MATCH RECAP: Inter Miami CF Earns a Point on the Road Against Rivals Orlando City SC

Inter Miami CF (9W-15L-5D, 32 points) drew 1-1 on the road against Orlando City SC to secure a point against the Club’s in-state rivals. Midfielder and Homegrown Academy product David Ruiz scored the team’s goal on the night at Exploria Stadium.

Lineup Notes

Inter Miami started the match with Drake Callender in goal; Noah Allen, Sergii Krvvtsov and Tomás Avilés formed a back three with Robert Taylor and DeAndre Yedlin playing out wide; Dixon Arroyo, David Ruiz and Benjamin Cremaschi started in midfield; strikers Josef Martínez and Leonardo Campana led the team’s attack.

Notably, three Inter Miami Academy products started in the match, with Allen, Ruiz and Cremaschi slotting into the starting XI against their local rivals.

Match Action

The first half at Exploria Stadium presented an even matchup with both sides trading opportunities throughout the 45 minutes. Inter Miami’s most dangerous chances came courtesy of Campana, with the Ecuadorian striker forcing saves from Orlando City keeper Pedro Gallese, first with a shot from outside the box in the 26th minute and then in the 42nd minute with a header inside the box following a delivery from Taylor from a corner kick.

The visitors were then able to open the scoring early on in the second half, with Ruiz giving Inter Miami the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute. Campana slipped a ball to Martínez on the right side of the box, where he unleashed a left-footed shot that was blocked by Orlando’s keeper, but Ruiz reacted quickly to take advantage of the rebound in front of goal and sent the ball to the back of the net. The goal was his second this regular season and third overall this season.

Orlando, however, responded moments later, with forward Duncan McGuire finding the equalizer in the 66th minute.

Despite efforts from both sides to find the winner, the 1-1 scoreline remained unmoved throughout the remaining minutes for Inter Miami to claim a point on the road against its rivals.

Post-Match Reaction

“I think we could have lost the game at some point, but at another point it looked like we could win it. Taking all that into account, we will later see if the point actually served our objective. But if you think about it as an isolated match, the truth is that I’m very satisfied because  we made a joint effort tonight,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.

Next Match

Inter Miami will now return to South Florida in search of winning the Club’s official second title, with the team ready to host the Houston Dynamo FC at DRV PNK Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 for the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.

Stats

Possession:

ORL - 51.2%

MIA - 48.8%

Shots:

ORL - 13

MIA - 9

Saves:

ORL - 4

MIA - 5

Corners:

ORL - 0

MIA - 7

Fouls:

ORL - 11

MIA - 16