Inter Miami Bows Out of US Open Cup on Penalties vs Orlando City SC

Orlando, FL – Inter Miami CF was eliminated from the US Open Cup competition Wednesday night by Orlando City SC at Explora Stadium. After playing to a 1-1 draw in extra time the Herons lost the match in penalty kicks. 

In the first half, goalie Drake Callender made three saves to prevent Orlando City from getting on the board. Miami’s best opportunity came at the 31’ with a penetrating cross pitch pass from Robert Taylor on the left wing to Indiana Vassilev. Vassilev had his shot blocked and it hit off the goalpost and into the goalkeeper’s hands. The half ended 0-0.

41' | Callender keeps us 0-0 here at Exploria#ORLvMIA pic.twitter.com/ewdkczinB3

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 25, 2022

The second half was similar to the first with Orlando City creating dangerous opportunities and Inter Miami responding with chances of its own. After 90 minutes the game ended 0-0 and the teams headed to extra time. Four minutes into extra time IMCF scored to make it 1-0. Joevin Jones cut in on the wing and his touch went long, but just right for Jean Mota to bomb the ball into the near post and the back of the Orlando net. The hosts would tie the game off a Facundo Torres goal only four minutes later. After two extra time periods the game ended 1-1, and the teams headed to penalty kicks. 

93' | Mota gives us the lead with his first goal with #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/aZ4Gw6EG7f

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) May 26, 2022

Leo Campana scored a brilliant paneka on the first Miami penalty. Bryce Duke missed the second attempt on a poorly kicked ball. DeAndre Yedlin skyed the third attempt over the crossbar. Ariel Lassiter then stepped up and made the fourth attempt with a low shot into the side of the net. Orlando City SC scored their fourth consecutive penalty and won the shoot-out 4-2. 

Stepping up in a big way 🛑 #VamosOrlando | #DaleMiAmor pic.twitter.com/drjGGgZVO0

— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) May 26, 2022

Postgame Press Conference

Coach Neville was calm and relaxed after the match. He indicated that it was as he expected, a tough game against an in-state rival.

“It was a typical derby game. I thought it was a hell of a game of football played between two teams that just wanted to win it. I gotta say that even though it’s a defeat on penalties, it doesn’t feel like we’ve lost the game because of the game we’ve conducted ourselves, we behaved under difficult circumstances… I’m super proud of my players…”

The Inter Miami CF squad has plenty to be proud of. The team is quietly growing and becoming a better version of itself. Orlando City SC is a good team, and Miami gave them everything they could handle. Despite the workload on the players because of the recent string of games, the players competed and showed fight until the end. This is a good sign moving forward.

Final Thoughts

The Miami-Orlando MLS derby can someday become a Clasico if there are more games like this one. The match was exciting, had drama, and heartbreak if you are an Inter Miami CF fan. There needs to be more history, and important games between these two teams before it’s a true Clasico. I know that it’s nice for marketing purposes, but let’s build the history and the memories first. It is only a matter of time and patience before this matchup will become just that. The two fanbases genuinely don’t really care for each other, and that’s great for a derby.