Orlando City SC continues the fight to resemble a phoenix rising from the ashes of this early MLS season. They defeated Inter Miami CF at their home.
The Inter Miami squad remains in third place in the MLS Eastern Conference. But they didn’t look like it at home as Orlando City SC came to town. The Lions employed a dangerous left foot that supplied a hat trick in the victory.
Orlando remains third from the bottom after the 4-3 victory in Miami. Until the 39th minute, the match summary looked familiar. Miami went up 3-0.
The scores were by Ian Fray, 4th minute, Telasco Segovia, 25th minute, and Lionel Messi, 35th minute. Players assisting on the goals included Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Telasco Segovia.
Then the Lions turned up their concentration. Midfielder Martin Ojeda took advantage as his teammates began seeing chances and took them.
The designated player unleashed a hat trick, registering his fifth-seventh goals across all competitions for the Lions this season – 39 all-time for Orlando. They came in the 39th, 68th, and 79th minutes, with the final one on a penalty kick.
Justin Ellis combined with Robin Jansson for helpers on the first score. That makes Ellis the first Orlando homegrown player with a goal contribution in three consecutive matches during the regular season. Captain Jansson’s secondary assist is his seventh all-time and his second this season across all competitions.
Adrian Marin assisted in the 68th minute.
It wasn’t a bad game for Miami at first. They finished the match with 61% possession. They beat Orlando 25-13 in shots. But when the Lions turned up their focus in minute 39, the home team players couldn’t solve them.
So Ojeda and his teammates equalized the match 3-3. But the Lions weren’t finished.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Tyrese Spicer got a ball into the net, assisted by Braian Ojeda, his first for Orlando, and Duncan McGuire. It was McGuire’s first assist of the year as he returned from injury.
The 4-3 lead held and posted Miami’s first loss in their new stadium.
Last season, after the departure of Facundo Torres, supporters wrung their hands and wondered what would become of the Lions. That was when Martin Ojeda vowed to lead the way by stepping up his game. He would press the accelerator and move toward the goal.
As for Ojeda and Torres, he has joined that player and Cyle Larin as the only Lions to hit 40 goals.
He didn’t make a vow at the beginning of this season as he did in 2025. That’s because Ojeda and his teammates are still fulfilling their original vows.
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