Inter Miami suffered one of the most staggering defeats in recent MLS memory on Sunday, surrendering a three-goal lead to lose 4-3 against Orlando City. The Lions became just the third team in league history to overturn such a deficit, and the sting was made worse by the opponent: a squad Miami had dominated and a state rival widely regarded as one of the league's weakest teams.
Lionel Messi delivered another individual masterpiece, scoring once and setting up two more, yet it proved meaningless. As the final whistle blew, he walked straight to the locker room without celebrating the performance that under normal circumstances would have been the headline. Instead, it was Martín Ojeda's hat-trick that defined the afternoon, a stunning Argentinian No 10 performance that came from an unexpected source.
The loss represents another chapter in Miami's troubled 2026 campaign. The team has now gone winless in four matches since opening their new Nu Stadium in April, a stretch that exposes fundamental cracks in a roster built to challenge for the title. Miami remains third in the Eastern Conference, kept afloat largely by Messi's brilliance, but that cushion grows thinner by the week.
Defenders Maxi Falcón and Micael turned in performances so poor they overshadowed everything else that happened on the field. Miami's backline continues to hemorrhage goals at an alarming rate. The club has surrendered twice as many scores through this point in the season compared to 2025, a deterioration that cannot be pinned on youth or inexperience. The departures of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets created a hole in the lineup, one that management attempted to fill with high-profile additions: goalkeeper Dayne St Clair, defenders Micael and Sergio Reguilón. The investment has failed spectacularly. Defensive transition remains a chronic problem, and with midfielder Rodrigo De Paul unable to tighten the screws in the middle, careless giveaways lead directly to scoring chances for opponents.
Yet accountability remained scarce in Miami's aftermath. Head coach Guillermo Hoyos, installed after Javier Mascherano's sudden resignation along with his entire coaching staff, faced minimal scrutiny. The new boss took a single question from reporters before departing, offering nothing of substance. Star players offered no public reflection on their performance. This mirrors Miami's established culture of shielding players from difficult conversations, a pattern that has included sidelining local media since the move to their new facility.
Defenders Noah Allen and Ian Fray were serviceable, with Fray scoring early. Allen, emerging as the unofficial spokesperson for the squad, acknowledged the awkward position of regularly facing press questions while the team's bigger names remain silent. When asked if the responsibility weighs on him, Allen gave an unusually candid response: "Yes. I'm not going to lie." His honesty stood out precisely because it is so rare at this club.
Philadelphia's Sullivan Loses Cool
The Philadelphia Union's scoreless draw with Nashville SC stayed forgettable until Cavan Sullivan's departure in the 68th minute. The 16-year-old, making just his third league start of the season, was visibly upset about the substitution. As Sullivan jogged toward the sideline, observers could read his lips clearly: a string of expletives directed at the decision.
Head coach Bradley Carnell framed the swap as tactical, bringing on Agustín Anello for defensive purposes against Nashville's attacking alignment. Carnell said Sullivan performed well and the move was unrelated to his play. Yet the outburst raises questions about a young player's development under a coach who has largely benched him despite the Union's desperate need for creativity and their precarious Eastern Conference standing.
Sullivan carries unusual circumstances into every match. He signed a contract with a clause requiring his transfer to Manchester City at age 18, or potentially earlier to one of their sister clubs. Whether that looming move affects his current environment remains unknown. Even older than Freddy Adu when he debuted in 2024, Sullivan represents a generational talent. Whether he is being developed or managed around remains an open question. An outburst like Saturday's, even if born from genuine frustration, may run counter to the narrative of maturity that surrounded his original Manchester City agreement.
San Diego fans deployed an unconventional tactic to make their voice heard on Saturday. As the Xolos prepared to face LAFC, a plane towed a banner across the stadium sky reading: "FREE CHUCKY = MORE WINS." The plea was directed at improving the team's dismal start, with supporters chanting for Hirving Lozano's return during matches.
Lozano has been frozen out entirely this season, training away from the squad and spending time solo at the facility, a visual isolation he recently captured and posted online. Head coach Mikey Varas responded to speculation about a potential return with blunt dismissal: "No chance." Lozano carries a $7.4 million salary, making his extended absence economically significant and organizationally unusual.
San Diego actually competed well against Los Angeles, nearly pulling off the upset before conceding a controversial Ryan Hollingshead goal deep into stoppage time. The narrow loss only intensified fan calls for Lozano's reinstatement, though the club appears immovable on the question.
Author James Rodriguez: "Miami's stars need to answer for collapses like Sunday's, not hide in the locker room."
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