Mascherano's Miami Is In a Mess

Chase Stadium – Mascherano’s Inter Miami squad is in a mess. The Herons continued their dreadful form, losing their fifth game in their last eight matches in all competitions. Orlando City drubbed Inter Miami 3-0 with goals from Luis Muriel, Marco Pasalic, and Dagur Thorhallsson. Miami’s defense has bled 20 goals during that awful eight-game stretch.

Derby Dominance

Orlando City took control and never looked back, dismantling Inter Miami 3-0 in the #SunpassDerby. The Lions 🦁 made a statement, while Miami continues to stumble, winless in six of their last seven across all competitions.#OrlandoCity | #InterMiamiCF | #MLS pic.twitter.com/Nt5llAxCtl

— Lemon City Live (@LemonCityLive) May 19, 2025

Starting XI

Javier Mascherano shook things up with a 5-3-2 formation that featured Jordi Alba and Ian Fray as wingbacks on the left and right sides, respectively. Oscar Ustari started in goal with a line of five in front of him: Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Maxi Falcon, Gonzalo Lujan, and Ian Fray. Tadeo Allende, Sergio Busquets, and Yannick Bright in the midfield. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were the front two.

An Ian Fray sighting tonight! Looks like Jordi Alba will play in the midfield…Mascherano tinkers with the lineup, will make a difference? #Messi #MLS #InterMiamiCF
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— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 18, 2025

Match Action

Inter Miami seemed comfortable early in the match versus Orlando, with possession of the ball and some chances on goal.

Ian Fray showing early on that he can get forward to create danger on the attack for #InterMiamiCF …#MLS
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— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 18, 2025

The action began to even out as Orlando City caused trouble for Miami with long passes over and also behind the defense.

Ustari with the fabulous save to keep Orlando off the scoreboard…#MLS #InterMiamiCF
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— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 18, 2025

A long kick by Orlando’s goalkeeper, Pedro Gallese, was controlled perfectly in stride by Luis Muriel, who finished the play with a shot past Osar Ustari for the 1-0 lead in the 43rd minute.

Luis Muriel puts Orlando City on top 1-0 after bringing down a long pass in a wonderful manner and striking it past a helpless Ustari… The Lions have been launching balls ⚽️ over the defense and finally one ended in a goal for them…#MLS #InterMiamiCF

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— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 19, 2025

Miami’s defense had trouble tracking back against Orlando City’s speed, which created multiple clear chances for the Lions. Marco Pasalic took advantage of a loose ball and blasted a shot through Ustari’s hands and in between his legs for the 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Pásalic gives Orlando City the 2-0 lead in the 53 minute with a shot that goes through Ustari’s hands and in between his legs…Falcón was blocking his view, but Oscar could have blocked that IMO…#MLS #InterMiamiCF

pic.twitter.com/sOZPpnZTK9

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 19, 2025

Orlando City came to Miami looking to make a statement, and they continued to attack even with a 2-0 lead and the game in firm control. The Lions’ Dagur Thorhallsson finished Inter Miami off with a dagger four minutes into stoppage time for the final 3-0 scoreline. The Lions feasted on the Herons, and it could have been worse.

Orlando City’s Dagur with the dagger 🗡️ 3-0 for the Lions… Once again the attackers run in behind Miami’s defense easily…Mascherano & Miami are a mess…#Messi #MLS #InterMiamiCF

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— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 19, 2025

Postgame

Coach Javier Mascherano was asked how he could change the team’s negative streak and dynamics. He took responsibility and gave the typical coachspeak answer,

Clearly, I am responsible. Try to keep working, try to find a way to turn things around…Try to keep working hard to prevent these mistakes that have cost us.

Beyond that, Mascherano needs to find a balance between the veteran players who lack athleticism and speed, with the younger players who are dynamic but not as technical. Miami is scouted as a team that lacks speed in defense and is vulnerable to long balls over and behind the backline.

Mascherano was asked if he thinks his players are not believing, understanding, or not comfortable with what he’s asking them to do on the pitch, he got defensive.

Do you think today in the first half they didn’t believe? They scored on a long kick from their goalie, when we had them totally controlled for 25-30 minutes playing completely on their side of the pitch.

Inter Miami has made silly mistakes defensively throughout this dreadful streak of negative results. Some of the mistakes have obviously been the player’s fault, but others, like player selection and tactics, have been Mascherano’s mistakes.

Final Thoughts

The Herons have been in a downward spiral in their last 8 matches. Macherano has to carry much of the blame as the head coach. He makes player selections, chooses the tactics, and makes the substitutions. He has not been good in any of those things lately. There is still time to turn things around, but is there hope? Time will tell.

The high-pressure, high-defensive-line playing style of Inter Miami is not the best fit for the profile of many players on the roster. Miami is not overly athletic or full of speedy players. The defense, midfield, and forwards lack top-end speed. Some of these issues could possibly be fixed with the inclusion of some of the younger players along with the veterans. The Herons need to rethink playing their defensive line so high up, they are vulnerable to teams with speed up top and in the midfield.

Benjamin Cremaschi, Fafa Picault, Toto Aviles, Ian Fray, Telasco Segovia, David Martinez, Leo Afonso, Yannick Bright, and Allen Obando, in my opinion, should have more minutes on the pitch. I’m not saying they need to be starters, but they need to have more consistent playing time because they give Miami more speed, and a chance to recover on counterattacks.

Messi cannot do it alone, and Inter Miami needs to bring in two big-time gamechangers to strengthen the squad for the FIFA Club World Cup and the MLS season.

Mascherano is on the hot seat; he can’t afford any more embarrassing losses. Inter Miami is looking at its coaching options if it is a serious organization looking to win trophies this season. If Masch can’t turn it around in the next three MLS games, then Miami has to move on.