Orlando City vs. Inter Miami: A Preseason Rollercoaster

By Kyle Foley, Orlando Sentinel Correspondent

Okay, so picture this: Friday night, Valentine's Day, and I'm at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa watching Orlando City SC and Inter Miami CF throw down in their final preseason match. It was, to put it mildly, a wild ride. Two-two draw. A real back-and-forth affair that left both teams with plenty to chew on heading into the regular season.

Goals Galore!

The first half was insane. Orlando City struck first – a gorgeous chip shot from Martín Ojeda in the 15th minute, assisted by Iván Angulo. A lightning-fast counter-attack, perfectly executed. It was beautiful, honestly. But Inter Miami answered right back, tying it up in the 22nd minute thanks to Tadeo Allende after a slick give-and-go with Luis Suárez. I mean, it was end-to-end action, the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seat. You know how sometimes things just spiral? That was it, but good.

Then, Orlando City took the lead again in the 54th minute after a bit of a defensive hiccup by Inter Miami's David Martinez. Ojeda, Mr. Clutch himself, was involved again, setting up Ramiro Enrique for a tap-in. Two goal contributions for Ojeda – the guy was on fire that pre-season. The energy was buzzing.

But just when you thought Orlando had it in the bag… bam! Fafa Picault nails a dramatic equalizer in the 93rd minute. A rebound off a Taylor cross. Honestly, who saw that coming? A true nail-biter ending for a 2-2 draw.

Messi's Magic (and a Missed Penalty!)

Of course, let's not forget the elephant in the room: Lionel Messi. He was playing alongside Inter Miami's "Core Four" – Messi, Suárez, Busquets, and Alba – and the atmosphere was electric. Messi himself didn't find the back of the net, but his presence was undeniable. He was creating chances, testing Orlando's defense, and even missed a penalty. A rare miss for the superstar, but it just goes to show you, even the best have off days.

Pareja's Take

Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja seemed pretty content with the draw, all things considered. He was happy with his team's performance against a strong Inter Miami squad, even suggesting they might have won if they'd put away a few more chances. Fair enough.

What's Next for the Lions?

The regular season kicks off for Orlando City on February 22nd against the Philadelphia Union at Interco Stadium – their 2025 Home Opener, presented by Orlando Health. You can catch it on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Get ready!