Inter Miami experienced one of the most shocking collapses in MLS history on Saturday night, in a defeat that will be etched in the memories of fans for entirely negative reasons. The Miami team, known for historic moments, became only the third team in league history to lose a match after holding a three-goal lead, falling 4-3 in the Florida Derby against local rivals Orlando City at Nu Stadium.
In the first 33 minutes, the show was led by Argentine genius Lionel Messi, who shone with one goal and two assists, setting up Telasco Segovia and Ian Fray to put Inter Miami in a comfortable position at 3-0. However, from that moment on, everything fell apart. Martín Ojeda scored a stunning solo goal in the 39th minute, getting past goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair after a quick spin around a defender, paving the way for an impressive comeback by Orlando.
The Lions’ relentless attack continued in the second half, capitalizing on Miami’s defensive weaknesses. Ojeda scored again, and Tyrese Spicer netted the decisive goal in the third minute of stoppage time, completing one of the most spectacular turnarounds of the season.
With this defeat, Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium, suffering its first home loss of the new season after three consecutive draws against Austin FC, New York Red Bulls, and New England Revolution.
Despite the dramatic result, both goalkeepers had a memorable night. Dayne St. Clair made five saves, including a spectacular one with his face and a crucial intervention during a counterattack, temporarily keeping Miami in the lead. Meanwhile, Canadian Maxime Crépeau showcased an impressive sequence of four consecutive saves, totaling seven interventions that were vital for Orlando’s victory.
Individual player analysis for Inter Miami in the match against Orlando City (formation 4-3-3):
– Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair – Grade D: Despite conceding a hat-trick, St. Clair prevented an even heavier defeat with spectacular saves, showing some brilliance in a difficult game.
– Right-back Ian Fray – Grade C: Reintegrated into the back four, he scored his first goal of the season but revealed defensive weaknesses in the second half, contributing to the opponent’s comeback. A technical decision that will likely be heavily questioned.
– Center-back Micael – Grade F: A disastrous performance, with positioning that was too advanced and slow reactions to Orlando’s counterattacks. Failed passes and errors that weighed heavily on the final result.
– Center-back Maxi Falcón – Grade F-: A true nightmare for Miami. He lost every duel, was beaten several times, committed a penalty that led to the equalizing goal, and had virtually no positive defensive actions. Without him, the team would have been more solid.
– Left-back Noah Allen – Grade D: Despite some improvements this season, he completely failed to mark Tyrese Spicer on the decisive goal, showing that he still has a lot to develop defensively.
– Right midfielder Telasco Segovia – Grade C: A brilliant first half, with a goal and an assist, but he disappeared in the second half, allowing the flanks to be exposed and exploited by the opponent.
– Central midfielder Rodrigo De Paul – Grade D: Under pressure to secure a spot in the Qatar World Cup, he delivered a performance below expectations, failing crucial tackles and opening spaces for Orlando City’s direct play.
This dramatic clash between Inter Miami and Orlando City will forever be marked in MLS history, not only for the incredible turnaround but also for the glaring mistakes and Miami’s inability to maintain a comfortable lead. A clear warning for the Herons: the path to success is long and requires total focus throughout the 90 minutes.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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