Orlando City stuns Inter Miami 4-3 after trailing 3-0, completing one of MLS's greatest comebacks

Key facts

• Orlando City trailed 3-0 before scoring four unanswered goals to win 4-3.
• Martín Ojeda scored a hat trick (three goals) for Orlando City.
• Tyrese Spicer scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute (third minute of stoppage time).
• Lionel Messi recorded one goal and two assists in his 100th appearance for Inter Miami.
• Inter Miami fell to 0-1-3 at Nu Stadium and are one of three MLS teams winless at home this season.
• The comeback is only the third in MLS history where a team won after trailing 3-0 (excluding shootouts).
• Inter Miami's 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions ended.
• Orlando City moved to 3-7-1, remaining near the bottom of the Eastern Conference in 13th place.

A night of historic collapse

Inter Miami appeared destined for a landmark victory at their new home. Instead, they suffered a collapse that will be remembered as one of the most stunning in Major League Soccer history. After building a 3-0 lead in the first half, the defending champions conceded four unanswered goals to Orlando City, losing 4-3 on Saturday night at Nu Stadium. The defeat was Inter Miami's worst of the season and extended their winless start at the venue to four matches (0-1-3). "That's the toughest thing. We still haven't won here yet," said right back Ian Fray. "This was supposed to be the game, up 3-0, that we have to close out. And we missed a huge opportunity."

Messi's milestone overshadowed

Lionel Messi marked his 100th appearance for Inter Miami across all competitions with a goal and two assists in the first half, but his contributions were rendered meaningless by the second-half collapse. Messi opened the scoring with a long-range strike after earlier setting up goals by Ian Fray and Telasco Segovia. It was his first goal contribution in three games, following two matches without a goal or assist. Despite his brilliance, Inter Miami failed to score in the second half. "We all agree with him," Fray said of Messi's post-match assessment. "It is unacceptable."

Ojeda's hat trick sparks the turnaround

Orlando City's Martín Ojeda was the architect of the comeback, scoring three goals to become the most decisive player on the pitch. The Argentine attacking midfielder pulled one back just before halftime, then added two more in the second half, including a penalty to level the match at 3-3. "The way we came out in the first half, it wasn't us," Ojeda said. "In the second half, we came out and showed who we can be as a team." Ojeda's hat trick was his second consecutive standout performance, having played the full 90 minutes in a 4-3 US Open Cup win over the New England Revolution midweek. He now has seven goals this season.

Spicer's stoppage-time winner seals historic victory

With the match tied 3-3 and extra time looming, Tyrese Spicer ran onto a dummy by Ojeda and slotted home the winner in the 93rd minute, completing one of the greatest comebacks in MLS history. Spicer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, beat Inter Miami's defense to score the decisive goal. The Miami crowd booed the referees after a possible foul in the box was not called on Orlando City in the final minutes. "I don't know how the fines work, so I don't want to get fined," Fray said of the officiating. "But this guy, something needs to change. We've had him before and he's made really bad decisions. But that's all I'm going to say about the referee. We should have won the game anyway."

A rare feat in MLS history

Saturday's comeback was just the third time in MLS history that a team won after trailing 3-0, excluding shootout victories. The previous instances were Seattle Sounders' 4-3 win over D.C. United in 2017 and LA Galaxy's 4-3 win over LAFC in 2018. Orlando City interim head coach Martín Perelman praised Ojeda's effort: "Martín played 90 minutes 72 hours ago. He doesn't want to leave the field, even for one second. He's an exceptional player." For Inter Miami, the loss dropped them from second to third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 5-2-4. Orlando City, despite the win, remained near the bottom in 13th place at 3-7-1.

Inter Miami's home woes continue

Nu Stadium, which opened in early April, has yet to witness an Inter Miami victory. The team is 0-1-3 at the venue, one of only three MLS teams winless at home this season. 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. He closed the session after a seven-minute answer to the opening question, saying: "I love my players. 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." The next home match for Inter Miami is on May 17 against Portland Timbers, offering another chance to secure that elusive first win at Nu Stadium.

What the result means for both sides

For Orlando City, the victory could serve as a turning point in a difficult season. After a 4-3 win over New England in the US Open Cup midweek, the Lions have shown attacking quality despite their lowly league position. "The only way to push forward is to continue to work," Ojeda said. "As a group, we're all very united and focused on the goals we have ahead of us." For Inter Miami, the defeat raises questions about their ability to close out games and perform at home. The defending champions, who were unbeaten in their previous 11 matches across all competitions, now face a psychological hurdle as they seek to regain momentum. "It's devastating, really, especially with the way we started," left back Noah Allen said. "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."

The bottom line

• Orlando City became the third MLS team to win after trailing 3-0, with Martín Ojeda's hat trick and Tyrese Spicer's stoppage-time winner.
• Inter Miami remain winless at Nu Stadium (0-1-3) and lost their 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
• Lionel Messi's goal and two assists in his 100th appearance were not enough to secure victory.
• Inter Miami dropped to third in the Eastern Conference (5-2-4), while Orlando City remain 13th (3-7-1).
• The result was Inter Miami's worst loss of the season and a historic collapse for the defending champions.
• Orlando City's interim coach Martín Perelman praised Ojeda's performance, noting he played 90 minutes 72 hours earlier.