Inter Miami have beaten Orlando City 3-1 in the Leagues Cup Round of 32. Lionel Messi scored twice, Josef Martinez added a penalty and Jordi Alba debuted for Miami.
Michael Dominski
August 3, 2023 at 12:12 PM EDT
(Photo: Getty Images)
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Why is this Inter Miami match delayed?
(Photo: Getty Images)
As often happens in south Florida, severe weather prevented this game from kicking off at its original start time of 8pm ET.
Players from both teams had begun to warm up on the pitch when lightning struck in the area and everyone was instructed to seek shelter inside the stadium.
A new kick-off time of 9:35pm ET has been set. With the next round of the Leagues Cup set to begin on Sunday, everyone will want this game played tonight if possible.
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We have a new kick-off time!
Warm-ups are now expected to start at 8:50 pm local, and kick-off is scheduled for 9:35 p.m. local.
It’s going to be late-night Messi here in Florida.
Checking in from Massachusetts
I’m at a bar in Foxborough, Massachusetts, home of MLS’ New England Revolution, streaming this weather delay on my phone.
A couple of MLS fans, one dressed in the Revolution’s “Crayon Flag” logo, approached the bar and asked if they might be able to turn on the Inter Miami game. The bartender told them they don’t subscribe to MLS Season Pass, and the two fans left heartbroken.
Guess I’ll just watch Messi and company on this tiny screen and enjoy my beer.
Fans making most of weather delay
(Photo: Getty Images)
Trumpets and drums are playing, people are dancing, who needs soccer?!
Progress!
The squeegee men are out!
A lot of water has pooled in the middle of the field and a crack team of water removal specialists are on the case.
No sign of the players yet.
Weather delay continues
(Photo: Getty Images)
No change here. Rain is lighter but no sign of the players. Everyone will want this finished tonight with the schedule tight and travel plans sorted.
You wonder how many fans will have stuck around. I guess Messi helps.
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The Making of Messi: A special audio series by The Athletic
To mark Messi’s move to Miami, we’ve created a special three-part audio series titled ‘The Making of Messi’ telling the journey of how all roads ended up pointing to Florida.
As well as his on-field ups and downs, we chart his complex relationship with his country Argentina and explain the nuances of the unique deal that brought him to Miami — from equity to shirt sales to Saudi Arabia.
It features James Horncastle at his lyrical best, Michael Cox with his unrivalled tactical insight and Felipe Cardenas and Paul Tenorio’s local expertise as we get to the heart of what makes Messi tick on and off the pitch.
You can listen to ‘The Making of Messi’ in its entirety for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for that title or The Athletic’s documentary feed ‘Go Deeper’.
GO FURTHER
The Making of Messi: A special audio series by The Athletic
Heavy rain
South Florida weather is no joke.
Apple TV goes to alternate programming
Apple TV is now showing a replay of Inter Miami's previous match against Atlanta United while we wait out the weather delay.
An indication that kick-off may not be coming anytime soon.
Jeter at his very first pro soccer game
Derek Jeter spoke to Apple TV during the weather delay: "I was invited by David (Beckham) and Jorge Mas and I don't have a deep relationship with David but I've watched what he's been doing from afar.
"It's pretty exciting for him and Jorge and happy for them and the city of Miami.
"I tried to play soccer when I was younger. I think every kid did, but I was terrible at it. I have not been to a professional soccer match so I'm looking forward to it.
"Everyone is excited with Messi here, arguably one of the greatest players to ever play. A lot of excitement, he's the talk of the town. I'm just looking forward to getting a chance to watch him play."
On what Beckham has done for MLS: "I think it's awesome. We talked briefly about the differences between playing and watching from a different seat, so to speak, and it can be frustrating because it takes time to start a franchise, turn a franchise around."
Inter Miami vs Orlando City head-to-head record
The last six meetings between these two teams have been pretty equal, but it is Orlando City who have the slight edge:
- Inter Miami 1-3 Orlando City – MLS – May 20, 2023 (Leonardo Campana; Ercan Kara, Martin Ojeda, Rafael Santos)
- Inter Miami 4-1 Orlando City – MLS – October 6, 2022 (Leonardo Campana, Gonzalo Higuain [2], Ariel Lassiter; Ercan Kara)
- Orlando City 1-0 Inter Miami – MLS – July 10, 2022 (Damion Lowe [OG])
- Orlando City 0-0 Inter Miami – US Open Cup – May 25, 2022
- Orlando City 0-0 Inter Miami – MLS – August 28, 2021
- Orlando City 1-1 Inter Miami – MLS – August 5, 2021 (Antonio Carlos; Kieran Gibbs)
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Catch up on Messi in Miami
Catch up on the Messi Miami Mania with the best of The Athletic's reporting:
Lightning interrupts warm-ups
The players are being asked to move off the field because of lightning. Orlando already off. Everyone confident it will pass pretty soon fortunately.
The Captain meets the GOAT
Derek Jeter is in the house tonight for Messi. He caught up with David Beckham and Jorge Mas during warm-ups.
After finishing his playing career with the New York Yankees in 2014, Jeter served as CEO and minority owner of the Miami Marlins from 2017 until last year.
Messi hits the field
(Photo: Getty Images)
Warm-ups are underway, we're 30 minutes away from kick-off!
Miami co-owners in attendance
A very relaxed looking David Beckham and Jorge Mas are chatting in their pitchside box with guests as the teams come out to warm up.
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Continuity for both sides
Each team has selected a starting line-up identical to the one they used in their last match; a 4-0 win over Atlanta United for Miami, and a thrilling 3-2 win over Santos Laguna for Orlando.
Jordi Alba on bench
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jordi Alba is on the bench tonight and could make his debut.
Paraguayan international Diego Gomez, who signed July 19, is also in the game day squad for the first time. Gomez, 20, is one of the three under-22 signings that have been brought in to bolster Miami’s roster.
Starting line-ups
- Miami XI: Callender; Allen, Miller, Kryvtsov, Yedlin; Cremaschi, Busquets, Arroyo; Taylor, Martinez, Messi
- Orlando XI: Gallese; Rafael Santos, Jansson, Antonio Carlos, Smith; Cartagena, Araujo; Angulo, Pereyra, Torres; McGuire
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