Orlando City 2-4 Inter Miami CF: Messi scores 2 goals to seal comeback win

Game is over and the final score is Orlando City 2-4 Inter Miami CF. Messi scores 2 goals to seal comeback win.

Match Report

Inter Miami came from 2-0 down to beat Orlando City 4-2 in an all-Florida clash, with Lionel Messi scoring twice for the reigning MLS Cup champions.

Miami, who slumped to a 3-0 loss at Los Angeles FC in their season opener, seemed on course to lose again when Orlando surged into a 2-0 lead by half-time on Sunday.

Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda scored in the space of six minutes to put the hosts in control at Inter&Co Stadium.

Yet a superb long-range effort from half-time substitute Mateo Silvetti dragged Javier Mascherano's team back into the contest in the 49th minute, before Messi took charge.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner engineered just enough space to drill a fantastic finish through a crowd of players from the edge of the box.

And with Telasco Segovia having put Miami ahead, Messi was on hand to round off the scoring with a sublime free-kick in the 90th minute, moments after Colin Guske had received a second yellow card.

Data Debrief: More Messi magic

Messi, who jokingly asked Orlando coach Oscar Pareja if he would like his autograph after his second strike, has now scored eight goals in five career matches against Orlando in all competitions, netting braces in four of those games.

It means Orlando are one of 36 teams, including eight in MLS, that Messi has scored more goals against than he has played against in his club career.

Miami finished with 1.79 expected goals, with Messi responsible for 1.36 of that. He had eight shots, four more than any other player on the field, and got half of those on target. He also led the way for chances created, duels (11) and duels won (six, level with Braian Ojeda and Tadeo Allende).

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' Match Event for Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

11' Match Event for Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

16' Match Event for Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

18' GOAL! Orlando City 1-0 Inter Miami CF (Marco Pašalić)

24' GOAL! Orlando City 2-0 Inter Miami CF (Martín Ojeda)

28' Highlight from Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

41' Highlight from Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

49' GOAL! Orlando City 2-1 Inter Miami CF (Mateo Silvetti)

57' GOAL! Orlando City 2-2 Inter Miami CF (Lionel Messi)

61' Highlight from Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

70' Match Event for Orlando City vs Inter Miami CF

85' GOAL! Orlando City 2-3 Inter Miami CF (Telasco Segovia)

88' Red Card! Sent Off

90' GOAL! Orlando City 4-2 Inter Miami CF (Lionel Messi)

Line-ups

Orlando City XI: Maxime Crépeau, Martín Ojeda, Iván Angulo, Braian Ojeda, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey, Marco Pašalić, Tahir Reid-Brown, Duncan McGuire, Colin Guske, Nolan Miller

Subs: Eduard Atuesta, Javier Otero, Zakaria Taifi, Yusuke Tsukada, Tyrese Spicer, Iago Teodoro, Tiago, Justin Ellis, Luis Otávio

Inter Miami CF XI: Messi, De Paul, Germán Berterame, Maximiliano Falcón, Dayne St. Clair, Facundo Mura, Telasco Segovia, Tadeo Allende, Micael, Noah Allen, Yannick Bright

Subs: Rocco Ríos Novo, Gonzalo Luján, Ian Fray, David Ruíz, Santiago Morales, Dániel Pintér, Mateo Silvetti, Alexander Shaw