By Tony Álvarez
The Florida Derby never looked so good as we expect an instant classic when Inter Miami CF hosts Orlando City SC for a spot in the Leagues Cup Final this Wednesday at Chase Stadium at 8:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
HEAD TO HEAD
- 18th meeting all-time
- Orlando leads all-time series 7-5-5
- Inter Miami won their only Leagues Cup meeting (3-1 in 2023 Round of 32)
- Record at Leagues Cup: Inter Miami (13-2), Orlando City (7-3)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Inter Miami
- 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
- Defeated Tigres UANL in the quarterfinals and played to a 1-1 draw with DC United in their latest game.
- Orlando City
- 4 Wins, 0 Draws, 1 Loss
- Defeated Toluca in the quarterfinals but lost 5-1 to Nashville over the weekend in league play.
MAIN STORYLINES
- Rematch of 2023 Round of 32 meeting that Inter Miami won on their way to winning the championship.
- Inter Miami will look to advance to their second Leagues Cup final in the last three years (they won it all in 2023).
- Lionel Messi has missed the last two Leagues Cup games and could provide an important boost to the Herons.
- Orlando City has won both meetings vs Miami this season, outscoring them 7-1 over both games.
KEY FACTORS
- Inter Miami
- Luis Suárez has been a bright spot during Leagues Cup with three goals and two assist through four games. He's one of three players with at least five goal participations this year (Martín Ojeda and Ángel Correa)
- With Messi out the last two games, Rodrigo De Paul has stepped up in the midfield patrolling the entire field.
- Telasco Segovia scored in the first two games of Leagues Cup, but since then has gone five straight games without a goal.
- Orlando City
- Martín Ojeda continues to be the catalyst for the Lions' attack, he leads the tournament with six goal contributions (3 goals, 3 assists)
- Can Pedro Gallese step up again with another Man of the Match performance as he had in the quarterfinals.
- Have 4-1 and 3-0 win over Inter Miami this season, can they continue their dominance?
WHAT TO EXPECT
These two teams have plenty of history. Orlando City has consistently performed at a high level against their state rivals, especially recently. In the current MLS season, OCSC has won both league matchups in dominant fashion—3-0 at Chase Stadium in May and 4-1 at Inter&Co Stadium earlier this August. They also tied 2-2 in a preseason friendly back in February.
However, in their only prior Leagues Cup meeting, it was Inter Miami who came out on top. In the 2023 Round of 32, Lionel Messi scored twice to lead his team to a 3-1 victory en route to their first Leagues Cup title.
Both teams are also battling for playoff positioning in MLS. Orlando currently sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 47 points—just one point ahead of Inter Miami—adding even more intensity to this semifinal clash.
Now, Inter Miami looks for another statement win that would not only secure a spot in the Concacaf Champions Cup but also a chance to become the first club with two Leagues Cup trophies. Messi’s status remains uncertain after straining his right leg; he missed both the 2-1 quarterfinal win over Tigres and the 1-1 draw at D.C. United in league play.
If Messi can’t go, Luis Suárez will once again be relied upon. The Uruguayan has three goals and two assists in this tournament. New signing Rodrigo De Paul has also made an immediate impact since debuting in the Leagues Cup opener, contributing one goal and two assists while quickly building chemistry with the squad.
For Orlando City, Martín Ojeda has been the standout. He has three goals and three assists in Leagues Cup play. In MLS, he ranks second in assists with 14 while also scoring 14 goals, making him the focal point of the Lions’ attack.
Another key figure is goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. In the quarterfinals against Toluca FC, he saved two penalties in the shootout and scored the decisive kick himself. Even with Orlando’s defense having stifled Inter Miami throughout the year, Gallese’s focus will be critical in protecting the net.
This is exactly the kind of semifinal matchup fans have been waiting for: two rivals who know each other inside out, meeting with everything on the line. The winner not only earns a ticket to the Leagues Cup Final but also secures a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup—whether it’s Inter Miami aiming for a repeat or Orlando City chasing international glory for the first time.
