ORLANDO, Fla. – Luis Muriel’s prolific performance, coupled with a strong showing from Martín Ojeda, led Orlando City SC to a dominant 4-1 victory over Inter Miami CF on Sunday night. The result highlighted the significant impact of Lionel Messi’s absence due to a leg injury sustained last Saturday in a Leagues Cup match against Necaxa. The game showcased Orlando City’s resilience and tactical prowess, capitalizing on Miami’s struggles without their superstar forward. The victory propelled Orlando City into sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a testament to their consistent performance throughout the season.

From the outset, Orlando City demonstrated their intent, with Luis Muriel capitalizing early in the second minute to open the scoring. The swift goal set the tone for the match, showcasing their attacking capabilities. Just three minutes later, Inter Miami responded with a stunning strike from Yannick Bright, leveling the score and demonstrating their own attacking potential. The initial exchange of goals underscored the competitive spirit and dynamic nature of the encounter. The score remained level until the early stages of the second half, maintaining a tightly contested atmosphere.

Orlando City swiftly regained the lead five minutes into the second half, thanks to another expertly placed goal by Luis Muriel. This goal was unassisted, highlighting the team’s ability to create scoring opportunities independently. The momentum shifted decisively in Orlando City’s favor, demonstrating their control over the game’s narrative. Martín Ojeda played a crucial role in this period, providing an assist that further solidified Orlando City’s advantage. Ojeda’s contribution was particularly noteworthy, extending his club-record streak with a goal contribution to 14, showcasing his consistent value to the team. His 27 goal contributions lead the league, solidifying his position as a key offensive player.

Adding to the pressure on Inter Miami, Martín Ojeda struck again in the 58th minute, netting his 14th goal of the season and extending Orlando City’s lead to 3-1. This goal underscored the team’s attacking depth and ability to maintain pressure on the opposition. The scoreline reflected Orlando City’s dominance, showcasing their tactical discipline and effective execution. The final goal of the match came in the 88th minute, courtesy of Marco Pašalić, who scored unassisted, solidifying a three-goal lead and securing the victory. Pašalić’s 10th goal in his first season in the league highlighted his immediate impact and contribution to the team’s success.

Goalkeeping played a significant role in the match, with Pedro Gallese making four crucial saves for Orlando City, including a remarkable stop of a long-range shot from Luis Suarez. The save demonstrated his agility and determination, preventing Inter Miami from mounting a potential comeback. Conversely, Óscar Ustari turned away eight shots for Inter Miami, showcasing his defensive capabilities. The absence of Lionel Messi was acutely felt for Inter Miami, as the Argentine superstar’s 18 goals have come while playing in 18 of his club’s 23 matches. Without Messi, Miami struggled to find solutions and consistently threatened.

Following the victory, Orlando City jumps into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, with head coach Oscar Pareja needing one more victory to reach 100 across all competitions. Inter Miami sits in sixth place, but has three matches in hand against the top four and two in hand against the fifth-place Columbus Crew. Inter Miami hosts the LA Galaxy on Saturday, while Orlando plays Sporting Kansas City at home. Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.