Inter Miami — minus Messi, Busquets, Alba — plays Orlando City to a 1-1 tie
Inter Miami was without its three biggest stars on Sunday and ended the night without three more points for the playoff push after allowing a lead to slip away vs. its fiercest rival.
David Ruiz scored a second-half opener for Inter Miami, but that was canceled out by Duncan McGuire in a 1-1 road draw with Orlando City at Exploria Stadium on Sunday night. Ruiz found the back of the net on the rebound in the 52nd minute fside before McGuire equalized via a composed finish 14 minutes later.
The result left Inter Miami in 14th place in the Eastern Conference, five points shy of the final playoff spot with five matches left in the regular season.
“We will see later on if the point will serve us for what we are in search of,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said in Spanish. “But if you look at it as an isolated game, truthfully I am very satisfied because the effort put forth was tremendous.”
Missing summer signings Lionel Messi (muscle fatigue/scar tissue), Sergio Busquets (rest) and Jordi Alba (muscle fatigue) ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final, Inter Miami came out in a 5-3-2 formation.
Strikers Leonardo Campana and Josef Martinez started together for the first time under Martino while four 19-year-old players — Benjamin Cremaschi, Ruiz, Noah Allen, and Tomas Aviles — were in the lineup.
The rivalry match got off to a chippy start, with the two Florida teams combining for 17 fouls while putting a total of three shots on target prior to halftime.
“This game is classified as a Clasico [rivalry game], and if it is a Clasico then it is going to be a tight and hard-fought game,” said midfielder Dixon Arroyo in Spanish. “The important thing is to be up for it, to be prepared for the rhythm and intensity of the game. I think we played a good game.”
Martino made two halftime substitutions at the break, with Ryan Sailor coming on to replace Sergii Kryvtsov due to concussion protocol and Kamal Miller filling in for the cautioned Aviles.
“He is suffering from migraines,” Martino said. “He had migraines and when he has migraines he has issues with his vision, but I do not think he will have any problem playing in Wednesday’s match.”
Campana had the game’s first shot on target in the 26th minute that forced Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese into a save. Campana also tested Gallese three minutes before halftime with a bouncing header that was parried wide.
Inter Miami’s Drake Callender was called into action in the 29th minute, making his first stop of the game on a Duncan McGuire effort from the central channel.
Ruiz opened the scoring in the 52nd minute, finishing on the rebound at the doorstep of the goal following a saved shot from Martinez.
“It is my first goal in a Clasico,” Ruiz said in Spanish. “It was very important and great for me.”
Ivan Angulo had a golden chance to pull Orlando City even 11 minutes later after being slipped in on goal, but he pushed his shot from in close weakly wide of the far post.
McGuire would not be as forgiving shortly thereafter, as a deflected ball played him through before he finished for the Lions’ tying goal.
Inter Miami’s sights now fully turn to Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final, which will be played at home at DRV PNK Stadium against the Houston Dynamo.
What Messi’s status is for that championship bout remains unclear.
“It is very difficult to put a percentage as to what the chances are that he could play because we are taking it day by day,” Martino said. “We will evaluate him, and I will first listen to what he says as to how he feels. We then have to evaluate what the future risks are.
“It is not an easy decision, but we will take the appropriate amount of time to make sure we do not make a mistake.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2023 at 10:13 PM.