Inter Miami staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Orlando City 4–2 in Major League Soccer on Monday, showcasing the enduring brilliance of Lionel Messi. The season had already begun poorly for Miami, who lost their opening match to Los Angeles FC 2–0. Against Orlando City, they found themselves trailing 2–0 within the first 24 minutes, and the first half ended with the same scoreline. Over the first 135 minutes of the new season, Inter Miami had conceded five goals without reply.
At halftime, the players’ expressions revealed frustration and helplessness. Yet, the second half produced a stunning turnaround. Under Messi’s leadership, Miami dominated possession and systematically dismantled Orlando’s defence, scoring four consecutive goals. Messi himself scored twice, while Mateo Silvetti and Talisca Segovia contributed one goal each, completing an astonishing 4–2 victory.
Despite the acquisition of new players over the off-season, Miami initially struggled to assert themselves on the field. Orlando City capitalised early, with Marco Pasalic opening the scoring in the 18th minute and Martin Ojeda doubling the lead six minutes later. At halftime, coach Javier Mascherano made decisive tactical changes, substituting left-back Noah Allen for attacking midfielder Silvetti. This switch proved pivotal, changing the trajectory of the match.
In the 49th minute, 20-year-old Silvetti struck from outside the penalty area, reducing the deficit. Messi then worked his magic in the 57th minute, navigating a six-player defensive wall to score a sublime left-foot strike, bringing the score to 2–2. Miami’s momentum continued to grow. In the 85th minute, Segovia capitalised on a Messi assist to take the lead, and Messi sealed the victory in the 90th minute with a free-kick, marking his 70th goal from set-pieces.
Messi’s statistics in the MLS are extraordinary: 52 goals in his first 55 regular-season matches, including 51 goals in his last 49 matches. His career total now stands at 898 goals, just two shy of the magical 900-goal milestone.
After the match, Mascherano remarked, “Orlando was a very tough opponent last season. Their squad is strong, and their coach is excellent. To win here, we had to play a perfect match. Matches like this are a pleasure to experience as a player.”
Inter Miami will face D.C. United at Audi Field in Washington on Saturday for their next fixture.
Inter Miami vs Orlando City: Key Match Events
| Minute | Scorer | Team | Score | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Marco Pasalic | Orlando City | 1–0 | Early lead for Orlando City |
| 24 | Martin Ojeda | Orlando City | 2–0 | Lead doubled |
| 49 | Mateo Silvetti | Inter Miami | 2–1 | Stunning strike from outside the box |
| 57 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 2–2 | Brilliant left-foot goal past six-player wall |
| 85 | Talisca Segovia | Inter Miami | 3–2 | Goal following Messi’s assist |
| 90 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 4–2 | Free-kick winner, securing the comeback |
