Orlando, FL, May 3, 2026 – In what will surely be remembered as one of the most dramatic Florida derbies in MLS history, Orlando City pulled off a stunning 4-3 comeback victory over Inter Miami CF at 06:15 on Sunday morning. Despite entering the half-time break trailing 3-1, the Lions roared back in the second half courtesy of a sensational hat-trick from Martín Ojeda, capped by a 90th-minute winner from substitute T. Spicer.
Match Summary
| Match Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | MLS – Conference |
| Match | Inter Miami vs Orlando City |
| Date | 03 May 2026 |
| Time | 07:15 PM |
| Half-Time | 3 – 1 |
| Full-Time | 3 – 4 |
First Half: The Messi Effect
For 35 minutes, it looked like a routine victory for the Herons. Inter Miami came flying out of the gates, with I. Fray opening the scoring in the 4th minute. The home crowd barely had time to settle before T. Segovia doubled the lead in the 25th minute, putting Orlando on the back foot.
As expected, the global icon Lionel Messi got in on the act in the 33rd minute. The Argentine curled a trademark finish into the net to make it 3-0, and the Chase Stadium faithful began celebrating what appeared to be an insurmountable lead.
However, just before the break, momentum shifted drastically. Martín Ojeda pulled one back for Orlando City in the 39th minute, a goal that seemed more like a consolation prize at the time. The scoreboard read 3-1 at halftime, but that goal planted the first seed of doubt in Miami’s defense.
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Second Half: The Ojeda Show
Whatever Orlando City manager said in the locker room worked immediately.
Just after the hour mark, Miami’s defensive cracks began to show. In the 68th minute, Ojeda struck again, cutting the deficit to a single goal (3-2). The energy in the stadium shifted from celebratory to tense, as the visitors smelled blood.
That tension boiled over in the 79th minute. A reckless challenge inside the box gifted Orlando a penalty kick. Under immense pressure, Ojeda stepped up and smashed the ball home to complete his hat-trick and level the scores at 3-3.
Goal Scorers
| Time | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 4′ | I. Fray | Inter Miami CF |
| 25′ | T. Segovia | Inter Miami CF |
| 33′ | L. Messi | Inter Miami CF |
| 39′ | M. Ojeda | Orlando City |
| 68′ | M. Ojeda | Orlando City |
| 79′ | M. Ojeda | Orlando City |
| 90+3′ | T. Spicer | Orlando City |
With three minutes of stoppage time signaled, it appeared both teams would settle for a point. But Inter Miami pushed forward looking for a winner, leaving gaps at the back.
In the 90+3rd minute, a swift Orlando counter-attack found T. Spicer unmarked inside the box. The young midfielder kept his composure to fire the ball past the Miami keeper, sending the away supporters into a frenzy.
Man of the Match: Martín Ojeda (Orlando City) – 3 Goals.
Turning Point: The 79th-minute penalty earned by Orlando, which leveled the game and deflated the Miami defense before the late winner.
What’s Next?
For Inter Miami, this will be a bitter pill to swallow after losing a two-goal lead at home. For Orlando City, this victory represents a character-defining moment early in the 2026 season, proving they can hang with the league’s best even when trailing by multiple goals.
Source: oddspedia