Orlando Crush Inter Miami in Dominant MLS Win

Inter Miami’s poor form carried on Sunday as they were blasted 3-0 by Orlando City at Chase Stadium, their fifth loss in the past seven games overall.

Opening the score for Orlando in the 43rd minute, Luis Muriel gave the team a just lead going into half. Eight minutes into the second half Marco Pasalic extended the advantage; Dagur Dan Thorhallsson clinched the victory with a late third goal in the last moments of the game. Lionel Messi’s participation notwithstanding, the World Cup-winning Argentine striker failed to score and only managed two efforts on goal.

Miami captain Messi underlined the need of unity during this trying period when speaking following the game.

“Now we’ll really see if we’re a team in difficult times, since when everything’s going well, it’s quite easy,” Messi remarked.

“That’s when we have to be more united than ever, be a true team, and pull ourselves together—when difficult times come,” he said.

Out of their last seven games, Miami had only one triumph—a win against the New York Red Bulls. They have given up twenty goals throughout this time, which begs major questions before the Club World Cup next month.

Head coach Javier Mascherano, who replaced the team in November, admitted the need to turn their fortunes around quickly.

“When you’re in this kind of dynamic, it will be impossible to overcome the moment if everyone starts pulling in different directions,” Mascherano remarked.

“It’s obvious we have to get through this collectively. The team has already proven, particularly at the start of the season, what it is capable of.”

Inter Miami had finished first in the Eastern Conference last season for the uninitiated.