MLS

Inter Miami’s dependency on Messi laid bare by Orlando

With Luis Muriel in fine form, Orlando City won the Clásico del Sol, beating an Inter Miami side without Messi 4-1.

RICH STORRY

Estados Unidos Update: Aug 11th, 2025 01:53 EDT

With Lionel Messi sidelined, Orlando City seized the moment to assert dominance in the Sunshine State. Under head coach Óscar Pareja, the Lions roared past Inter Miami with a convincing 4-1 victory in another fiery edition of the “Clásico del Sol,” dealing a serious blow to Miami’s hopes of clinching the Supporters’ Shield.

Luis Muriel gives the hosts and early lead

The night turned purple early on. Colombian striker Luis Muriel, fresh off a hat trick in the Leagues Cup, carried that momentum into his MLS return. Inside the box, Muriel showcased his clinical finishing, slotting home the opening goal and putting Orlando in control with just two minutes on the clock.

MURIEL IS ON FIRE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/U1JLGPek7O
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 11, 2025

Without their captain, Inter Miami found themselves swimming upstream. It was the kind of night that called for veterans like Rodrigo De Paul or Luis Suárez to step up and take charge. But instead, it was an unlikely name that lit up the scoreboard for the Herons.

Yannick Bright, the young midfielder, stunned the crowd with a blistering volley that beat Orlando’s goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to make it 1-1, briefly breathing life into Miami’s comeback hopes.

With Messi out of the picture, Luis Muriel seized the opportunity to shine—and he did just that. The Colombian striker was back on the scoreboard five minutes into the second half.

In a dazzling solo effort, Muriel skipped past full-back Jordi Alba and coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Óscar Ustari, putting Orlando back in front at 2-1.

That Muriel ➡️ Ojeda connection 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/2jZwoz1uY5
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) August 11, 2025

Goals continue to flow in Orlando

Just eight minutes later, the threat to Inter Miami continued, with Martín Ojeda joining the party in Orlando as his effort slipped through Ustari’s hands.

Miami tried unsuccessfully, and a counterattack led to Orlando’s fourth. Marco Pasalic was left alone inside the box, and although Ustari initially saved, the Croatian got the rebound to cap a memorable 4-1 win.

1 Pedro Gallese
4 David Brekalo
6 Robin Jansson
15 Rodrigo Schlegel
30 Alexander Freeman
87 Marco Pasalic (89')
77 Iván Angulo (89')
20 Eduard Atuesta (83')
5 César Araújo
10 Martín Ojeda
9 Luis Muriel x2 (82')
Substitutes
12 Javier Otero
24 Kyle Smith (83')
17 Dagur Thórhallsson (89')
25 Colin Guske
14 Tyrese Spicer (89')
65 Gustavo Caraballo
7 Ramiro Enrique (82')
11 Nicolás Rodríguez
96 Zakaria Taifi

19 Ustari
37 Maximiliano Falcón (63')
18 Alba
17 Ian Fray (78')
32 Noah Allen
5 Busquets
7 De Paul
8 Telasco Segovia (63')
21 Tadeo Allende (78')
42 Yannick Bright (84')
9 Luis Suárez
Substitutes
6 Tomás Avilés
2 Gonzalo Luján (63')
14 Patrice Picault (63')
41 David Ruíz
55 Federico Redondo (84')
34 Rocco Ríos Novo
57 Marcelo Weigandt
30 Benjamín Cremaschi (78')
11 Baltasar Rodríguez (78')

Substitutions

Gonzalo Luján (63', Maximiliano Falcón), Fafà Picault (63', Telasco Segovia), Benjamín Cremaschi (78', Ian Fray), Baltasar Rodríguez (78', Tadeo Allende), Ramiro Enrique (82', Luis Muriel), Kyle Smith (83', Eduard Atuesta), Federico Redondo (84', Yannick Bright), Tyrese Spicer (89', Iván Angulo), Dagur Thórhallsson (89', Marco Pasalic)

Goals

1-0, 1': Luis Muriel, 1-1, 4': Yannick Bright, 2-1, 49': Luis Muriel, 3-1, 57': Martín Ojeda, 4-1, 87': Marco Pasalic

Cards

Referee: Armando Villarreal
VAR Referee: Edvin Jurisevic, Jonathan Johnson
Alexander Freeman (25',Yellow), Maximiliano Falcón (33',Yellow), César Araújo (37',Yellow), Robin Jansson (39',Yellow), Noah Allen (44',Yellow)