Orlando beats Messi's Inter Miami with a goal by Colombian Muriel

With a goal from Colombian striker Luis Muriel, Orlando City thrashed Inter Miami 3-0 on Sunday in MLS play. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s team has won only one of its last seven games.

Muriel opened the scoring in the 43rd minute after receiving a long pass from his goalkeeper, Peruvian Pedro Gallese, and calmly finished past Inter Miami’s Argentine goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

It marked the Colombian’s sixth goal of the season.

Messi played the full 90 minutes and received a yellow card in the 75th minute for protesting a foul on Uruguayan Luis Suárez, who returned after missing two games for personal reasons.

"It's been a period of bad results," Messi said after the game. "We have to keep working and think about what's coming. We have three or four games left to finish the month and finish in the best way to face the Club World Cup."

Club World Cup in sight

Inter will make its Club World Cup debut against Egypt’s Al Ahly on June 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, in the tournament’s opening match.

“Now we’ll truly see if we’re a team during tough times, because it’s easy when everything’s going well. But when challenges come, like now, that’s when we need to be more united than ever, act like a real team, and get through it. I believe we have what it takes, so let’s focus on what’s ahead,” added the Argentine star.

Inter Miami’s head coach, Argentine Javier Mascherano, made lineup changes to strengthen the team’s defense, which has conceded 20 goals and scored only 11 in the last seven games, including Sunday’s.

Their only win during this period came against the New York Red Bulls on May 3.

He deployed a back five, with Jordi Alba and Ian Fray on the wings, aiming to add the depth that had been missing in previous matches.

“Unfortunately, this is the reality,” Mascherano said at a press conference. “I don’t have much to add. In the second half, we tried a few things, and after conceding the goal, we started taking more risks.”

“I won’t deny the result, but I don’t think it reflects our game plan. We can’t afford the mistakes we’re making, and we’ve clearly identified them,” the Argentine coach continued.

Shortly after the second half began, Inter Miami increased their attacking intensity, but this led to defensive disorganization and gave Argentine Martin Ojeda two clear chances—both of which he failed to convert.

However, on the third attempt, Orlando City extended their lead. Marco Pasalic capitalized on a rebound inside the box, sending a left-footed shot between the legs of veteran goalkeeper Ustari.

In stoppage time, at the 90+3 minute mark, Orlando City sealed their victory with a goal from Dagur Thorhallsson following a swift counter-attack.

With the win, Orlando City leapfrogged Inter Miami, pushing them out of fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 24 points.

Messi’s team, now with 22 points, falls to sixth place—three points shy of the final playoff spot.

Marco Reus shines in the LA derby

Germany’s Marco Reus scored twice in the “Traffic Classic” between the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC (LAFC) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The Galaxy, reigning MLS champions, took an early lead just six minutes into the match with a goal from former German international Marco Reus. However, LAFC, under the guidance of coach Steve Cherundolo, responded quickly — Denis Bouanga equalized in the 13th minute, and Salvadoran forward Nathan Ordaz put LAFC ahead 2-1 in the 50th minute.

But Reus came to the rescue in the 87th minute, leveling the match 2-2 with a stunning free kick.

The Galaxy have now gone 14 games without a win and are in last place in the Western Conference with four points.

LAFC, meanwhile, has 22 points and is in fifth place in the West.