Inter Miami Crumbles in Devastating 4-1 Florida Derby Thrashing by Orlando City
Inter Miami CF once again found themselves unable to create meaningful opportunities against Orlando City SC in their second encounter of the 2025 MLS campaign.
Although the Herons had shown improved performance in recent matches following the FIFA Club World Cup, they suffered a crushing 4–1 defeat in Sunday night's Florida Derby, allowing the Lions to complete a season sweep after their earlier 3–0 victory in May.
Luis Muriel netted a brace, opening the scoring just two minutes into the match, while Martín Ojeda and Marco Pašalić contributed additional goals for Orlando. Yannick Bright provided Miami's sole highlight with a spectacular strike early in the contest, though it wasn't enough on an evening when Lionel Messi was absent from the lineup.
The defeat also saw Miami slip below Orlando in the Eastern Conference standings, falling to sixth place before their upcoming encounter with defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy.
Here are Sports Illustrated's key observations from a memorable evening in Orlando.
Derby Intensity Finally Emerges
The Miami-Orlando rivalry has been slow to develop genuine intensity, but this encounter finally delivered the anticipated drama, even without Messi's presence and despite the one-sided final score. From the rapid exchange of early goals to the 20 combined fouls, both teams displayed clear hostility, with tensions escalating as Orlando extended their advantage.
Meanwhile, Orlando City's supporters relentlessly taunted Miami's players, chanting "olé" in the closing stages as their team coasted to victory. On the field, players committed to tackles with greater intensity than typical regular-season encounters.
Although Messi's absence likely affected the competitive dynamic, along with Rodrigo De Paul's MLS regular season debut, it was evident that neither team relished facing the other, and these tensions will persist with a possible Leagues Cup knockout stage meeting on the horizon.
Veteran Duo Busquets and Alba Show Their Age
In their fifth match across 16 days, experienced players Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba couldn't match Orlando's rapid counter-attacking tempo as the Lions dominated throughout the contest.
During Muriel's second goal from a short corner routine, he quickly outmuscled Alba in a physical duel, while Busquets failed to contain Ojeda in a one-versus-one situation, creating space near the front post where Oscar Ustari couldn't prevent the 3–1 goal.
Both veterans have been remarkably reliable for Miami since their 2023 arrivals and retain significant endurance and skill despite approaching their late thirties. Nevertheless, carefully managing their playing time could prove crucial for head coach Javier Mascherano, as the availability and dependability of essential players will be vital for their MLS Cup Playoffs aspirations.
While limited depth at left-back may restrict Alba's rest opportunities, Messi's return should enable Busquets to receive some respite, with the defensive midfield roles potentially filled by De Paul dropping deeper from his attacking midfield position and Federico Redondo assuming starting responsibilities.
Goalkeeper Concerns Mount Amid Transfer Speculation
Oscar Ustari will want to erase this performance from memory. While he managed eight saves in his injury comeback, each conceded goal was preventable, with two directly attributable to his errors, particularly Ojeda's 3–1 strike.
According to FotMob player ratings, Ustari's display earned just 4.9/10. Though this doesn't tell the complete story, his declining form is evident, with six of his previous 10 MLS appearances rating below 7/10.
This latest subpar showing follows recent reports from MLS insider Tom Bogert that multiple clubs have inquired about injured backup goalkeeper Drake Callender, who served as the primary starter during the 2024 Supporters' Shield-winning campaign and the 2023 Leagues Cup triumph.
Beyond these two options, the club also possesses Rocco Ríos Novo, who has impressed in limited starting opportunities this season, and MLS veteran William Yarbrough, who remains firmly established in his fourth-choice position.
However, the pressing question remains whether the Herons require superior goalkeeping to mount a serious MLS Cup Playoffs challenge, or if they possess sufficient faith in Ustari to potentially release their most reliable backup option in Callender this summer.
Taking all circumstances into account, an improvement wouldn't be unwelcome.