Loud & Proud Orlando

Orlando City B (38 pts., 9-7-9) traveled for its last road match of the season to take on Inter Miami II (15 pts., 3-5-17). These teams had met twice before, with OCB taking both matchups—one at home and one away. The first match went to penalties after a 4-4 barnburner, while OCB comfortably won the second match 4-1.

Lineup

Orlando City B made on adjustment in this one as they looked to continue their push toward the playoffs.

Tristan Himes continued as the goalkeeper and captain, while the back line remained the same, with Clovis Archange at left-back, Nolan Miller at left center-back, Landon Okonski at right center-back, and Parker Amoo-Mensah at right-back.

In midfield, Ignacio “Nacho” Gómez played in a double pivot with Justin Hylton. Gustavo Caraballo started in the attacking midfield position.

In attack, Harvey Sarajian rejoined OCB and started on the left wing, while Issah Haruna started on the right. Pedro Leão started up top again for Orlando City B, looking to continue his great form.

On the bench: Juan Rojas (GK), Titus Sandy Jr. (DF), Nicolas Lasheras (DF/MF), Caleb Trombino (MF), Brady Kendall (MF), Nicolas Bobea Torres (MF/FW), and Mathew Belgodere (FW).

First Half

Haruna fires it home at the near post! 🎯

1-0 @OrlandoCityB pic.twitter.com/vYazTUYts9

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

Inter Miami II wouldn’t be denied, though, as the young Herons responded quickly in the 12th minute. Nash Dearmin was given too much space outside the box, with neither Gómez nor Hylton closing him down, and he fired the ball home, placing it in the bottom-left corner. The goal tied the game at 1-1 in the 12th minute.

Dearmin from distance! ⚡@Intermiamicfii are level at Inter Miami CF Stadium. pic.twitter.com/cFsC5ADoo3

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

After the kickoff, Inter Miami II was able to get back on the ball as the hosts attempted to string a series of passes together, but OCB didn’t allow its rival to do so. Orlando had a nervy moment in the 15th minute as the young Herons broke the other way and played another great ball through the center of the pitch. A Miami attacker chipped it over Himes, but the play was called back for offside. Miami was really controlling the game at this point, with Orlando enjoying only brief spells of possession.

Inter Miami II delivered a great cross from the end line. The ball missed the first attacker but fell to a Miami player, who fired a hard shot toward the left side of the goal. Himes reacted well and pushed it wide for a corner. From that corner, Haruna started a counterattack alongside Caraballo against a lone Miami defender. Haruna played the ball to the right to Caraballo, who put a shot on goal, but the Miami goalkeeper made the save.

On the following possession, Inter Miami II fouled Amoo-Mensah just outside the box to give OCB a free kick. The young Herons then broke toward Orlando’s end, but OCB quickly stopped the attack and broke the other way. Archange slipped a through ball to Sarajian on the left, who made two players miss and put the ball away at the far post to put Orlando up 2-1.

Sarajian puts the visitors back in front! 👊 pic.twitter.com/I5dWksIjzc

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

OCB was looking to gain more control of the game, but possession stayed with Inter Miami II. That led to a few moments when Orlando fouled Miami to slow the game down, temporarily changing the dynamic of the match. In the 28th minute, Miami was able to take a shot from outside the box that hit the post. The ball fell to an unmarked Miami attacker on the right side of the box, but he put his shot over the bar and out for a goal kick. OCB was lucky not to be punished.

Orlando was able to earn back-to-back corners that were quite dangerous, but neither resulted in a goal. In the 32nd minute, Sarajian received the ball from Amoo-Mensah just inside the left side of the box, made his defender miss, and shot with his left foot, but the goalkeeper pushed it just wide for an Orlando corner. Gómez got his head on the ball from the corner, but it was blocked and then bounced off the midfielder, leading to a Miami goal kick. Inter Miami II possessed the ball a bit more after the goal kick, which led to two shots—one was saved by Himes, and the other went wide of the post.

Orlando continued to frustrate the young Herons, especially through Caraballo, who remained dangerous in the middle of the park with his passing and pace. He drew a handful of fouls and made it difficult for Miami to stop him. Miami was able to work the ball up the left side and get past the OCB defense, sending a chipped ball toward the near post, but Himes pushed it out for a corner.

On the following possession, OCB moved quickly and was able to string a few great passes together, but Caraballo got the ball stuck under his feet. When the ball fell to Leão, he put a weak shot on goal, resulting in an easy save for Miami’s goalkeeper. However, Orlando didn’t stop, and on the following possession, the Lions moved up the left side through Sarajian, who crossed the ball to Haruna. Haruna dropped it back to Caraballo for a shot, which deflected off Leão and went in to make it 3-1 to Orlando.

A deflected shot finds the back of the net and @OrlandoCityB have their third of the half! 💪 pic.twitter.com/QUo7enw0HM

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) September 4, 2026

After the restart, Miami pushed forward in search of a goal, but OCB was defensively sound and cleared the ball while slowing the game down as first-half stoppage time approached. This was also when the crowd became involved, trying to spur the teams on. However, Orlando didn’t change its tempo and was still able to get a shot off through Haruna that was deflected wide for a corner. The referee blew the whistle for halftime, with Orlando leading 3-1.

Second Half

Inter Miami II kicked the ball off, but Sarajian immediately stole it and crossed it centrally to Caraballo, who put his shot just over the bar. OCB quickly regained possession and looked to control the game in the second half. Orlando created another chance from a cross on the left side, but Caraballo fouled a defender in the box, giving the young Herons a free kick.

Inter Miami II created its first chance of the half in the 49th minute with a ball over the top that beat both OCB defenders, but Himes was up to the challenge and collected the ball before Rey could reach it. Sarajian received the ball on the left side shortly afterward and got a shot off, but it was blocked and fell harmlessly to Inter Miami II. The game went back and forth, with Miami crossing the ball from the right side toward what appeared to be an open attacker in the 53rd minute. However, Okonski was able to tackle the ball away.

Orlando continued to pour on the pressure and had another great opportunity in the 55th minute. The Lions attacked up the left side and squared the ball centrally, but it was deflected out for a corner. The ensuing corner found only the head of a Miami player, but Hylton collected the clearance and took a shot that was blocked. The young Herons then broke the other way and delivered a cross to the back post, but Miami’s header was weak, allowing Himes to collect it easily.

Inter Miami made three substitutions in the 59th minute, taking off Seltzer-Zubida, Dearmin and Saja for Flores, Ortela and Adeclat. Archange also received medical attention during the break after appearing to injure his leg. OCB was forced to play with 10 men while Archange was off the field, but the Lions defended well and became more physical during that period. Miami created a few more half-chances that required clearances from Okonski and Archange, as well as a save from Himes to push the ball wide.

The substitutes certainly gave Inter Miami II more life as the young Herons maintained possession and tried to turn it into goals. Some suspect passing made things a bit nervy for OCB, but the Lions still had enough players back to see out the danger. In the 66th minute, Leão was replaced by Mathew Belgodere. The young winger moved to the left, while Sarajian shifted into the lone-striker role. On OCB’s first attacking possession after the substitution, Belgodere and Sarajian combined well during a promising attack, but Sarajian was caught just offside. Caraballo continued to play physically during this period and received a stern talking-to in the 68th minute.

Orlando received its first yellow card in the 70th minute after Belgodere pulled back an opponent during a promising counterattack. It was a smart foul that stopped Miami in its tracks. Miami picked up another yellow card in the 72nd minute after OCB attempted to build another attacking sequence, bringing the total to three cards between the two teams. At this point, the young Herons were becoming desperate and began firing long-range shots in an attempt to pull a goal back, but the efforts were either easily saved by Himes or sent well wide.

In the 77th minute, Inter Miami II made another substitution, with Rey coming off for Cadet. Orlando made two substitutions a minute later, replacing Caraballo and Archange with Titus Sandy Jr. and Nicolas Lasheras. Following the changes, Hylton moved into Caraballo’s attacking position, while Sandy slid into the left-back spot.

The substitutions helped Orlando get onto the front foot and create opportunities around the Inter Miami II box. OCB’s best chance came when Belgodere played the ball to Hylton, who was taken down inside the box while trying to receive it. Orlando was awarded a penalty kick, which Nacho Gómez converted to put OCB up 4-1.

THE EXCLAMATION POINT

NACHO SLAMS IT HOME TO CAP OFF A HARD-FOUGHT GAME 🥊 pic.twitter.com/ms85dVh1GR

— Orlando City B (@OrlandoCityB) September 5, 2026

Tempers boiled over after the penalty when the Miami goalkeeper kicked the ball at Hylton. The goalkeeper received a yellow card for his outburst, while Hylton was also booked for getting into the keeper’s face. OCB then made its final substitutions of the game, replacing Hylton and Haruna with Caleb Trombino and Brady Kendall. Miami also made its final change, with Convers coming off for Jena.

Shortly after the restart, Inter Miami II got a shot off from the left side, but Himes made a good save and pushed the ball wide. As Orlando tried to clear the ball, a questionable foul was called against OCB, resulting in a yellow card for an Orlando assistant coach. Miami regained possession and moved the ball up the right side before earning a free kick just outside the box after Miller made a strong challenge. Miller also received a yellow card for the foul.

The game became wide open after that foul, with Inter Miami II breaking down the right side before sending the final ball to no one. Orlando then broke the other way, with Sarajian making several defenders miss before sending his shot just wide of the post. Miami continued to push forward and sent another ball toward goal, but it was blocked out for a corner that came to nothing.

The teams played four more minutes of stoppage time to see out the match. Inter Miami II received another yellow card during stoppage time after Trombino was fouled on the right side of the pitch. Following the restart, Amoo-Mensah drew a foul about 30 yards from the box, giving Orlando a chance to slow the game down. It was the final significant play of the match as Orlando City B secured a 4-1 victory.

Players to Highlight

• Harvey Sarajian – I’ve sung his praises a ton this season, and this was another performance that didn’t disappoint. Harvey was all over the attacking half, and his motor was nonstop as he played the full match. He finished with 1 goal, a 59% pass-completion rate, 2 chances created, 3 shots, a 100% dribble-success rate, 1 accurate long ball, 1 tackle, 1 clearance and 5 recoveries. He also won 55% of his ground duels and 71% of his aerial duels. He’ll continue to move between both teams, but enjoy the time he gets on the pitch because he’s going to keep pushing for more playing time across the board.
• Issah Haruna – Haruna continues to be a problem for opposing teams and a gem for Orlando. He scored the opening goal for OCB and played 84 minutes, finishing with an 84% pass-completion rate, 1 chance created, 1 shot, a 50% dribble-success rate, 2 tackles, 1 clearance and 4 recoveries. He also won 50% of his ground duels. Haruna is making an even stronger case for first-team minutes. We saw him a bit during Leagues Cup, but I’m talking about a bigger role now.
• Ignacio “Nacho” Gómez – While it was a bit of a slow start for the midfielder, he improved as the game progressed and was crucial in helping OCB see out the victory. He played the full match, scored from the penalty spot and finished with an 85% pass-completion rate, 1 chance created, 2 shots, a 100% dribble-success rate, 4 tackles, 1 block and 5 recoveries. He also won 63% of his ground duels. This was a great match for Gómez as he continues to build his résumé for a first-team deal. It’ll be interesting to see how he finishes the season.

Other players to note:

• Landon Okonski – He was my favorite defender in this match, as he consistently covered his partners on the back line and used his size to handle his opponents. He played the full 90 minutes and finished with an 80% pass-completion rate, a 20% long-ball accuracy rate, 2 tackles, 2 blocks, 12 clearances and 3 recoveries. He also won 100% of his ground and aerial duels. Landon is aging like fine wine—I know he’s too young to drink—and has been one of the most consistent and highly rated defenders on the back line, alongside Archange. I continue to gush over his play, and others should, too. He’s been that good.
• Tristan Himes – The young goalkeeper deserves a lot of credit for this performance, as he made 7 saves to help OCB secure the victory. Sure, he conceded once, but it was a great shot, and he did all he could to keep it out. He also finished with 10 recoveries and 3 clearances, adding to his stellar performance in goal. His distribution was a bit shaky in this match, but it’s something he can continue to work on.

What’s Next?

Orlando City B (41 pts., 10-7-9 ) heads back home to take on Toronto FC II (36 pts., 10-4-11). This match starts the final homestand for Orlando City B as the season winds down. They will have two more matches to close out the season as they push for the playoffs.

Highlights