Inter Miami 0-3 Orlando City: Messi and Co. suffer new low
Inter Miami were heavily beaten at home to Orlando City in MLS as they slumped to sixth in the Eastern Conference table.
Inter Miami's woeful run of form continued on Sunday as they were hammered 3-0 at home to local rivals Orlando City.
The Florida derby defeat leaves Lionel Messi and Co. sixth in the Eastern Conference, without a win in three and having won just two of their last eight in MLS.
While Messi did have a chance to get the hosts ahead midway through the first half, though was foiled by a smart stop from goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, Luis Muriel got the scoring under way two minutes before half-time.
Orlando had shaded the half in terms of chances, registering an xG of 1.08 compared to Miami's 0.42, and their goal came from a long ball upfield from Gallese, which was controlled and finished by Muriel.
Just eight minutes into the second half, it was 2-0 to Orlando after Marco Pasalic's shot squirmed past Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari.
The visitors had already passed up chances to double their lead so the second goal was exactly what they deserved, though it stunted Inter Miami's ability to get forward and string any meaningful passages of play together.
The game was ended as a contest in stoppage time when Dagur Dan Thorhallsson slotted home from close range after fellow substitute Duncan McGuire's cutback.
Victory leaves Orlando City fifth in the East ahead of their US Open Cup match against Nashville in midweek. Next up for Inter Miami is a weekend trip to Philadelphia Union, who are top of the conference.
Data debrief: Inter Miami hit new low
Inter Miami's 3-0 loss to Orlando City was the largest margin of defeat one of Messi's teams has ever suffered in a home league match in which he played (he has made 313 such appearances).
The defeat came despite Miami racking up 21 shots (Orlando had 16), a game-high nine of which came from Messi, the highest total from any Miami player in an MLS game this season.
However, the hosts' chances were of worse quality, with their game xG total being just 1.08, with Orlando up at a healthy 2.9.
Orlando now have five wins and two draws in the eight matches they have taken the lead first this season, while Inter Miami have won just one in five when they have conceded first.
The visitors' unbeaten run now stands at 11 MLS matches, which is their longest sequence without being beaten since October 2020.