After defeating Philadelphia Union 2-3 in a wild game on Saturday, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now contest one of the biggest fixtures on this year’s schedule – a grudge match at home against Florida rivals Inter Miami in MLS Rivalry Week.
A midweek game, potentially marking Lionel Messi’s first-ever visit to Inter&Co Stadium if he’s fit, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and his team-mates travel up Florida’s Turnpike in rampant mood. Winning their last five consecutive MLS games and having scored 35 goals this season, Inter Miami currently lead the Eastern Conference on 27 points – a bitter pill for Florida’s better half to swallow.
With The Herons defying the odds to rescue a 2-0 deficit and win 2-3 at CF Montréal on Saturday, Inter Miami will be the big favourites on Wednesday but Orlando City SC should feel buoyed after just clinching our third victory of the 2024 MLS season, taking us to double figures (12 points) in the process.
Last time out
On Saturday, Orlando City SC achieved a much-needed morale-boosting 2-3 victory at Philadelphia Union, inflicting Union’s first three-game losing streak at home in club history.
On the night, Oscar Pareja’s starting lineup definitely raised eyebrows among City supporters.
Experimenting with a rare 3-5-2 shape, Wilder Cartagena started at centre back for the first time ever with Iván Angulo and Facundo Torres operating as right and left wing backs.
Granted, Papi was forced into some changes with Rafael Santos (right shoulder) and Rodrigo Schlegel (suspension) both missing, and Dagur Dan Thórhallsson (concussion protocol) only fit enough for the subs bench.
Nevertheless, his decision to start all of Nicolás Lodeiro, Martín Ojeda, Duncan McGuire and Luis Muriel looked extremely bold at best and a kamikaze decision at worst!
The early signs weren’t good with Philadelphia Union taking the lead through Mikael Uhre on 12 minutes (1-0).
The seventh goal that Orlando City SC have conceded within the opening 15 minutes so far this MLS season, Oscar Pareja would’ve been super frustrated with the way in which Union scored off the second phase of a corner.
With Uhre dispatching within the Lions’ 18-yard box, Orlando City SC afforded the Dane way too much room.
This play ruthlessly punished our nervous defensive display in the opening exchanges.
Caught flat footed defensively several times early on, a big reaction was required, especially after all the adversity of our poor season so far.
Thankfully, a super attacking Orlando City SC side reassuringly grew into the game thereafter.
All gas no brakes in terms of our lineup, tactics, and approach, City hit back with a much-needed equaliser just nine minutes after Mikael Uhre’s opener.
On 21 minutes, Nicolás Lodeiro got to the Union byline and whipped in a devilish left-footed cross.
A cross that Duncan McGuire needed no second opportunity to gobble up, Big Dunc headed home past Oliver Semmle from point-blank range (1-1).
It was a moment of relief for Nico because our number #14 just delivered a poor flat corner that hit the first Union man only seconds earlier.
The first-half ebbed and flowed from this point with Orlando City SC carrying more of a dangerous attacking threat with the wind in their sails.
On 40 minutes, Martín Ojeda sent a cross into the Union box, a cross that José Martínez definitely appeared to handle.
After VAR review however, the play was not deemed ‘a clear and obvious error’ with referee Timothy Ford’s baffling no-call denying Orlando City SC a clear penalty.
Just as Orlando City SC supporters were drowning into that sinking feeling yet again, we went from pure frustration to pure joy only a matter of seconds later!
On the banks of the Delaware River, Subaru Park was shell-shocked on 41 minutes when Luis Muriel FINALLY scored his first-ever Orlando City SC goal – and how!
After Nicolás Lodeiro spotted the Colombian striker on the edge of the Philadelphia Union box, Muriel caught the Union defence napping when unleashing an unstoppable unerring strike from range (1-2).
Sailing high past Oliver Semmle into his right hand side netting, it was a devastating golazo that has been a long time coming for Luis Muriel.
10 MLS appearances to be precise!
Orlando City SC supporter patience was certainly running thin during Muriel’s goal drought, so it’s a huge relief that he’s now opened his account.
On the night, Orlando City SC players raced towards Muriel and celebrated with him in pure ecstasy in a sliding doors moment that we’ve all been waiting for from our big name Designated Player.
Nicolás Lodeiro’s assist for Muriel’s first MLS goal was significant too.
Nico’s second of a highly impressive three assists in the game, this one sealed Lodeiro’s 15th career multi-assist game, the most among active players and tied for the seventh-most in MLS history.
Heading into half-time with a precious 1-2 lead, Orlando City SC didn’t have to wait too long to score their third of the night.
As the popular English saying goes, you can wait ages and ages for one London bus to arrive and then two come at once!
This was exactly the case for Luis Muriel who was quick and super composed to clinically slot home a smart Nicolás Lodeiro pass on an Orlando City SC breakaway right from kick-off in the second-half (1-3).
A refreshing twist from last weekend, considering that FC Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta scored right from kick-off in the first-half in Central Florida, it took Muriel just 20 seconds to extend Orlando City SC‘s lead!
Hopefully Luis Muriel’s brace is just the start ahead of many more goals in an Orlando City SC jersey.
On 66 minutes, Orlando City SC’s task became much harder though after the ruthless Dániel Gazdag converted yet another penalty kick to make it a one-goal game (2-3).
A penalty awarded after Nicolás Lodeiro committed a handball in the Orlando box, referee Timothy Ford only gave Union the spot kick after VAR review.
Interesting that Ford spotted this one but turned a blind eye to José Martínez’s clear handball in the first-half!
To compound our anguish, club captain Robin Jansson was stretchered off the pitch with an ankle injury only moments before Gazdag’s PK.
On the night, Kyle Smith had to replace the Swede in a makeshift back three containing David Brekalo, Wilder Cartagena, and Smith himself.
Granted, Jansson isn’t enjoying his finest season in purple but he is undoubtedly one of our most important players with his defensive presence and leadership being fundamental to our success.
With David Brekalo still new to MLS and Rodrigo Schlegel having just served a suspension after more self-inflicted stupidity, we thankfully received some good news about Jansson’s current status earlier today.
Speaking to the press after Orlando City SC’s Monday morning training season, Oscar Pareja confirmed that Robin Jansson’s injury is “not as severe” as they had thought and the news has been “much better”.
After Jansson left the field at Subaru Park, Philadelphia Union piled on the pressure as expected, but Orlando City SC thought that they had landed a sucker punch on 74 minutes.
As Duncan McGuire raced clear through on Oliver Semmle’s goal, former Inter Miami centre back Damion Lowe stuck out a long leg to bring down our number #13, resulting in an immediate red card.
Initially looking like a foul and a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO), the play went to VAR review only for Timothy Ford to agonisingly rule that Jamaican international Lowe got the slightest of touches to the ball, rescinding his red card in turn.
A huge let off for the home side, indeed!
On 86 minutes, Philadelphia Union got yet another helping hand from Timothy Ford when Quinn Sullivan conned the referee into awarding Union a late penalty to equalise.
Throwing himself to the ground theatrically after minimal contact from Iván Angulo, Ford passed up the opportunity to consult VAR review with Dániel Gazdag stepping up to take his second penalty kick of the night.
Understandably furious, Orlando City SC players surrounded Timothy Ford in dissent while smartly attempting to delay Gazdag’s spot kick.
In the end, these dark arts paid off with Pedro Gallese getting two huge palms to the Hungarian international’s second penalty of the game.
With Dániel Gazdag displaying a rare lack of composure to blast Gallese’s parried rebound high over the bar, this flashpoint was hugely significant for both teams.
Having converted 21 penalty kicks for Union in MLS – and 11 from 11 last season – this was Dániel Gazdag’s FIRST-EVER penalty miss in the league.
As for Gallese, El Pulpo came in clutch when it really mattered and truthfully speaking, he really needed this moment to properly launch his campaign after an uncharacteristically sloppy 2024 so far.
In saving Gazdag’s penalty and preserving Orlando City SC‘s precious lead, this helped Pedro Gallese to reach 50 career MLS regular season wins.
A fist-pumping moment for Orlando City SC players and supporters, there must’ve been an outpouring of cheer in front of TVs in every Central Florida living room from Davenport to Sanford!
Hopefully THE turning point in a season that’s really been tough to watch so far, Orlando City SC remarkably navigated FIFTEEN, yes fifteen minutes of second-half stoppage time to seal a super memorable victory.
The longest overtime period I’ve ever seen Orlando City SC manoeuvre, it was super sweet to tough it out, overcome referee Timothy Ford’s clear favouritism, and leave Subaru Park with our precious lead still intact.
Honestly, it seemed for the world like Ford wasn’t content until he helped Union level the score!
A huge, huge win in terms of our confidence and belief moving forward, hopefully we can kick on after this much-needed three points.
Especially with this huge Sunshine Clásico against Inter Miami to come.
Just when you think our team is down and out, we manage to produce something and hopefully our positive momentum carries on into Wednesday and beyond.
Last head-to-head
In the last MLS encounter between Orlando City SC and Inter Miami, the Lions suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat at Chase Stadium on March 2.
Really letting ourselves down badly in the first Sunshine Clásico of 2024, it was downright embarrassing to be truthful.
Going 2-0 down within just 11 first-half minutes, ill-discipline and individual errors ruthlessly took the game away from us before it ever really began.
In only the fourth minute, César Araújo sloppily surrendered possession in his own half, needlessly passing straight to Lionel Messi.
This is something you can ill afford against any calibre of opposition, let alone the attacking quality that Inter Miami possess.
From here, Messi laid in Julian Gressel who cut in a cross from the right wing to the onrushing Luis Suárez who clinically punished this awful error (1-0).
Suárez’s first ever MLS goal for The Herons, the Uruguayan veteran grabbed his second just seven minutes later after another sloppy City giveaway – this time from Martín Ojeda.
On 11 minutes, it was that man Julian Gressel providing yet another assist.
Teeing up Suárez, the Uruguayan went on a one-man slaloming run through the heart of City’s defence like they weren’t even there.
This was before firing devastatingly past Pedro Gallese into the bottom right hand corner (2-0).
After Suárez breezed past Wilder Cartagena all too easily, Rodrigo Schlegel carelessly stepped out from centre back, got nowhere near the ball, and left a gaping hole for the Uruguayan to set himself and pick his spot.
An awful afternoon got even worse on 29 minutes when Robert Taylor tapped into an empty net (3-0) after Luis Suárez unselfishly squared the ball to him despite being on for a hat-trick.
Granted, Orlando City SC‘s display was a complete mess but it was Rodrigo Schlegel who made yet another huge error – standing way too deep behind the Lions’ defensive line to play Taylor onside.
On the day, I felt incredibly sorry for the travelling Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm.
After all, this so-called ‘performance’ fell shockingly short of what was required – especially in a Florida rivalry fixture.
Although Inter Miami eliminated us from the 2023 Leagues Cup last August (3-1), we at least gave it our all that night.
Even Lionel Messi received his first ever Inter Miami yellow card after City got under his skin.
In what was City’s first MLS road game of 2024 however, we were painfully abject, sloppy, and indisciplined in a self-inflicted disaster of a game.
For a team that many have tipped to be near the top of the Eastern Conference for a second successive season, it wasn’t a good way to start our road schedule.
In the hours leading up to kick-off, Jaime Herrera had to replace referee Guilherme Ceretta in a farcical turn of events on matchday itself.
This was after eagle-eyed Orlando City SC supporters clamoured together on social media to uncover that Ceretta had recently been wearing an Inter Miami jersey off the field – a huge conflict of interest.
I mean, how are things like this not pre-vetted?
Singling out such blatant favouritism in an embarrassing lack of integrity from MLS, it made it all the more painful that City followed this up with an embarrassing performance on the field.
In the 44th minute, Luis Suárez could have made it 4-0.
But he was narrowly flagged offside, denying him a first-half hat-trick.
Furiously following referee Jaime Herrera around the pitch thereafter, the Uruguayan was adamant he was onside.
There was even clips of Suárez and City sub Mason Stajduhar engaging in a heated exchange at the break – such was the Uruguayan’s burning desire to win.
At half-time, the away locker room must’ve been a lonely, solemn place for Orlando City SC to be.
Subbing in Nicolás Lodeiro and Luis Muriel for the second-half, we were looking for any shreds of pride in South Florida.
Martín Ojeda had the ball in The Herons’ net on 47 minutes.
However, Iván Angulo was flagged offside in the build-up.
Just nothing was going our way.
Zilch. Nada!
A goal we really needed to stand to make a game of it, 3-0 became 4-0 on 57 minutes.
Not to be denied, Lionel Messi grabbed his first goal of the game with a tap-in (4-0) after Robin Jansson desperately deflected a Jordi Alba shot up onto his own crossbar.
The 60th minute then saw Martín Ojeda sting Drake Callender’s palms for Orlando City SC‘s FIRST shot on target in the entire match – a hard truth to accept.
Then, on 62 minutes, with absolutely no pressure on the ball, Luis Suárez crossed for Lionel Messi to head home (yes, a header!) his second goal with deadly accuracy (5-0).
A soul destroying display for Orlando City SC supporters, we really needed to get out of Chase Stadium – and fast.
On 75 minutes, sub Ramiro Enrique almost grabbed a consolation but Drake Callender denied the Argentine with a fine save to his left.
With just one minute of second-half stoppage time called, this tells you everything you need to know about this embarrassingly one-sided Sunshine Clásico.
Even the officials let Orlando City SC out of their misery on a truly awful afternoon – one of our worst displays in our MLS history.
In his post-match interview with Apple TV’s Diego Valeri, Lionel Messi said: “It was an easier game than we initially expected.”
Again, this tells you all you need to know about how careless and poor our display was, hopelessly crumbling under pressure in the cauldron of enemy territory.
What’s at stake this time?
Beyond trying to dig ourselves out of the lowly eleventh position we’ve put ourselves in, Orlando City SC have Florida state bragging rights at stake.
Not only looking to avenge our 5-0 drubbing in March, we want to prevent an unwanted statistic too.
Since entering Major League Soccer in 2020, The Herons have failed to register a single victory at Inter&Co Stadium in six separate attempts (all competitions).
In both our victorious 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run and in the 2023 MLS regular season too, Inter Miami twice held leads at Inter&Co Stadium only for the Lions to peg them back, preserving our unbeaten home field status in turn.
Now boasting Lionel Messi of course, this record is in serious danger of being broken but it’s up to Oscar Pareja’s side to dig deep and produce a strong performance to deny our Florida rivals any satisfaction.
After our humiliating 5-0 defeat at Chase Stadium back in March, Orlando City SC owe our supporters a proper MLS Rivalry Week performance this time around.
Opposition danger men
In potentially a huge boost for the Lions, Lionel Messi is an injury doubt for Wednesday’s Sunshine Clásico after suffering a minor knee injury at CF Montréal on Saturday.
Miraculously managing to carry on after suffering a horror challenge from CF Montréal’s George Campbell, Lionel Messi applied ice to his knee after completing all 90+5 minutes of that game.
Currently undergoing close evaluation in the lead-up to this game, you’d imagine that Messi will want to push through the pain and play in this important Florida rivalry fixture.
If Messi’s fit, facing the world’s greatest ever player is a daunting prospect at the best of times, let alone in the rut of a forgettable MLS season like Orlando City SC’s.
Since scoring a brace in The Herons’ 5-0 drubbing of City back on March 2, Messi has gone on to register seven more MLS goals, taking him to 10 goals and 12 assists on the season.
The bad news for Orlando City SC and all of Major League Soccer is that Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez are living up to the late-career resurgence that everyone anticipated.
As best friends both on and off the pitch, this dynamic Argentine-Uruguayan duo are exuding extreme confidence right now, playing with beaming smiles, a swagger, and an arrogance that practically guarantees goals.
And as for Luis Suárez himself, the 37-year-old currently has eleven goals and five assists in his debut MLS season for Inter Miami.
When heading into the first Sunshine Clásico of 2024, Orlando City SC supporters harboured hope that we could get under Messi and Suarez’s skin, and make them work hard for a result.
This time however, there has sadly been an apathy and a resignation that we simply won’t be able to live with their supreme talent.
Given Orlando City SC’s defensive struggles against average MLS opponents this season, even the most devoted Lion must be apprehensive about facing this formidable challenge.
But you never know, especially after our timely 2-3 victory at Philadelphia Union and with Luis Muriel now up and running too.
New opposition faces
Despite facing Inter Miami as recently as March, Inter Miami have still made more marquee additions to their roster – surprise, surprise!
One man who didn’t take part in The Herons’ 5-0 drubbing of City was Paraguayan international attacking midfielder Matías Rojas.
Joining Tata Martino’s side in late April as a free agent after a spell with Corinthians, the 28-year-old has taken no time to get acquainted to MLS.
Scoring twice in a 6-2 demolition of New York Red Bulls back on May 4, Rojas is the very latest attacking weapon in a roster that already contains Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Robert Taylor.
On Saturday, Matías Rojas followed up this brace with the first goal that started The Herons’ 2-3 comeback win at CF Montréal.
An outstanding direct free-kick from distance, it was some goal by the Paraguayan.
Elsewhere, Argentina Under-23 international Federico Redondo didn’t figure in the first Sunshine Clásico of 2024 either.
The son of retired Argentine footballer Fernando Redondo, Redondo Jr. plays in defensive midfield just like his father but is unlikely feature in this game after suffering a knee injury back in mid-April.
Injuries and suspensions
Heading into this game, Ramiro Enrique (right ankle), Michael Halliday (right knee), and young Homegrown Player Tahir Reid-Brown (left thigh) are all definitely out for the Lions.
While the ankle injury Robin Jansson sustained at Philadelphia Union doesn’t seem as bad as first feared, our club captain is also out of Wednesday’s Sunshine Clásico.
In Jansson’s absence, Rodrigo Schlegel returns to the squad after missing the Philadelphia Union game due to his recent one-game suspension.
Whether Schlegel’s return is beneficial or not remains highly debatable at this point.
Elsewhere, Rafael Santos (right shoulder) is questionable.
As for Inter Miami, Lionel Messi (leg) is questionable after suffering that aforementioned horror challenge from George Campbell at CF Montréal on Saturday.
Ian Fray (knee), Diego Gómez (ankle), Federico Redondo (knee), and Robbie Robinson (knee) are all definitely out for The Herons, however.
As is Argentine attacking midfielder Facundo Farías (knee) who has been placed on Inter Miami’s Season-Ending Injury List.
Nevertheless, one player who is now back in contention for Inter Miami is Jordi Alba after the Spaniard recovered from a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since The Herons’ 2-3 win against Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium back on April 13.
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Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami
Last 3 head-to-heads
- August 2, 2023: Inter Miami 3 Orlando City SC 1 (2023 Leagues Cup)
- September 24, 2023: Orlando City SC 1 Inter Miami 1 (MLS)
- March 2, 2024: Inter Miami 5 Orlando City SC 0 (MLS)
2020/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 5-0 to Inter Miami the last time the sides met (March 2024)
- Played Inter Miami 12 times in MLS – Orlando 5, Draws 3, Miami 4
- Just 1 goal has separated the sides in half (6) of the 12 MLS head-to-heads so far
- Both sides have scored in 5 of Orlando’s last 6 MLS fixtures
- Inter Miami have won their last 5 consecutive MLS fixtures
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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 Thursday, May 16.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2024 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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