Inter Miami Falters 4-1 Without Messi; Ranks Slip
Inter Miami faced a harsh reality upon returning to MLS action: a convincing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando City. The loss, suffered without the presence of their star Lionel Messi, dealt a blow to their standing in the Eastern Conference.
Coach Javier Mascherano made no excuses: “There was only one team on the field, Orlando,” he conceded, pointing to their lack of intensity and cohesion.
The Lions wasted no time asserting dominance. Luis Muriel struck early in the 2nd minute, igniting a dominant night. Inter Miami momentarily responded when Yannick Bright scored his first MLS goal in the 5th minute, but it was all downhill from there.
Muriel returned to the spotlight with a second-half goal in the 50th minute. Martín Ojeda then added a second goal in the 58th minute. Marco Pašalić sealed the emphatic 4-1 outcome with a late strike in the 88th minute.
The defeat pushed Inter Miami down to sixth in the Eastern Conference, while Orlando City climbed to fourth, and completed their season sweep in this fierce regional rivalry.
On the bright side for Miami, goalkeeper Óscar Ustari made his return from injury, starting between the posts. Messi, still recovering from a muscle issue, was sidelined for the match, though the coaching staff remains optimistic about his return.