Orlando, 02 March (H.S.): In a pulsating Florida Derby, Lionel Messi delivered a masterclass with two stunning goals, propelling Inter Miami to a dramatic 3-2 victory over a depleted Orlando City side in Major League Soccer (MLS) action at Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday.

Orlando City burst out of the gates aggressively, stunning Miami early in the first half as Marco Pasalic and Martin Ojeda struck just six minutes apart to hand the hosts a commanding lead.Inter Miami regrouped masterfully after the break, substituting full-back Noah Allen with Mateo Silvetti—a tactical masterstroke that paid immediate dividends.

Just four minutes after entering the fray, Silvetti capitalized on a precise pass from Telasco Segovia to pull one back and reignite the contest.Segovia then orchestrated another brilliant move eight minutes later, teeing up Messi perfectly.

The Argentine maestro unleashed a sublime long-range strike from outside the box—his first league goal of the 2026 season—to level the scores and electrify the away fans.In the 85th minute, Messi turned provider, threading a pinpoint pass to Segovia, who curled a beauty into the net to complete Miami's comeback and seize the lead.

Orlando's woes deepened deep into injury time when Colin Guske fouled Messi, earning a second yellow card and reducing the hosts to 10 men. Seizing the moment, Messi converted a free-kick with surgical precision, sealing Inter Miami's first-ever win against Orlando City across all competitions.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar