Lionel Messi & Inter Miami search for answers: “It hurts” | MLSSoccer.com

It wasn’t quite the Rivalry Week Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF were hoping for.

The Herons were thoroughly ousted on their home field by Orlando City SC, who put on a comprehensive display at both ends of the pitch en route to a 3-0 Florida Derby victory in the opener of a Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire doubleheader.

South Florida struggles

With the win, Orlando became the first team to shut out Inter Miami at Chase Stadium since FC Cincinnati did so on Oct. 7, 2023. It broke a streak of 24 consecutive home matches with a goal.

After the match, Messi made his feelings clear on Miami’s current predicament.

“The truth is it hurts to lose another game,” said the legendary Argentine No. 10 in Spanish on MLS Season Pass. “We’re going through a period of bad results, but we have to keep working and think about what’s coming.

“We have three or four games left before the month ends, and we need to finish the best way possible to face the Club World Cup.”

Ready to rebound?

Since their 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew on April 19, Inter Miami have fallen into a slump, winning just once in seven matches across all competitions (1W-5L-1D).

The downtick in form has seen the Herons fall to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, seven points off the top spot.

But this poor stretch of results won’t deter Messi and his Miami teammates from reaching the goals they set for themselves this season, and the Herons are determined to begin their turnaround when they visit East leaders Philadelphia Union next Saturday (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).

“We have to keep going because it’s a complicated moment, but we’re all united,” stated Messi. “And now we’re really going to see if we’re a team. It’s in the difficult moments. Because when everything is going well, it’s very easy. But during tough times, like now, is when we have to be more united than ever, be a real team and get it done.

“I think we have the team to do it, so we just have to think about what’s coming and get ready for Philadelphia.”