Sunshine Clasico: Inter Miami, Orlando meet in key MLS clash
The Herons (42 points) and Lions (41) are fifth and sixth in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference and vying for better playoff position.
Rodrigo DePaul scored his first goal for Inter Miami CF in the Herons’ 3-1 Leagues Cup win Wednesday against Pumas UNAM. CREDIT: Major League Soccer
Will Messi ever play in Orlando?
Lionel Messi, Inter Miami CF’s captain and owner-in-waiting, has played against Orlando City, but never at the Lions’ den, a.k.a. Exploria Stadium.
That won’t end tonight when the Purple and Pink meet in the latest installment of the Sunshine Derby.
Inter Miami CF (42 points) at Orlando City SC (41 points); 7 p.m. CT, Sunday; Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.; MLS regular season
“Leo will not be available tomorrow,” Mascherano told reporters Saturday. “He’s fine, but obviously it would be crazy to risk taking him to Orlando with everything we have ahead of us.”
Oh-for-three
The Herons and Lions compete in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference and play each other home and away each year. Messi arrived in South Florida in June 2023, but didn’t play in the teams’ 1-1 tie Sept. 24 that year at Exploria Stadium or a scoreless draw May 15, 2024, in Orlando. Tonight marks the third straight year that Orlando fans will see Los Garzas without the legendary Argentinian footballer.
Messi, 38, has been recovering from minor ailments on each occasion, but Orlando supporters are predictably quick to accuse the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner of cowardice or disrespect. One contributor to the Orlando City Soccer Club Discussion Group had a different explanation: Ed Tristram posted that Messi vowed never to play in Orlando because a mural of him in Miami was vandalized using purple paint.
According to at least one Orlando City fan, Lionel Messi holds a grudge against Lions’ supporters for vandalizing a mural in Miami. No evidence supports his claim. CREDIT: Orlando City Soccer Club Discussion Group on Facebook
That seems unlikely; the vandalism did occur, but there was no evidence connecting the incident to Orlando City supporters.
We all love “Spicy Messi,” but it seems unlikely he made any such vow against the Lions. It makes more sense that Mascherano, and Tata Martino before him, want to ensure their captain and best player is healthy and well-rested during a busy, busy season.
But I do like the “Spicy Messi” story.
What’s at stake
Inter Miami is fifth in the Eastern Conference with 42 points, one ahead of sixth-place Orlando (41) and nine behind conference leader Philadelphia (51). The top seven teams in each conference qualify for the MLS Cup tournament, while the eighth- and ninth-place finishers play a single match to see which will complete their conference’s bracket.
The top four teams in each division will host at least one playoff match; the team with the league’s best record will earn the Supporters Shield and, more importantly, home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Besides state bragging rights, Miami and Orlando both will be jockeying to improve their playoff positions.
Every team ahead of them has nine or fewer regular-season matches remaining. Because of its participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup and FIFA Club World Cup competitions earlier this year, Inter Miami has 12 MLS games remaining — a nine-point boost if La Rosanegra can win its games in hand.
Possible Leagues Cup preview
Miami and Orlando are safe bets to make the playoffs, setting up the possibility of a high-stakes Sunshine Derby this fall. They could play a more meaningful match much sooner: the Herons and Lions are two of four MLS sides in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals. If the Herons defeat Tigres and the Lions dispatch Toluca on Aug. 20, they’ll meet in the semifinals of the Liga Mexico/MLS showcase the following weekend.
The Leagues Cup final will be played Sunday, Aug. 31.