miami’s way when referee Iván Barton awarded Josef Martínez’s penalty – which he converted to make it 2-1 – on 51 minutes.
I’m not going to describe how Antônio Carlos conceded this farcical penalty as it’d make me angry all over again.
You all saw what happened!
Just woke up to the score and watched the highlights. 😩 Messi was always going to be Messi, but the momentum of the game entirely swung in Miami’s favour after this scandalous decision to award a penalty. 🤯😮
We all know Josef Martínez is a cheat anyway. How was this given? 🤬 https://t.co/TNiczONeex
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) August 3, 2023
The game changed tonight with the penalty was called on Carlos. Still stand by what I saw and said, I don’t think it was one and it gave @InterMiamiCF the upper hand in a game they didn’t really have one. Then #Messi𓃵 showed up for 2 goals. 🤷🏼♂️ #MLSSeasonPass
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) August 3, 2023
🤡 @OrlandoCitySC coach Oscar Pareja slammed what he described as a ‘circus’ that comes with playing against Lionel Messi’s @InterMiamiCF these days! pic.twitter.com/KxuuaUy3h4
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_AUS) August 4, 2023
In his post-game press conference, a livid Oscar Pareja frustratingly exclaimed: “It became a circus. Today was a circus”.
Papi was not wrong.
Allow us to simply list the abnormal number of downright bad calls that went against Orlando City SC two days ago.
- City villain Josef Martínez conning referee Iván Barton into a phantom penalty – Barton refused to consult VAR
- A second yellow (and red card) not given to Lionel Messi for shoulder barging César Araújo
- No card given to Sergio Busquets for putting his hands around Kyle Smith‘s neck
And to a lesser extent:
- César Araújo‘s 99th minute consolation goal harshly being ruled out for interpreted Ramiro Enrique interference – Barton changed tack and decided to consult VAR on this occasion
“It became a circus. Today was a circus.” 🤡
Well said Oscar. 🗣️👏🏽#OCTwitter #MIAvORL #OrlandoCity #LeaguesCup2023 #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/MxcBNEKTYW
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) August 3, 2023
Lionel Messi LAUNCHED him 😳💪
(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/qsA4vG8IPo
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 3, 2023
Were all of Iván Barton’s calls simply a coincidence in the heated battle of a rivalry knockout fixture?
Given the inconsistency of his refereeing performance while seemingly being in cahoots with Messi over the awarding of cards, we think not.
— JuJu Beans (@dajujubeans) August 3, 2023
I believe it speaks volumes when even supporters of other MLS clubs rallied to Orlando City SC‘s defence in the post-game conversations online.
Lionel Messi has and will undoubtedly have a seismic influence on increasing Major League Soccer’s visibility and reputation worldwide.
But now our 2023 Leagues Cup dust has settled, could such blatant favouritism towards Messi and his pals actually spoil what we love about MLS and its unmistakable individuality?
Since the beginning, the allure of Major League Soccer has been its parity – like all North American sports.
Take FC Cincinnati for example.
Perennial wooden spoon whipping boys in their early MLS years, Pat Noonan has turned the Orange and Blue into Supporters’ Shield contenders in only a few years.
For me, so-called “super teams” – like Inter Miami – don’t have any place in Major League Soccer and don’t do the league any favours.
Don’t get me wrong; Inter Miami have achieved nothing in terms of silverware yet, but with Lionel Messi – and the special treatment we bullet pointed above – predicted MLS domination and helping hands benefit absolutely nobody but The Herons, Apple TV, and Don Garber – insulting every other competitor in turn.
Heck, some of the top European leagues are already being boringly dominated by Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, year after year.
For years, Major League Soccer – and its glorious unpredictability – has captured the imagination of genuine football fans everywhere.
This is one of the major reasons why I fell in love with the league.
I hate to be so crass, cynical, and dramatic as to call Wednesday night a “complete fix” from start to finish.
But with details of Lionel Messi’s stake in Apple TV being public knowledge, Orlando City SC were never going to dump MLS’s new golden boy out of the Round of 32, were they?
Only time will tell whether this inferred Messi favouritism will continue in Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, and MLS regular season play during the remainder of 2023.
But if you ask me and most of my fellow Orlando City SC supporters, something seems off.
With no City fixture until August 20 at Chicago Fire, the best thing that Oscar Pareja and his Orlando City SC players can do now is use some of Wednesday’s injustices as fuel to achieve our aim of sealing a top four Eastern Conference finish – and hosting two home games – in the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
With 11 MLS regular season fixtures to go, Orlando City UK is with our team every step of the journey!
One thing is for sure though.
The Lions will be earmarking their September 24 showdown with Inter Miami at Exploria Stadium as a chance to get revenge in quite possibly the most heated Sunshine Clásico yet!
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