Lionel Messi scored twice in the second half as Inter Miami mounted a 4-2 comeback victory against host Orlando City on Sunday night. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, Miami turned the match around behind Messi’s late goals and Telasco Sevogia’s decisive 85th-minute strike.
Second-Half Surge Fueled by Key Performances
Mateo Silvetti also contributed to Miami’s revival with a goal and an assist during the four-goal second half that erased Orlando City’s early lead. The Herons improved to 1-1-0, collecting three points after a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles FC in their season opener.
Messi found the net in the 57th and 90th minutes, extending his impressive record to eight goals in five matches against Orlando City across all competitions.
Orlando City’s Goals and Missed Opportunities
Orlando City opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Ivan Angulo assisted Marco Pasalic, whose shot deflected off the goalkeeper’s arms into the net. Six minutes later, Martin Ojeda increased the lead to 2-0 following a quick give-and-go play with Griffin Dorsey.
Despite these strong early moments, Orlando struggled to maintain momentum in the second half. Ojeda had a promising chance to restore their advantage in the 70th minute, but Miami’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair made a crucial leg save.
Crucial Turnaround: Miami’s Game-Changing Sequence
Miami’s comeback began immediately after halftime, with Silvetti firing a long-range right-footed shot into the net in the 49th minute. Messi then scored the equalizer eight minutes later with a precise left-footed strike.
The pivotal moment came in the 85th minute when Orlando was unable to clear the ball from their defensive zone. German Berterame initiated the sequence, which ended with Sevogia scoring from a right-footed shot, giving Miami the lead.
Disciplinary Setback for Orlando City
Shortly after Miami took the lead, Orlando’s Colin Guske received a second yellow card for pulling down Messi in the 88th minute, resulting in a red card and reducing the Lions to ten men for the remainder of the match, including 10 minutes of stoppage time.
Messi sealed the win in the 90th minute with a close-range free kick, sending a left-footed shot past the wall and into the left post to extend Miami’s advantage.
Statistical Highlights and Season Context
St. Clair recorded three saves, helping Miami outshoot Orlando 16-12 overall and placing eight shots on target compared to Orlando’s five. Orlando’s goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau made four key saves.
Last season, Orlando City had won both regular-season meetings against Miami by scores of 4-0 and 3-1, making Sunday’s result a significant turnaround for the Herons.
This victory demonstrates Inter Miami’s resilience and ability to rally after early setbacks, setting a hopeful tone for the team’s ongoing season as they look to build momentum.
