By Official Florida FC
Orlando City continued its dominance over its in-state rivals with a comprehensive 3-1 win at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday night.
Ercan Kara, somehow, beat two defenders on a throw-in and headed home past American international Drake Callender. It was a soft goal to concede, but it was Kara’s fifth of the season in all competitions.
Leo Campana and Josef Martinez have started to heat up as a forward duo for Inter Miami. Campana’s 57th minute golazo equalized. But, the Herons threw it all away in the final 25 minutes after its defense was diced with incisive running from midfield.
Martín Ojeda latched onto a ball over the top to give Orlando City the lead in the 68th minute. Rafael Santos’ first goal for Orlando City in the 86th minute came from a gap on the inside right that the Lions ruthlessly exploited.
Saturday marked another match and another goal contribution for Orlando City rookie Duncan McGuire. He has provided four goals and two assists in 322 professional minutes.
“Beyond the three points that are very important for us, it means a lot to them,” Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja said afterward. “We’re very happy to have such a performance here on this field against a main rival. We are very proud. I want to congratulate the players on the way they played tonight. I think it was until the 16th minute that it was our first shot against (Inter Miami). We have a very solid resistance, and character in the initiative to play the game. If you’re going to start to win away games, it was super.”
Orlando City (5-4-4, 19 points) is up to seventh in the Eastern Conference. Inter Miami has been a streaky team in league play all season. The Herons (5-8, 15 points) have lost two straight after a three-match winning streak helped the club recover from a disastrous start.
Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville applauded the people wearing pink in the stands for creating an unforgettable atmosphere. But, the coach lamented how his side performed in that environment.
“I think we had three moments tonight of poor concentration that cost us dearly and [our players] are hurting in there because they ran, they fought, they competed, they controlled possession in the game,” Neville told the team’s website afterward.
Orlando City improved to 5-3-3 against Inter Miami. One of those draws was the 2022 Open Cup Round of 16 between the two that the Lions won on penalty kicks. The two will meet again in Orlando on Sept. 24.
