Inter Miami vs Orlando City, summary: Messi, Alba debut, score, goals & highlights | Leagues Cup 2023

Signing off...

Thanks for following the action between Inter Miami and Orlando City!

Make sure to stay up to date with the latest sport news on AS USA.

Joe

Miami vs Orlando stats:

 2.46 - xG - 0.9

66% - possession - 34%

13 - shots - 13

5 - shotsontarget - 4

549 - totalpasses - 261

13 - fouls - 14

2 - yellowcards - 5

Full-time report: Inter Miami get the win in the Florida derby

Although the game had different phases and the away side had their fair share of chances, the qualityandcontrol that Inter Miami showed was simply sensational throughout. 

They look, quite rightly, like arejuvenatedteam, one with a new sense of fight, passion and ahem, talent, as they continue to march on in the Leagues Cup.

Messi got the opener after just 7 minutes but Orlando, a worthy rival in the tie, bounced back, sitting on the counter before attacking ferociously. 

Martínez won a penalty and duly converted from the spot, putting Miami one step closer to the next round. That advantage was extended late on after some exquisite football from Martínez, Messi and Taylor to make it 3-1. 

A late flurry of half-chances for Orlando came, as Alba came on to make his debut, but it was not enough to make Inter Miami wobble, and they held onto the result until the end.

Inter Miami will play Dallas in the next round, who beat Mazatlán 1-2.

INTER MIAMI ARE THROUGH!

Full time!

As you were...

Offside! No goal!

We've got. a VARcheck for a possibleoffside in the buildup.

Somehow, Tata Martino looks exceptionally stressed on the touchline.

Miller is OK and is back on his feet.

Play is stopped as Miller collides with his goalkeeper. A nasty one.

Another free kick for Orlando, who will look to pack the box one last time.

Kara heads over from close range.

Corner to Orlando, can they take advantage and spice things up in the final minutes?

Meanwhile, Yedlin has cramp.

The crowd go crazy as Messi, Alba and Busquets all link up in Miami's defensive third to allow the team to progress up the pitch.

The slick move ends when Messi floats a ball towards the back post for Alba to connect with, but he can't quite stretch his leg high enough to finish off what would have been a wonderful move.

7 added minutes.

Ulloa ON

Taylor OFF

We're into the final couple of minutes, and Miami have now decided to give up possession to their opponents.

Enrique finds a yard of space on the edge of the Miami box and fires over.

The game has broken here, it seems; Orlando know that a two goal difference is probably just too much to turn around, unless a true collapse from a confidence-fuelled Miami happens.

Gómez won the ball back well in the centre of the pitch and he slid a pass left to Taylor, whose shot sailed high over the bar.

TAYLOR FIRES OVER THE BAR

Busquets is down after strong challenge from Jansson.

Arroyo is leaving the pitch on a stretcher, as he looks to have twanged a hamstring.

Campana & Ruiz ON

Arroyo & Martínez OFF

Felipe & Kara ON

Angulo & Cartagena OFF

A sensational passing sequence ends with Martínez almost getting on the end of a through ball from Messi, but Gallese gets on the end of the pass.

The olés are out from the fans, who are having a fantastic night in the DRV PNK Stadium.

Remember, Inter Miami had lost 8 of their last 11 in MLS, scoring just 10 goals. Of course, that was Inter Miami BM (before Messi).

Back underway.

Messi skips past the entire midfield line of Orlando, playing out wide to Taylor, who drives inside before lofting a fantastic pass to the back post towards Martínez.

The striker doesn't shoot, instead taking a touch and tapping a volley to Messi just outside the goal for the Argentine to smash home. Sublime.

WHAT A STUNNING GOAL

I'll admit, it's not threatening, penetrative possession, but it's a way to impose a sense of control on the game.

Miami look incredibly settled when they get into the swing of things with their possession game, and they currently stand on 70%.

Ojeda spins away from Jordi Alba and lines up a shot that spins high and wide.

Gómez, who is just 20 and making his debut today for Inter Miami, has already been booked and has made another on-the-edge foul. A player to keep an eye on, perhaps.

Messi shoots from distance and he sees his left-footed effort blocked by Jansson.

Ojeda ON

Pereyra OFF

Pereyra hits a wildly speculative shot towards goal that is blocked by his teammate and sent wide of the Miami goal.

Gómez & Alba ON

Cremaschi & Allen OFF

And here comes Jordi Alba!

The defender is ready to enter the field of play.

Messi played in Cremaschi over the top of the Orlando defence, who slipped the ball square to Martínez. The shot was then blocked just a few yards from goal but that could have easily been goal number three for Miami.

HUGE BLOCK FROM JANSSON

Martínez came close!

Back underway. Messi is OK.

Messi is back up, holding his jaw.

Enrique & Thorhallsson ON

McGuire & Smith OFF

Messi is down and looks winded from the challenge. The medics are on the pitch.

Pereyra booked.

Pereyra clashes heavily into Messi and his teammates rush over to support the Argentine, who is now on the floor holding his chest.

We've had a long, patient spell of possession from Miami, who are dragging the purple shirts left and right, shaking their defensive structure across the pitch.

Messi and Miami are still choosing to control the ball as Orlando switch between chasing wildly and sitting off in a low/mid-block.

LEAGUES CUP 2023

Referee of controversial USMNT vs Mexico game to take charge of Messi and Inter Miami vs Orlando City

Just in case you were wondering...

This is the referee for tonight's game.

Back underway.

Martínez pulled the ball to the bottom left corner while Gallese went to the opposite side.

It's Martínez who is going to take the penalty, NOT Lionel Messi...

Cremaschi played a sumptuous ball through the lines towards Josef Martínez, who went down under a pull from Carlos.

It looked incredibly weak but the referee, IvánBarton, has pointed to the spot.

PENALTY GIVEN TO MIAMI!!!!

Torres tries his luck from distance but his effort is blocked by Busquets.

Miami start off with the early possession and immediately lose the ball, allowing Angulo a surprise chance to cross, which he messes up.

Here we go for the second half

Orlando get the second half going.

The players are back out for the second half...

Almost ready to go!

It certainly has been a battle!

And I'd even go so far as to say that Messi himself has been the protagonist of turning this game into something of an angry tie!

In the other game...

Mazatlán vs Dallas is currently 1-1, so that game also has everything to play for.

Will we see this man in the second half?

Alba could well be in line to make his debut and change things for Inter Miami.

What a half of football from the two teams who have been fighting non stop to get a result. This is a real derby game!

Messi's early goal caused the game to break wide open and since then Miami have had the upper hand in terms of possession while Orlando have looked dangerous on the counter attack.

Chances have come and gone for both sides, but there is very little to separate the two in terms of moments of brilliance.

It's anyone's guess what happens in this feisty affair...

Half-time:

Half-time!

Cremaschi fires wide just as the referee decides to call time on an intriguing 45.

The challenges are flying in during the final minutes, with even Messi starting an argument.

Now Sergio Busquets has just been pushed.

2 added minutes.

MESSI'S SHOT IS SAVED!

The World Cup winner whipped a shot towards the top corner which Gallese put over the bar.

25 yards from goal, just to the left...

Messi stands over the ball...

Uh oh. Orlando have given away a free-kick in what I - and many - call 'The Messi Zone'.

Allen gets in behind the Orlando defence on the left and plays a lovely cut-back to the penalty spot, but nobody is home.

What a hit. The ball was fed to Taylor on the edge of the box, where the player twisted and turned inside a phone box in a move that Superman would have been proud of before whacking a low effort that fizzed just past the far post.

TAYLOR FIRES JUST WIDE FROM DISTANCE

Maguire gets called offside but Angulo's pass, on second viewing, looked like it was timed to perfection. Miami got away with one there.

As Inter Miami knock the ball about, probing and trying to wait for Orlando to make a mistake, the fans in pink are creating a simply stunning noise inside the ground.

Messi tries to curve a cross towards the back post, where Allen is waiting. The ball looks good but the defender is muscled away by Carlos.

It's Inter Miami with all the possession so far: 68%, to be precise.

A fantastic move from Miami: DeAndre Yedlin breaks inside from the right and plays to Martínez, who spins and pops the ball to the Wizard inside the box.

Messi takes a touch past a defender and slides a powerful shot low to the left that skims off the outside of the post. Orlando survive.

MESSI OFF THE POST!!!!!!!

We've got a slight stoppage as Tata Martino is being told off by the referee for being a naughty boy. Jordi Alba is also on his feet.

Callender catches an awkward, looping header from Araújo that came from a Santos cross on the left side. The game is being played at a real pace from both teams, who are keen to take control of proceedings.

Orlando have just taken a step back and look settled to play on the counter attack as Miami pass endlessly.

Angulo fires over the bar from distance after a nice attack down the left.

It's a positive moment in the game for The Herons, who are starting to ping the ball from left to right on the edge of their opponent's box.

Araújo tackles Messi on the edge of the box after some nice possession from Inter Miami forces the away team to drop back into their own third.

McGuire hits a low shot first time after Torres works well down the right side. Saved by Callender.

Messi is booked for a late push on Cartagena. This is turning into a feisty game...

Back underway. Game on.

The corner is played short to Angulo, who takes the ball and forces a save from Callender. The ball rolls out to Araújo inside the box and the midfielder smashes into the net!

ARAÚJOOOOOOOO

Pereyra's cross from deep is dangerous and Busquets clears for a corner to The Lions.

A superb tackle from Miller (again) gets another deafening scream from the fans, who are playing the greatest hits from their songbook.

Duncan McGuire slips in behind Kryvtsov but he drags his near-post shot well wide of Callender's goal.

Yedlin pierces forward and plays a ball inside to Martínez on the edge of the box, but the shot from the striker is high and wide.

Messi is fouled by Cartagena, something that didn't happen once against Atlanta on August 25. 

The confidence running through the veins of everyone in pink shirts genuinely must be frightening for the rest of the teams in this tournament.

They look like world beaters.

We're back underway and Orlando immediately attack down the right but Miller is there to slide in and stop the low cross, which gets a stunning cheer from the crowd.

What a start from the home side!!!

The ball goes out wide to Taylor who cuts inside and chips a delightful ball over the top of the Orlando City defence towards Messi, who has slipped between the defenders.

The World Cup winner takes a touch on his chest and smashes past Gallese!

Some nice link play between Messi, Cremaschi and Martínez ends with the striker hitting a furious effort from distance that is saved by Gallese. 

Martínez is then played in behind the defence but again the goalkeeper is ready to put out the fire.

MARTÍNEZ FROM DISTANCE! SAVED!

Ouch. Araújo gets his first tackle in on Busquets and gives him an early reminder that he's not going to have things his own way like against Atlanta.

Callender catches and Miami's fans give the team their first mega cheer of the evening.

It's Orlando who get the first corner of the game with Torres doing well down the right against Miller.

We've got a few frantic passes in the opening seconds as both teams fly out of the blocks with their energy levels at 1000.

Orlando have only lost twice since May 6...

The Florida Derby is underway!

Here we go! 

The home side kick off the game that we have waited so long to see!

Here come the two teams!

The 22 players head out of the tunnel for the game which is finally about to begin.

"Jordi! Jordi!"

The fans are already in fine voice as their latest signing, Jordi Alba, is presented on the pitch!

"It's gives me a sense of pride to wear the Inter Miami shirt. I want to thank everyone for this."

"I hope we can fight for all the trophies. Thank you to the fans."

The players are heading down the tunnel for the final team talks!

The pitch has been cleared and we are now almost ready for kick-off... finally!

Here's a reminder of the two starting XIs:

INTER MIAMI [4-3-3]

Callender

Allen - Miller - Kryvstov - Yedlin

Busquets - Cremaschi - Arroyo

Taylor - Martínez - Messi (c)

ORLANDO CITY [4-2-3-1]

Gallese

Santos - Jansson - Carlos - Smith

Cartagena - Araújo

Angulo - Pereyra (c) - Torres

McGuire

Beckham speaks to TV pre-game:

Thoughts on the rain delay: I never had a rain delay; in the UK, we played through lighting, snow, rain, so it’s all new for us. The players have to keep warm, be focussed, patient. But we have a great team and staff.

Do you prefer it like this? I always liked a wet surface, it makes it quicker and makes you sharper. It's the perfect way to play.

How have you experienced the Messi effect? It's been so much more than what I expected. We always believed in signings like Leo, Sergio, Jordi would impact the league and the USA. There's only a few times you can change the face of a sport, we have something here. People are talking about MLS all across the world. Pink shirts are everywhere we know we have done something special: it's so important for the sport.

Who to thank: I have to say thank you for the support from Apple, they have done something special for the league, its a huge thing.

On the fans: I want to give a huge thanks to the supporters across the USA, of other teams, they have supported what we have don here and that's not normal. The excitement is incredible.

How Messi feels about MLS: Leo said he feels the love and the support is unbelievable. It gives him goosebumps!

On the games in Leagues Cup: You saw something magical in our first game from a magical person. For me, the second game was one of the best games since we started. We need to keep doing what we’re doing. Its a long term project.

Match schedule:

The ground staff have done an excellent job in removing the water from the pitch - a huge task given the amount of rain that fell in such a short time.

At around 9:20 the players will finish their warmups and go into the dressing rooms.

At 9:30 the players will return to the pitch.

Kick-off at 9:35pm.

The players are back on the pitch and have restarted their warmup

Messi and co. are back on the pitch and are going through their warmup drills - and it looks like we'll be ready to go soon enough!

New kick-off time scheduled:

The game is set to kick off at 9:35 PM ET.

LEAGUES CUP 2023

Brandon Vazquez bags two-day hat-trick against Chivas Guadalajara

OK, of course I'm being a bit Messi-heavy at the moment (can you blame me?), but here's something on another Leagues Cup superstar: BrandonVazquez.

FC Cincinnati are leading the way in MLS and secured top spot in their Leagues Cup group with a bizarre weather-delayed victory (eye roll) and Brandon Vazquez bagged three to put his team through the first round after a delay of, ahem, 16 hours...

“It was a little weird, but I was prepared for it,” Vazquez explained after the game. “I always prepare for games the same way whether I’m starting or not, eating the same meals, getting good sleep, resting up. I only found out I was starting five minutes before kickoff, so I had to throw the shin guards on, throw the jersey on, and go outside and start doing sprints.”

Neymar opens up on Messi move:

Let's run you through the team news while we're here:

ORLANDO CITY

Júnior Urso is a doubt for the game as he has a leg injury, while Gastón González and Mikey Halliday are both out with thigh injuries. 

INTER MIAMI

As for the players who are likely to feature, there are no injury updates from their last game, against Atlanta United.

The Herons, however, do have one new toy that they could take out of the box against Orlando: Jordi Alba.

The Spaniard is in line to make his debut from the bench for the side today after confirming his move to the MLS side just a few days ago.

The ex-Barça player left Spain after spending all of his career in his native country, with a Messi reunion a huge factor behind the move.

Here's how the pitch looks at the moment...

The rain is still being tipped out of the sky like God's filling a fish tank and there is no further update as to when we might see some on-pitch action.

The players are tucked away safely in the dressing rooms and the fans are squeezed into the various concourses around the ground, with the odd head periodically sticking out like a curious turtle.

Orlando coach speaks about facing Inter Miami:

Here's official confirmation of the delay

The pitch is becoming more and more waterlogged; the draining is going to undergo a massive test of its capabilities. 

I'll try and find a photo of the pitch for you - it's quite incredible the rain that is pouring down from the heavens.

LEAGUES CUP 2023

Who won more head-to-head Leagues Cup 2023 group games, MLS or Liga MX?

Forget about the rain, get comfortable and enjoy this piece from Roddy:

28 MLS teams and 17 Liga MX clubs battled to progress to the round of 32, where LAFC and Pachuca enter the competition.

There are 20 MLS teams left in the competition (a 71.4% progression rate from 27 clubs) compared to 12 from Liga MX (70.6% from 17). T

Teams from south of the border made up only 37.8% of all group stage participants (17 of 45) but accounted for 47.7% of group winners (seven of 15), which may well please fans of Liga MX clubs.

But perhaps the most interesting statistics come from head-to-head matches between teams from the two leagues. 13 of the 15 groups contained two MLS sides and one from Liga MX, while the reverse was true for the remaining two.

A total of 30 inter-league matches were played, which resulted in 13 wins for Liga MX clubs, 12 for MLS teams and five draws (for the purpose of this exercise, we’re not counting penalty shootouts as victories). So, all in all, there was very little to choose between them.

Roddy took a deep-dive into the numbers that are making up the Leagues Cup 2023, and the conclusions are incredibly interesting on both sides of the border,

The ball is being tested on the pitch...

And the wind is taking it for a stroll with no help from a human. It's not time to think about restarting just yet, folks.

Time to change the name of this game?

The teams completed about half of their warmup before the weather delay was put in place by safety officials.

The storm came out of nowhere but this is South Florida, and it's kind of adding to the derby atmosphere!

El Clásico del Sol? Really? Perhaps it's time to change the name of this derby...

We are currently in a weather delay, as the rain is lashing down at the DRV PNK Stadium and lightning has been spotted in the area.

Fans have been asked to leave their stadium seats and seek shelter.

***

I will update you when I have more information

Chiellini speaks about how to stop Messi:

Messi has stepped out onto the pitch!

The lightning is striking and the rain has started to pour as Messi leads his team out for the pre-game warmup! What a moment!

And here's the Inter Miami XI:

With a delightful tactical graphic, just because they're great.

Here's the official confirmation of the Orlando XI:

Pereyra captains the side as McGuire starts up front.

LEAGUES CUP 2023

Why is Orlando City vs Inter Miami known as ‘El Clásico del Sol’?

Lionel Messi has jumped in at the deep end during his short time so far in MLS.

The 2022 World Cup winner has made his debut, scored a last-gasp, free-kick winner, brought along with him Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba for a reunion, got a brace in his second game and is now fit and firing for his first local derby. 

I suppose if anyone can handle a baptism of fire, it’s Messi.

The interstate derby between Orlando City and Inter Miami, despite its short life so far, has already had time to be given a nickname by some fans, who call it El Clásico del Sol.

Orlando City started playing in MLS in 2015 and Inter Miami joined the league in 2020; from then on, the people of The Sunshine State decided to christen their local rivalry match with a new moniker, inspired by the name of the state. Simples.

Here's everything you need to know regarding the derby and it's many, many names.

Messi is not the only threat for Orlando

Josef Martínez has been prolific in the past against the Florida outfit, scoring 8 goals in 11 games against The Lions. 

The former Atlanta United man has not found his feet in this new look Miami team so far, but it surely won't take long before he can start scaring the back of the net like we are used to seeing.

And what a way it would be for him to find his golden touch again tonight, in the Florida derby?

Orlando starting XI:

Gallese

Santos - Jansson - Carlos - Smith

Cartagena - Araújo

Angulo - Pereyra - Torres

McGuire

Inter Miami starting XI!

Callender

Allen - Miller - Kryvstov - Yedlin

Busquets - Cremaschi - Arroyo

Taylor - Martínez - Messi

The fans are rolling in, but so are the rainclouds...

The fans are piling into the DRV PNK Stadium - despite the potential for rain - and the drums and music are already banging away in what is set to be a real derby atmosphere!

Messi and co. arrive at the ground

The team news from both teams should be on it's way shortly and we will be able to dissect all the updates coming out of the DRV PNK Stadium!

LEAGUES CUP 2023

The Messi effect: Inter Miami are now the favourites to win the Leagues Cup

You may be surprised to know that thanks to certain players who have joined the team, the Florida outfit are now the favourite to lift the trophy at the end of the campaign.

I suppose that's what having Jordi Alba, Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets does for a team. 

We check out who's just behind Inter Miami in the rankings for most likely team to lift the trophy when it's all said and done.

What's the prize for the winner?

The winner of tonight’s game will go on to face the winner of FC Dallas vs. Mazatlán.

Miami and Orlando would host Mazatlán, as no Leagues Cup games will take place in Mexico this year, but the Lions and Herons would be away to Dallas due to both teams finishing lower in the 2022 Supporters’ Shield standings.

How they got here: Miami

I mean, you know perfectly well how they got here: Leo Messi did Leo Messi things. 

The first game in the group stage was a sensational win over Cruz Azul with that man putting his debut, last-second free-kick winner into the postage stamp of the goal, giving the DRV PNK Stadium a little hint of what was to come.

In his next game, against Atlanta United, the World Cup winner put two past his opponents and maintained Miami's 100% record in the 2023 Leagues Cup.

Third time lucky? Three's a charm? The three musketeers? Do we need any more hints that today might also be special?

How they got here: Orlando

City moved into the Round of 32 after a last-gasp victory over Santos Laguna at Exploria Stadium.

Wilder Cartagenascoredthe3-2 winner in the dying seconds with a fantastic strike to put The Lions top of South Group 2 and qualify for the next round. 

LEAGUES CUP 2023

When was the last time that Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets played together?

For the first time after two years, Lionel Messi will once again play alongside Jordi Alba, this time in the Leagues Cup. This is what we are all waiting for.

The Spaniard and the Argentine had a famous relationship at Barcelona, where the two could link up with each other endlessly throughout the season, Alba's whipped balls from the left inevitably finding the feet of his teammate inside and outside the box. 

It's no surprise that Alba's influence at the Catalan club dropped off dramtically when Messi left: with no second magnet to cling to, Jordi slowly lost his place in the team, being replaced every so slowly by Balde. 

But now, the duo are back. Almost. Let's see if Tata Martino gives us the good news that the lightning-fast defender is fit to start.

Here, we take a look at the long-standing relationship between the two and ponder whether it is set to work stateside (yes, it is).

MLS

Inter Miami increases DRV PNK Stadium capacity for Lionel Messi’s debut

The DRV PNK Stadium has a newly increased capacity of 21,000, which is 3,000 more than BM (before Messi).

The Fort Lauderdale ground was openedin2020 and cost the club $60million. Now, however, everything that the little man does there will make it worth a lot more.

Diego and Will have put together this handy guide for everything you need to know about the stadium.

Who's the ref?

The man with the whistle today is Iván Barton, the referee of the controversial clash between Mexico and the USMNT. 

The 32-year-old from El Salvador took charge of the Concacaf Nations League game in June, which the Stars and Stripes won 3-0.

In that game he showed nine yellow cards and fourredcards.

Today is his first taste of Messi and Miami, but the referee has experience in North America, having overseen the last two Concacaf Champions League finals, Olympic football matches, FIFA Club World Cup ties, as well as plenty of games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Team news: Orlando City

JúniorUrso is a doubt for the game as he has a leg injury, while GastónGonzález and MikeyHalliday are both out with thigh injuries. 

Team news: Inter Miami

As for the players who are likely to feature, there are no injury updates from their last game, against Atlanta United.

The Herons, however, do have one new toy that they could take out of the box against Orlando: Jordi Alba.

The Spaniard is in line to make his debut for the side today after confirming his move to the MLS side just a few days ago.

The ex-Barça player left Spain after spending all of his career in his native country, with a Messi reunion a huge factor behind the move. But more on that later.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the AS USA live coverage of Inter Miami vs Orlando City in the Leagues Cup Round of 32!

It’s Joe here to guide you through the action at the DRV PNK Stadium.