Mission accomplished! Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at New York City FC last night, a favourable 1-1 draw between D.C. United and Atlanta United elsewhere saw Orlando City SC clinch their spot in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs with five games to spare. Reaching the promised land of the MLS post-season earlier than ever before, Oscar Pareja has now impressively steered the City ship into the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
In a mouth-watering prospect, Orlando City SC and Inter Miami now meet in MLS for the first time since the Lions’ highly controversial 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32 defeat (3-1) at DRV PNK Stadium back on August 2.
With Lionel Messi’s brace helping steer The Herons towards what proved to be their first major title in club history, the injustice of several incidences against City has undoubtedly lit the touch paper for this eagerly anticipated rematch. Revenge will most certainly be on the minds of Orlando City SC players and supporters as the Lions aim to derail Inter Miami’s late push to reach the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
In huge news, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi WILL NOT visit Exploria Stadium for the very first time however. After The Herons’ 4-0 win over Toronto FC yesterday, Tata Martino ruled both Messi and Jordi Alba out of Sunday’s Sunshine Clásico after they were both subbed off with suspected first-half injuries in that game. Whether this is managerial mind games or not remains to be seen.
With The Herons set to host Houston Dynamo in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final next Wednesday, Tata Martino took precautionary measures with Messi and Jordi Alba ahead of that important match – a match City supporters are desperate for Inter Miami to lose to stop our trophy from being reluctantly passed over to South Florida.
After yesterday’s victory, Martino said: “There is no chance for them to play the Orlando match, but I do not think there is anything serious or muscle injuries. I think it is just fatigue.”
The Lions currently sit second in the Eastern Conference on 50 points with just five MLS regular season fixtures remaining.
It’s now City’s aim to nail down a coveted top four finish that’ll ensure the hosting of two home games in the newly revamped Round One Best-of-3 series of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Right now, City are just two points above fourth-placed Philadelphia Union (48 points) and seven points above seventh-placed Nashville SC (43 points).
As for our weekend opponents Inter Miami, The Herons sit thirteenth in the Eastern Conference on 31 points.
Tata Martino’s side are currently just five points behind ninth-placed D.C. United (36 points) and the Wild Card match line.
Menacingly, Inter Miami have played two games fewer (28) than D.C. United (30) and one game fewer than CF Montréal (29) as they attempt to hunt down either side.
In what would be a quite remarkable turnaround, going from fourteenth place to the post-season, a 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs appearance is still very much a possibility for the South Florida side.
As mentioned at the outset, these Sunshine Clásico rivals last met back on August 2 with Orlando City SC suffering a painful 3-1 defeat – and 2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32 elimination – in Fort Lauderdale.
This merely tells half of the story, however.
First of all, credit where credit’s due – Lionel Messi’s goals and spatial awareness were class – and too much for Orlando City SC to handle – on the night.
Nevertheless, there seemed to a real lack of integrity and professionalism on the part of referee Iván Barton in between Messi’s moments of brilliance.
Failings that ultimately wrestled all momentum away from Orlando City SC who actually bravely fought back from Lionel Messi’s seventh minute opener, grittily tying the game (1-1) through César Araújo just 10 minutes later.
We apologise in advance for causing any PTSD but allow us to simply list the abnormal number of downright bad calls that went against Orlando City SC that fateful night.
- 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
In his post-game press conference, a livid Oscar Pareja frustratingly exclaimed: “It became a circus. Today was a circus”.
Of all the games Lionel Messi has played for Inter Miami so far, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner was undoubtedly most rattled in the 2023 Leagues Cup game against Florida rivals Orlando City SC.
This sentiment didn’t go unnoticed by former USMNT forward and pundit Herculez Gomez who, later on in the tournament, commented on the Lions’ unique approach to unsettle Messi.
#OrlandoCity demonstrated a unique approach amongst the teams that have face #Messi so far. The team’s focus remained on securing victory, not seeking autographs or pictures. While such interactions might have occurred, at the locker room.@herculezg said on ESPN FC
📷 @ESPNFC pic.twitter.com/NIRkeIAEl0
— Alonso Contreras (@alonso_purple) August 25, 2023
I know what you’re thinking.
If Tata Martino is indeed playing mind games and Lionel Messi plays this Sunday, Orlando City SC may again live to regret picking a fight with the world’s greatest ever player.
Especially given the defiant mood he’s in to push Inter Miami towards the playoffs.
However, despite our obvious disappointment of exiting the Leagues Cup, Orlando City SC supporters heaped plaudits on their team at full-time for at least trying to make life as difficult for possible for Messi who no doubt disliked City’s attempts to get under his skin.
With City providing a stiffer, although ultimately unfruitful test – given Messi’s sheer magic – the same hasn’t always been said for other MLS sides with many failing to get near the 36-year-old during his time in North America so far.
Reflecting on happier memories, Orlando City SC of course defeated Inter Miami 1-3 in this year’s first MLS regular season meeting back on May 20.
Our second ever victory in Fort Lauderdale, it was a transformative night, not just for then under-fire Oscar Pareja but for the squad’s overall confidence and belief.
It’s fair to say that Orlando City SC haven’t looked back since this stellar evening, losing just three regular season fixtures between then and now in a timely turnaround and a superb improved run of form.
With Ercan Kara, Martín Ojeda, and Rafael Santos goals capping a fine night’s work at DRV PNK Stadium, embarrassing artificial crowd noise only made the victory even sweeter!
Casting our minds back to last night though, Orlando City SC suffered their first defeat in seven MLS games, going down 2-0 at New York City FC.
On 35 minutes, last weekend’s hero Ramiro Enrique tripped Santiago Rodríguez to concede a penalty – a decision awarded by Ismail Elfath after NYCFC dissent and subsequent VAR review.
Stepping up to take the penalty himself, Rodríguez saw his penalty saved by Pedro Gallese, only for Mounsef Bakrar to unfortunately head home the rebound (1-0).
On 68 minutes, sub Luca Petrasso all too easily let Santiago Rodríguez lay in Andres Jasson who then stood a ball up to Talles Magno who dispatched the game’s second headed goal (2-0) – leaving Dagur Dan Thórhallsson and Rodrigo Schlegel looking sheepish.
After the NYCFC game, Oscar Pareja said: “I don’t think we had a spark today.
“The players would kill me if I said it was because of the field. We just couldn’t find our passes.”
As one final footnote prior to Inter Miami, Oscar Pareja is currently just ONE win away from 60 victories as Orlando City SC head coach.
Defeating Florida rivals Inter Miami and derailing their playoffs push would be a fitting way for Papi to toast this personal milestone.
Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 5, 2022: Inter Miami 4 Orlando City SC 1 (MLS)
- May 20, 2023: Inter Miami 1 Orlando City SC 3 (MLS)
- August 2, 2023: Inter Miami 3 Orlando City SC 1 (2023 Leagues Cup)
2020/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 3-1 to Inter Miami the last time the sides met (August 2023)
- Played Inter Miami 10 times in MLS – Orlando 5, Draws 2, Miami 3
- Six of 10 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by 1 goal
- Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at NYCFC was the first time in 7 MLS games that Orlando have failed to score
- Leonardo Campana has scored in 3 of Inter Miami’s last 4 MLS fixtures – tallying 5 goals in total
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Monday, September 25.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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