Mauricio Pereyra scored a game-winning goal just minutes after his team yielded the equalizer in the second half, sending Orlando City SC to a 2-1 victory over Inter Miami CF in Week 11.
An own goal off Miami's Andres Reyes accounted for Orlando's opening goal in the 34th minute, while Brek Shea scored the only goal of the evening for Miami in the 65th.
Inter Miami thought they had a look at the equalizing penalty just minutes after Pereya's go-ahead goal, but the PK and a red card on Orlando's Rodrigo Schlegel were both wiped away after an offside call negated the play.
Orlando just missed an early opener in the 11th minute when Nanihit a curling effort that looked destined for the back of the net, but instead bounced off the woodwork. They went into the break with a 1-0 advantage after Miami's Reyes attempted to clear a Pereyra free kick but deposited the ball into his own net.
The match was open in the second half, but the 1-0 scoreline stood until Shea's equalizer against his former team in the 65th minute. The veteran midfielder leaped high in the air to meet a Rodolfo Pizarro cross and he hit a perfectly placed header that made it past the outstretched arm of diving Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and into the net.
It would't be tied for long, though, as the Lions struck back just four minutes later when Mueller hit a wide open Pereyra at the top of the area, allowing the Uruguayan to slot home the go-ahead finish.
Inter Miami thought they were thrown another lifeline just minutes after that, when referee Ismail Elfath awarded Miami a penalty on Video Review after he ruled Schlegel fouled Julian Carranza in front of the goal, and he also gave Schlegel his second yellow card for the offense. But in a rarely seen turn of events, Carranza was ruled offside, negating the whole sequence leading up to the penalty and allowing Schlegel to stay in the match.
Goals
- 34' - ORL - Andres Reyes (OG) | WATCH
- 65' - MIA - Brek Shea | WATCH
- 69' - ORL - Mauricio Pereyra | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: It was a nervy one for the Lions, but they got the three points and have now taken 11 points from six matches since the MLS restart, keeping them comfortably above the playoff line in the Eastern Conference. They'll take the in-state rivalry bragging rights for this round as well. Miami remained in the game as they have for many of their matches this year, but that's of little consolation to Diego Alonso's men at this point, who also might feel hard done by that negated penalty kick.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The whole sequence that led up to the PK that wasn't turned into an emotional roller coaster that saw the home side go from thinking they'd given up an equalizing penalty kick and lost a man, to retaining their lead and all 11 men. You don't see that very often, and it also allowed Orlando to keep the lead they would ride to the three-point result.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Pereyra whipped in the free kick that led to the own goal and scored the winner, making him the clear-cut choice here.
Up Next
- ORL: Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Chicago Fire FC (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; DAZN in Canada)
- MIA: Saturday, Sept. 19 at Atlanta United (7 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; DAZN in Canada)
