Inter Miami get a spanking in the derby

Orlando City 4 -1 Inter Miami CF

The Florida Derby turned into one to forget for Miami as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season in a game littered with goal scoring chances, great saves, and missed opportunities.

Miami were without their mercurial captain Lionel Messi through injury, and they clearly missed his ability to change the game.

It was a frantic start when Orlando scored inside two minutes after they took advantage of a loose ball from Jordi Alba.

A quick attacking move found Luis Muriel running at goal with the ball at his feet, and the big striker did brilliantly to beat Oscar Ustari and set his side on their way.

Miami fought back quickly and were on level terms three minutes later. Yanick Bright volleyed home a loose ball after a Miami attack wasn’t cleared properly by Orlando. It was a great controlled volley to mark the players first MLS goal in his forty appearances.

Chances kept coming for both sides and it was Muriel that came closest when he latched onto a poor clearance by Ustari, but his long range effort hit the post and saved the keepers blushes.

Miami have never won in Orlando, and they played like a side that were never convinced they could change history.

Telasco Segovia produced a fine save from Pedro Gallese with a great long-range effort from a corner as Miami continued to look for openings.

New signing Rodrigo DePaul was deployed in a more advanced position than usual, given the absence of Messi. He provided a good outlet for the Herons and his link up play with Lous Saurez and Sergovia was good, but he couldn’t create any real openings..

Orlando struck early again, this time in the second half. Jordi Alba got caught out on the byline by Muriel who tricked his way through and found enough space to keep the ball to beat Ustari and take a lead his team wouldn’t give up.

Muriel and Martin Ojeda were a constant threat and the Miami defense struggled to cope with their physical presence.

But at times, the Miami backline looked like they’d only met that day, such was their disorganization and lack of discipline.

It was there to see again on the hour mark when Orlando scored their third and decisive goal to put the game beyond their rivals.

Ustari had some good moments in this game, but this wasn’t one of them. He won’t be pleased to be beaten at his near post, but he would be even less pleased with his defense who backed off and invited the attacking players forward.

The game continued at a fast pace, and it was still end to end action, but it was Orlando that were offering more quality in attack and Ustari was the busier keeper.

Miami were flat and uninspired, but strangely Javier Mascherano waited until past the hour to make any changes, bringing on Fafa Picault and Gonzalo Lujan to freshen things up.

They switched to a back three and immediately looked better for it, getting more of the ball and looking more likely to open up the opposition.

Suarez tried a speculative effort from the middle of the pitch, but Gallese made a great save and did fantastically well to prevent a certain goal, injuring himself in the process.

The game was flat and so was the crowd as Orlando started to play out the game and secure the win, but they weren’t finished yet.

As the ninetieth minute approached, Marco Pasalic breached the Miami defense once again to score at the second attempt. Ustari saved well but it fell to Pasalic again, and he was able to get a second shot away.

It was a sorry end to a defensive performance they will not want to repeat, but for Orlando it was no more than they deserved as they put their local rivals to the sword.

After the game Masherano admitted that his side didn’t play with the intensity needed to compete, quite true. But you get the sense that this is a mistake the players won’t make a second time.

Next up, the Herons entertain LA Galaxy at Chase Stadium on Saturday.

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