Orlando City stuns Inter Miami 4-3 after trailing 3-0, handing Messi a historic collapse

Key facts

• Inter Miami led 3-0 after 33 minutes but lost 4-3 to Orlando City on May 2, 2026.
• Martín Ojeda scored a hat trick for Orlando City, including the equalizer in the 80th minute.
• Tyrese Spicer scored the winner in the 93rd minute, the third minute of stoppage time.
• Lionel Messi recorded a goal and two assists in his 100th appearance for Inter Miami.
• Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium (0-1-3) since its opening in April 2026.
• Orlando City climbed to 13th place in the Eastern Conference with the win (3-7-1).
• Inter Miami fell from second to third place in the East (5-2-4).
• This was only the third time in MLS history a team rallied from 3-0 down to win (excluding shootouts).

A three-goal lead evaporates in Miami

Inter Miami appeared destined for its first victory at Nu Stadium on Saturday night. After 33 minutes, the hosts led Orlando City 3-0, powered by a goal and two assists from Lionel Messi in his 100th appearance for the club. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a header, Telasco Segovia doubled the lead in the 25th minute after a combination with Luis Suárez and Messi, and Messi added a third with a long-range strike. But the lead did not hold. Orlando City pulled one back before halftime through Martín Ojeda, who spun past a defender and fired past goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in the 39th minute. The goal gave the visitors momentum heading into the break.

Ojeda's hat trick and Spicer's dagger

In the second half, Inter Miami ceded control and attempted to exploit spaces on the counterattack, but lacked precision. Orlando City's pressure paid off as Ojeda scored twice more to level the match at 3-3. His second goal came from open play, and he completed his hat trick by converting a penalty in the 80th minute after a foul by Inter Miami defender Maxi Falcón. With the score tied, the match seemed headed for a draw. But in the third minute of stoppage time, Tyrese Spicer got behind Inter Miami's defense and scored the winner, sending the traveling Orlando supporters into delirium. The goal came after eight minutes of added time were signaled.

Messi's milestone overshadowed

Lionel Messi had a strong first half, recording a goal and two assists after failing to register a goal or assist in his previous two games. But his efforts were not enough. After the match, Messi addressed the team in the locker room, calling the outcome "unacceptable," according to right back Ian Fray. Fray said, "We all agree with him. It is unacceptable." Inter Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos, who took over after Javier Mascherano's sudden departure less than three weeks ago, defended his players in the postgame press conference. "I love my players," Hoyos said. "I care about my players because they are my kind, and you will not hear a word from me in a press conference that harms any player to save myself." He closed his press conference after a seven-minute answer to the opening question.

Historic collapse and defensive frailties

The loss marked only Inter Miami's second defeat of the season, ending an 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions (5-0-6). The team fell from second to third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of five wins, two losses and four ties. At Nu Stadium, Inter Miami is now 0-1-3, one of only three MLS teams winless at home this season. this was only the third time a team rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win (excluding a 1996 shootout). The previous instances were Seattle beating D.C. United 4-3 in 2017 and LA Galaxy beating LAFC 4-3 in 2018. Inter Miami's defensive performance drew sharp criticism. Center back Maxi Falcón was singled out for conceding the penalty and being consistently behind the play, while Micael also struggled. Left back Noah Allen failed to track Spicer on the winning goal.

Orlando City's resurgence and Ojeda's brilliance

For Orlando City, the victory was only their third win of the season, lifting them to 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-7-1 record. Martín Ojeda, an Argentine attacking midfielder, was the standout performer, scoring a hat trick and leading his team's comeback. The Lions leaned on direct soccer in the second half to exploit Miami's defensive weaknesses. Both goalkeepers had notable performances. Dayne St. Clair made five saves for Inter Miami, including a late breakaway stop with his face, but allowed four goals. Orlando's Maxime Crépeau made seven saves, including a four-save sequence that kept his team in the match.

What's next for Inter Miami

Inter Miami's next home match is on May 17 against Portland, where they will again seek their first win at Nu Stadium. The team must regroup after a devastating loss that left players visibly dejected. Left back Noah Allen compared the feeling to a breakup: "I'm almost like broken. I never try to take the game too serious, at the end of the day. I want to win. But I don't know. I feel like my girlfriend just broke up with me, if I'm honest. It's a horrible feeling." Interim coach Hoyos faces questions about his tactical decisions, particularly the switch to a four-man backline and the team's inability to defend counterattacks. The loss also puts pressure on the squad to prove they can close out matches, especially with a three-goal lead.

A night that will go down in MLS history

The match will be remembered as one of the most dramatic in MLS history — but for the wrong reasons from Inter Miami's perspective. The defending champions, who entered the season with high expectations after winning the title in 2025, now face scrutiny over their defensive organization and mental resilience. For Orlando City, the comeback provides a much-needed boost and a statement win over their in-state rivals. As the final whistle blew, Inter Miami players walked off the field in disbelief while the home crowd booed the referees after a possible foul in the box was not called in the final minutes. But as Ian Fray acknowledged, "We should have won the game anyway."

The bottom line

• Orlando City became the third MLS team to win after trailing by three goals, with Martín Ojeda scoring a hat trick and Tyrese Spicer netting the stoppage-time winner.
• Lionel Messi had a goal and two assists in his 100th Inter Miami appearance, but his team squandered a 3-0 lead at home.
• Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium (0-1-3) and fell from second to third in the Eastern Conference.
• Defensive errors, particularly from center backs Maxi Falcón and Micael, were decisive in the collapse.
• The loss ended Inter Miami's 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
• Orlando City's victory lifted them to 13th place in the East, but they remain near the bottom of the standings.