Orlando City Stamps Authority on Florida with 4-1 Rout of Inter Miami

ORLANDO, FL — The Florida Derby delivered everything fans wanted and more. Orlando City dismantled Inter Miami 4-1 at Inter&Co Stadium on Sunday night, with Luis Muriel leading the charge in a performance that left no doubt about which team owns the Sunshine State right now.

Muriel needed just two minutes to announce his intentions, latching onto Martín Ojeda's perfect delivery to fire Orlando ahead. The Colombian striker has been absolutely lethal lately—five goals in his last two matches after torching Necaxa with a hat-trick earlier this week.

Miami hit back immediately through Yannick Bright, whose thunderbolt from distance in the fifth minute briefly quieted the purple-packed stadium. That early exchange set the tone for what would become a feisty, physical encounter.

"We know that we're strong here when we play them," said Orlando captain Robin Jansson, who picked up a yellow card in the first half but kept his composure throughout. "When we got to 1-0, it was a really good atmosphere around here, even before. Then they scored so quickly on us, which we didn't really like. But [the fans] brought us back up again and we moved on from there."

The first half saw yellow cards flying as both teams battled for control. Maximiliano Falcón and David Brekalo engaged in their own personal war. Jansson himself was booked for a hard challenge on Tadeo Allende. Alexander Freeman sent Luis Suárez tumbling. César Araújo handled the ball. The intensity was off the charts, but Orlando never lost their composure.

Coming out of halftime, Muriel changed the game's trajectory with his second goal. Finding space after a corner in the 50th minute, he somehow squeezed his shot home from the tightest of angles. Inter&Co Stadium erupted.

Then came the moment that summed up Miami's night. In the 57th minute, Martín Ojeda picked up the ball and drove straight at Sergio Busquets. The aging Spanish legend had no answer for Ojeda's pace, and the Argentine midfielder coolly slotted past Óscar Ustari at the near post. With 14 goals and 14 assists this season, Ojeda is playing at an MVP level.

Orlando wasn't done. As the crowd serenaded their team with "Olé" chants, the Lions passed Miami into submission. Marco Pašalić added the fourth goal in the 88th minute, converting Alexander Freeman's setup to complete the demolition.

The numbers painted a clear picture of Orlando's dominance: 21 shots to 10, with 12 finding the target. Ustari worked overtime making eight saves, while Pedro Gallese was largely a spectator. His biggest moment came when Suárez attempted something special from the halfway line—Gallese produced an acrobatic save, tipping the ball over but colliding hard with his knee. After a nervous pause for treatment, the Peruvian keeper gave the thumbs up and played on.

Inter Miami's attempts to change the game fell flat. Substitutions brought fresh legs but no fresh ideas. They looked a step behind all night, unable to match Orlando's energy or execution.

This result carries weight beyond just three points. Orlando City climbs to fourth place in the Eastern Conference, controlling their destiny for home-field advantage come playoff time. They've swept the season series against their biggest rivals and made a statement: Florida belongs to the Lions. The team has never lost to Miami at Inter&Co Stadium, a streak they proudly maintained.

Of course, Miami still has Lionel Messi waiting in the wings. The Argentine superstar leads MLS in goals despite missing recent games, and his return could alter everything. But that's a story for another day. This night was all about Orlando City showing they're legitimate contenders.

The Lions face a crucial stretch ahead. Sporting Kansas City comes to town Saturday, August 16, before Orlando heads west for a Leagues Cup quarterfinal clash with Toluca in Los Angeles on August 20.

Based on this performance, Orlando City fans have every reason to dream big. When Muriel is scoring, Ojeda is creating, and the team is playing with this kind of swagger, anything feels possible.

The message from Inter&Co Stadium was loud and clear: Orlando City isn't just competing—they're dominating. And right now, Florida is definitely painted purple.