InterMiami showing resilience, growth in recent matches

Inter Miami survived a pulsating thriller in Atlanta, Georgia in MLS’ Sunday Soccer spectacle. Atlanta were looking to bounce back from a shaky run of form which saw them lose to Charlotte FC and draw to the New York Red Bulls, whilst Miami were looking to avenge their first-round playoff elimination to Atlanta.

The hosts struck first blood in the 11th minute, with Miguel Almirón picking up the ball in a deep area and cutting through Miami’s defense with an incisive through ball, which found its way towards Brooks Lennon. Showing signs of a young Andreas Beck, Lennon took a touch before delivering a superb floated cross to the most expensive MLS signing of all time. Emmanuel Latte Lath, fresh off his $22 million arrival from Middlesbrough, headed home from close range. Atlanta looked to have doubled their lead shortly after when Lennon teed up Lath for an almost identical goal, only for him to be marginally offsides.

However, Miami would respond in the 20th minute as Atlanta got caught napping in their own area: Lionel Messi robbed Bartosz Slisz of possession before leaving Derrick Williams in his dust with a deft cutback, capping it off with a superb chip into the back of the net. Game on.

From that point on, it was an even-keeled contest between two Southeastern rivals. Atlanta remained a thorn in Miami’s side, with Brad Guzan rolling back the years and delivering a monumental performance in goal. Lath, Miranchuk and Almirón continued to work their magic in the final third, catching Miami off guard on various occasions. And similarly to Beck, who managed to sprint back from an ACL injury, Lennon embarked on a seamless return to full fitness. The marathoner right back came back from a shoulder injury and didn’t look out of place one bit, running Miami ragged with his incisive dribbles and runs back and forth.

With Miami averaging 52% possession as well as 13 shots to Atlanta’s 12, this was clearly anybody’s to win. Whilst Guzan stood on his head and kept out a flurry of opportunities, the Five Stripes also threatened Rocco Ríos Novo. We saw this just after halftime when Noah Allen lost the ball in his own box, but right when Lath looked set to convert his second, Saba Lobjanidze got in his way and prevented his own teammate from getting a clean shot off. Shortly after, Tristan Muyumba let a rocket fly from 30 yards out, stinging Novo’s palms and careening off the top post.

The Herons continued to push Atlanta deeper and test a host team that was all too happy to cough up possession in their own half, and eventually, they got their just rewards. In the 89th minute, Benjamin Cremaschi played a short corner to Jordi Alba, who fired in a dipping cross into the far post. Despite moving backwards, despite leaning back, MLS veteran Fafà Picault managed to pull off a world-class header and knock it past Guzan and into the left corner. It was the kind of header you’d expect from someone like Erling Haaland or Harry Kane, and it was just enough to get Miami over the finish line.

It has been a near-perfect start to the Javier Mascherano era for Miami, who have eliminated Sporting Kansas City and Cavalier from the first two rounds of the Concacaf Champions Cup, held New York City FC to a draw despite playing with 10 men for the majority of the fixture, and beaten Houston Dynamo, Charlotte FC and Atlanta United. The Herons will resume proceedings on March 29 with a league match against Philadelphia Union before taking on LAFC in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals.