Orlando City extends unbeaten streak to 11, blanks Inter Miami, 3-0

Luis Muriel, Marco Pasalic and Dagur Thorhallsson each scored a goal, which helped Orlando City beat in-state rival Inter Miami for the first time in nearly two years as it secured a 3-0 victory on Sunday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Orlando City (6-2-6, 24 points) extended its unbeaten streak to 11 consecutive matches and beat Inter Miami (6-3-4, 22 points) for the first time with Lionel Messi in its lineup. The victory over their in-state rivals is their first since May 20, 2023, as they leapfrogged Inter Miami into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

The result snapped Inter Miami's four-game unbeaten streak in the Florida Derby series and was Orlando City's most lopsided win in the series.

Inter Miami lost by three goals for the second time in its past three league matches and suffered its first shutout loss in league play this season.

Inter Miami was unable to score a goal despite having star forward Luis Suarez back in its starting lineup after he missed the prior two games for personal reasons.

Instead, Orlando City became the latest side to take advantage of Miami's defensive lapses on counterattacks. The first one came in the 43rd minute when Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who recorded his sixth shutout of the season, kicked a long clearing ball past midfield, which Muriel controlled with his foot extended. He then raced past Miami's Gonzalo Lujan and fired a perfect crossing shot past Miami keeper Oscar Ustari for his sixth goal of the season.

In the 53rd minute, Orlando created chaos in the area near Ustari and Pasalic took advantage, racing in and firing a shot into the back of the net.

Inter Miami controlled possession 62.3 percent to 37.7 percent, but was outshot 8-4 on shots on goal. Orlando City tacked on its third in stoppage time when Duncan McGuire crossed a ball to Thorhallsson, who tapped it past Ustari.

--Field Level Media