LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 2, 2024) – Orlando City SC (0-1-1, 1 point) dropped a 5-0 decision on the road to Inter Miami CF (2-0-1, 7 points) on Saturday afternoon at Chase Stadium.
The Lions will next host Liga MX’s Tigres UANL in the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup this Tuesday, March 5, for the first leg at INTER&Co Stadium, with kick-off set for 9 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
4’ Luis Suarez (Julian Gressel) - MIA 1, ORL 0
The home side got on the board early in the match, with Julian Gressel making a run down the right side. The midfielder sent a ball into the middle, finding Luis Suarez in the box for a close-range shot past Gallese.
11’ Luis Suarez (Julian Gressel) - MIA 2, ORL 0
Miami doubled its lead with Suarez again finding the back of the net, this time on a give-and-go with Gressel in the 11th minute.
29’ Robert Taylor (Luis Suarez) - MIA 3, ORL 0
Miami made it a three-goal game with Suarez and Taylor both finding their way behind the backline, eventually seeing Suarez lay the ball off to his on-rushing teammate for the third goal of the game.
58’ Lionel Messi – MIA 4, ORL 0
Miami’s captain scored his first of the game, being on the fortunate end of a goalline clearance by Robin Jansson.
62’ Lionel Messi (Diego Gomez) - MIA 5, ORL 0
Messi recorded his brace in the 62nd minute, heading in a cross from Luis Suarez.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja:
“Obviously a very disappointing day for us. Recognizing from minute one to the end of the game, that didn't look like us in many areas and obviously in a team like them [Miami], we cannot permit [them] to have that many spaces and lose many duels and give them that possibility to be sitting in our box, in those counterattacks. So really, really disappointed but we're pushing as a group. You know that I have a big respect for this group, their professionalism and what they do. And if there is any responsibility, we will search to find answers, but this group, professionalism will never be on the line.”
Match Notes
- Facundo Torres made his 75th start in his Orlando City career.
- Forward Luis Muriel made his MLS debut in the match, entering as a substitute to start the second half.
