The 0-0 draw between Orlando City and Inter Miami in MLS on Wednesday night laid bare some harsh realities for both teams and highlighted a supposed rivalry that has yet to ignite genuine passion.
Despite being scheduled during MLS’ marketable “Rivalry Week,” the absence of Lionel Messi due to injury underscored the forced nature of the narrative, convincing only one of Florida’s two sides. Orlando welcomed Miami with a slew of jests at the Herons’ expense.
Echoes of “The Broward County Bandwagons are here” filled the stadium as the teams took to the pitch. Orlando City’s lion mascot, Kingston, flaunted a sign reading, “GOAT Missing. If found, please return 2 Argentina,” and tore apart pink flamingo floaties, a stand-in for herons. The jumbotron showcased fans in Argentina jerseys to the tune of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” with tear emojis superimposed on their faces.
The taunting continued up to kick-off, with Orlando targeting Miami supporters on the jumbotron with mocking captions. One Miami fan in Messi’s old Barcelona shirt was tagged, “Still in denial that a certain forward will return to Barcelona,” while another’s caption read, “Hasn’t figured out that Beckham doesn’t play for the team.” The jabs ended with, “Inter Miami fan since June, Kansas City Chiefs fan since February (probably)” over those wearing the Herons’ pink kit.
It’s always a Clasico against Miami
Orlando City’s squad attempted to echo this energy during pre-match interviews with ESPN. Head coach Oscar Pareja said, “It’s always a Clasico against Miami, but so much more now due to the attention they’ve recently received,” while defender Robin Jansson added, “It’s the closest thing we have to a rivalry, and there have been some tight matchups against them. But, yes, it’s a rivalry.”
However, the pre-match talk and stadium antics failed to translate into a truly intense derby atmosphere. Efforts to boo the Miami players were drowned out by cheers, and there was no tifo, no organized chants, or any significant attempt to make the Herons feel the pressure of an away game. The usual “Vamos Orlando, esta noche tenemos que ganar” [Come on Orlando, tonight we have to win] was sporadically heard but lacked the imposing fervor of a true rivalry.
Despite Messi’s absence, Miami’s fans held their ground, cheering and waving flags from a remote corner of the stadium. On and off the field, Miami’s players appeared unfazed by any attempts at intimidation. Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender remarked, “They are technically our rival… I know there are some Clasicos where you can see the other stadium from your own. Granted they are central Florida and we’re south Florida. For the new guys, it’s about recognizing that when going against our rival, or really any team, we need to play to win.”
Neither team found a spark
In the match itself, neither team found a spark. Luis Suárez and Robert Taylor missed early chances for Miami, while Callender made three crucial saves to secure Miami’s first clean sheet since March 2, coincidentally in a 5-0 win over Orlando at Chase Stadium.
Miami coach Gerardo Martino, who had not praised his team’s defense in weeks, noted, “We defended well, saw good circulation, and played the ball well. When we couldn’t pressure up top, the three midfielders and two wingers pushed. Defensively though, we were solid and that was what most stands out because we had been conceding a lot.”
Miami, often reliant on Messi to bail them out, needed to up their defensive efforts in his absence. Despite missing Messi’s offensive prowess, which ended their five-match winning streak, Miami managed to claim a point and maintain their top spot in the Eastern Conference for now.
The absence of Messi, accustomed to the most intense rivalries in the world such as Barcelona vs. Real Madrid and Argentina vs. Brazil, highlighted the shortcomings of the Miami-Orlando rivalry. With only a four-year history in MLS, the Herons are still crafting their narrative, which currently does not seem to include significant tension against Orlando.
