Orlando City Vs Inter Miami: Messi scores twice in Miami comeback at Orlando
In a dramatic Florida derby on 2 Mar, 2026, orlando city vs inter miami finished 2-4 as Inter Miami rallied from a two-goal deficit to win. Lionel Messi scored twice and Telasco Segovia contributed a goal and two assists as the defending champions overturned an early Orlando lead.
Orlando City Vs Inter Miami recap
ORLANDO, Fla. — Marco Pasalic (listed elsewhere as Marco Pašalić) opened the scoring in the 18th minute after a pass from Iván Angulo to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Griffin Dorsey then set up Martín Ojeda six minutes later to make it 2-0 inside 25 minutes and that advantage held to half-time.
Orlando's fast start and goals
Orlando’s two first-half strikes arrived inside 25 minutes, with the first described as a finish by Marco Pasalic/Pašalić after Iván Angulo’s pass and the second created by Griffin Dorsey for Martín Ojeda. One description of the first goal called it a soft goal conceded by Dayne St. Clair, who had allowed that opener while later turning away three shots in his second start with Inter Miami.
Miami's four-goal second-half surge
Inter Miami cut the deficit early in the second half when Mateo Silvetti struck with a stunning 25-yard drive just after half-time; that goal was described as coming four minutes into the second half and was Silvetti's first career goal. Reports note Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists on that goal, the 20-year-old forward finding the net in his fifth career appearance.
Messi then took a pass from Telasco Segovia and equalised in the 57th minute with a left-footed strike from the edge of the area, bringing the game to 2-2. Segovia later scored unassisted in the 85th minute to put Miami ahead, and Messi sealed the 4-2 victory with a low free-kick in the 90th minute that crept past Maxime Crépeau; Messi celebrated the winner with a signing gesture towards the touchline.
Discipline and decisive moments
Teenager Colin Guske, 19, was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in his first start; the second yellow led to his exit in the 88th minute and he will miss Orlando City's next match. Moments after that sending-off, Messi buried the ensuing free kick to finish the comeback. Reports also note that Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.
Reactions from the Miami camp
Miami coach Javier Mascherano praised his players and their leaders. He said: "The victory belongs exclusively to the players. In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year. In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs. "
Mascherano also lauded Messi directly: "He's the best player to ever play this sport. He's a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself. He has the ability to create chances like no-one else, and that's what allowed us to turn the game around. "
