- Duncan McGuire scored in the 66th minute, extending Orlando City’s unbeaten streak to ten games in a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami
- Lionel Messi was unable to play for Inter Miami due to muscle fatigue, and Miami remained 14th in the Eastern Conference
Duncan McGuire scored in the 66th minute to help Orlando City draw 1-1 with Inter Miami on Sunday night, extending the club’s unbeaten streak to ten games.
Lionel Messi was unable to play for Inter Miami due to muscle fatigue. Messi was also absent from the September 16 match against Atlanta United for the same reason.
Neither team scored until David Ruz found the net for the second time this season in the 52nd minute, giving Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.
Busquets, a former Barcelona midfielder, was rested ahead of the US Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday at home.
With the result, Miami remained 14th in the Eastern Conference but only five points behind New York City FC for the ninth and final playoff spot with two games remaining.
Both NYCFC (37 points) and D.C. United (36 points) have played two more league games than the Herons, hoping Messi and Alba can recover in time for the playoffs.
After Orlando had the better of the first half, Miami took the lead early in the second on an attack that began with Dixon Arroyo’s interception in midfield and a through ball to Leonardo Campana.
Campana advanced the ball to Josef Martinez, whose low shot from the left side of the penalty area forced goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to dive.
Before Gallese could reclaim his position, Ruiz was first to the rebound and drove his finish into an open net.
McGuire’s equalizer also started with a turnover in midfield, followed by Dagur Thorhallsson, Martin Ojeda, and Wilder Cartagena all connecting.