Orlando City Stuns Inter Miami 4-3 After Trailing 3-0, Ending Unbeaten Run

Key facts

• Orlando City trailed 3-0 before scoring four unanswered goals to win 4-3.
• Martin Ojeda scored a hat trick (39', 68', 79' penalty) for Orlando City.
• Tyrese Spicer scored the winner in the 93rd minute (3rd minute of stoppage time).
• Lionel Messi had a goal and two assists in his 100th appearance for Inter Miami.
• Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium (0-1-3) after three consecutive draws.
• Inter Miami's 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions ended.
• This was only the third MLS match where a team rallied from 3-0 down to win outright.
• Inter Miami fell from second to third in the Eastern Conference (5-2-4).

A Historic Collapse in Miami

Inter Miami appeared destined for a long-awaited first victory at their new Nu Stadium on Saturday night, leading Orlando City 3-0 after just 33 minutes. Lionel Messi, celebrating his 100th appearance for the club, had already contributed a goal and two assists. But what followed was a collapse of historic proportions: Orlando City scored four unanswered goals, the last in the third minute of stoppage time, to snatch a 4-3 win. The defeat ended Inter Miami's 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions and left the defending MLS champions searching for answers. 'This was supposed to be the game, up 3-0, that we have to close out,' said right back Ian Fray. 'And we missed a huge opportunity.'

Messi's Masterclass Wasted in First Half

Inter Miami stormed out of the gates. Ian Fray opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a header, his first goal of the season. Telasco Segovia doubled the lead in the 25th minute, and Messi curled a left-footed strike from outside the box past Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the 33rd minute to make it 3-0. The Argentine maestro had a hand in all three goals, providing the primary assist on Segovia's strike and a secondary assist on Fray's opener. Messi's performance in his 100th match for the club was vintage, but it would not be enough. After the match, Fray revealed that Messi addressed the team in the locker room, calling the outcome 'unacceptable.' Fray added, 'We all agree with him. It is unacceptable.'

Ojeda's Hat Trick Ignites Orlando's Comeback

Orlando City, languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, refused to fold. Martin Ojeda pulled one back in the 39th minute with a brilliant solo strike, spinning past a defender and unleashing a shot past Dayne St. Clair. The goal gave the visitors momentum heading into halftime. Ojeda struck again in the 68th minute, another long-range effort from the edge of the box. He completed his hat trick in the 79th minute from the penalty spot, leveling the score at 3-3. The Argentine forward now has seven goals in 11 matches this season. Orlando's comeback was fueled by direct soccer that exposed Inter Miami's defensive frailties, particularly center backs Micael and Maxi Falcón, who struggled throughout the second half.

Spicer's Stoppage-Time Winner Seals the Upset

With the match tied 3-3 and both teams pushing for a winner, Orlando City struck in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. A long ball over the top found Tyrese Spicer, who got behind Inter Miami's defense and finished between the legs of goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. The goal sparked wild celebrations from Orlando players and left the home crowd in disbelief. Inter Miami players argued that a foul should have been called in the buildup, and the crowd booed the referees. Fray expressed frustration with the officiating but acknowledged, 'We should have won the game anyway.' The defeat was only Inter Miami's second of the season, dropping them from second to third place in the Eastern Conference with a record of five wins, two losses, and four ties.

Goalkeeping Heroics Amid the Chaos

Despite the high scoreline, both goalkeepers delivered notable performances. Dayne St. Clair made five saves for Inter Miami, including a stop with his face on a breakaway that temporarily preserved the lead. On the other end, Maxime Crépeau made seven saves for Orlando, highlighted by a mesmerizing four-save sequence that kept his team in the match. St. Clair's performance earned a grade of D from analysts, who noted that without his interventions, the margin of defeat could have been larger. Crépeau's heroics, meanwhile, were instrumental in Orlando's improbable victory.

Inter Miami's Home Woes Continue

The loss extended Inter Miami's winless streak at Nu Stadium to four matches (0-1-3). The team had opened the venue with three consecutive draws against Austin FC, Red Bull New York, and the New England Revolution. Saturday's match was supposed to be the breakthrough, but instead it became the worst loss of the season. 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, taking exception to a query about the team's defense.

A Rare Feat in MLS History

Orlando City's comeback is only the third time in MLS history that a team has rallied from a three-goal deficit to win outright, excluding a shootout win in 1996. The previous instances were Seattle's 4-3 win over D.C. United in 2017 and the LA Galaxy's 4-3 victory over LAFC in 2018. 'Greatest comeback in MLS HISTORY?' read a headline on the league's website after the match. For Orlando City, the victory was only their third of the season, lifting them to 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a record of three wins, seven losses, and one tie. For Inter Miami, the defeat serves as a stark reminder that even with Lionel Messi, no lead is safe in Major League Soccer.

The bottom line

• Orlando City became the third MLS team to win after trailing by three goals, with Martin Ojeda scoring a hat trick and Tyrese Spicer netting the stoppage-time winner.
• Lionel Messi recorded a goal and two assists in his 100th Inter Miami appearance, but it was not enough to prevent a historic collapse.
• Inter Miami remains winless at Nu Stadium (0-1-3) after four home matches, a growing concern for the defending champions.
• The loss ended Inter Miami's 11-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and dropped them to third in the Eastern Conference.
• Inter Miami interim coach Guillermo Hoyos defended his players after the defeat, while players like Ian Fray and Noah Allen expressed devastation and frustration.
• Both goalkeepers, Dayne St. Clair and Maxime Crépeau, made crucial saves, with Crépeau's seven saves key to Orlando's comeback.