Duncan McGuire scored the equalizer in the 66th minute to help Orlando City gain a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami on Sunday night, extending the club’s unbeaten streak to 10.
Inter Miami played without Lionel Messi, who was held out because of muscle fatigue. Messi also missed September 16 match against Atlanta United for the same reason.
Neither of the teams scored until David Ruíz found the net for a second time this season, scoring unassisted in the 52nd minute to give Inter Miami a 1-0 lead.
Busquets, former Barcelona midfielder, was rested with an eye toward the U.S. Open Cup final at home on Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo.
Miami remained in 14th place in the Eastern Conference with the result, but only five points behind New York City FC for the ninth and final playoff berth with two games in hand.
Both NYCFC (37 points) and 10th-place D.C. United (36 points) have played two more league matches than the Herons, who are hoping Messi and Alba will regain their health for the stretch run.
After Orlando had the better of the first half, Miami took the lead early in the second on an attack that began when Dixon Arroyo made an interception in midfield and found Leonardo Campana with a through ball.
Campana pushed the ball further forward to Josef Martinez, whose low shot from the left side of the penalty area forced goalkeeper Pedro Gallese into a diving stop.
Ruiz was first to the rebound and drove his finish into an open net before Gallese could regain his position.
McGuire’s leveller also began with a turnover in midfield, before Dagur Thorhallsson, Martin Ojeda and Wilder Cartagena all connected.
