Tag Archive for: soccer

Inter Miami CF

Opinion: Completely Overanalyzing Inter Miami’s Loss To FC Barcelona

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Fort Lauderdale, FL – Inter Miami played FC Barcelona in what was supposed to be a celebratory event.

Miami’s 6-0 loss to Barca’ should’ve been understandable. Barcelona is a world-class side with world-class players, and for the majority of the game, the Herons looked overmatched.

The crowd was rocking, the stadium was full, and for the most part, the event went well. But, after the final whistle, it got a bit ugly.

From tweets calling the organization, “a joke” to very prominent soccer writers getting their obligatory quippy jabs in, the borderline vitriolic social media backlash to what was meaningless friendly is bizarre.

Based on Phil Neville’s post-game comments, it seems like the Englishman took the result well, despite his pregame comments, and saw it as a lesson for him and the group:

That begs the question, why has this game been blown out of proportion?

Much Ado About Nothing?

Inter Miami has had its sins – plenty of them, but in the last year and a half, they’ve started the process of atonement. They’re currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference and have even taken on a new ethos:

Miami’s start to MLS life was tough. They fell short of the self-imposed expectations and came out of the starting block stumbling.

The media is very unforgiving, especially in football circles. The club’s poor first two years of existence will be held over their head by a plethora of national and local soccer writers. Any minor screw-up or abnormally bad result will be scrutinized, dissected, and heavily torn apart more so than the average team; being a David Beckham-owned club, it comes with the territory. Fair enough.

But, this friendly against Barcelona shouldn’t be one of those occasions.

At the end of the day, the match should’ve been taken for what it really was: A savvy business decision by Inter Miami and a great opportunity to get some reps against one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Plus, they’re not the only MLS club hosting mid-season friendlies against tough European opponents.

Is it as big as hosting a US Open Cup Final or MLS Cup Final? No way! Was this the biggest game in club history? When it comes to the quality of the opponent on the pitch – certainly! Both things can be true!

In the end, winning silverware is Miami’s main goal. They’ll get there – eventually.  But, in the meantime, playing a mid-season friendly isn’t a death sentence. An exhibition match was just that, an exhibition. It gave the club good exposure and some younger players a useful experience.

The team will now shift their focus to NYCFC this Saturday with the hopes of climbing further up the Eastern conference table. By then, all the hubbub surrounding this match will die down, and the think pieces on Twitter will cease. There will be other mid-season friendlies for people to watch, and the MLS season will roll on.

Inter Miami CF

Three Observations From Inter Miami’s Wild Win Vs Charlotte FC

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Fort Lauderdale, FL – Despite a rain delay preventing the start of the game in a timely manner, Inter Miami showed that they “have that dog in em'” by coming from behind to beat budding rivals Charlotte FC in a 3-2 victory.

It was a tale of two halves for Phil Neville’s men.

In the first forty-five, the Herons looked predictable. They allowed Charlotte to get on the scoresheet early courtesy of two Yordy Reyna goals – one of which is nominated for MLS Goal of The Week.

The second forty-five, however, was a different story.

Neville made the correct substitutions and tactical tweaks to get the best out of his players. In the end, his decisions paid off.

Here are three observations from Miami’s colossal comeback win vs Charlotte FC.

Pozuelo Brings Flexibility

Alejandro Pozuelo was everything Inter Miami needed and more. The Spaniard only had a few training sessions under his belt, but his impact was immediate.

Lining up in central midfield along Gregore and Jean Mota initially, the 30-year-old made the best of what was a poor first half for Miami.

Pozuelo was doing exactly what enganche‘s in this league do – find and manipulate space; unfortunately, his teammates couldn’t quite find the connection.

Of course, there were some moments of technical brilliance from ‘Poz’ where Miami could’ve scored, but, there was a lack of ruthless finishing in the final third.

Looking at their first half passing map told the whole story: There wasn’t enough space in the middle for him to seamlessly connect with his teammates to have a proper impact:

That all changed in the second forty-five. Neville brought on Bryce Duke and Gonzalo Higuain to give Miami more control down the middle, then he instructed Pozuelo to push out wide.

This saw some cheeky combination play between the young American and the Spaniard. They interchanged effortlessly, with Duke sometimes going on the left, and Pozuleo tucking inside. The constant movement eventually was too much for Charlotte; after some good pressing by the Herons, Duke was able to play a nicely threaded through ball to Emerson Rodriguez to see the game out:

It was only Pozuelo’s first game in pink and black, but – if the result means anything – it’s certainly a sign of things to come.

Center back Merry-Go-Round?

With Damion Lowe picking up a yellow for a nasty foul in the 12th minute, the Jamaica international will miss Miami’s upcoming match against NYCFC.

The biggest question heading into the weekend is who will start in his place.

All signs point to Christopher McVey. McVey has played every minute of Inter Miami’s 2022 campaign and he’s the most natural fit to slot over in Lowe’s absence.

His center-back partner? Well, that’s a tad more difficult. Neville has the option of starting either Ryan Sailor or Aime Mabika – both equally impressive young players.

Looking at their stats below could provide a clearer picture.

Both players are excellent at blocking and clearing the ball – though Sailor has a slight edge on the latter. Mabika has a better pass completion percentage, while Sailor is better at winning aerial headers.

NYCFC away will be a difficult game. In the end, Neville will probably choose the player who is better equipped to play in such a demanding environment like Yankee Stadium – especially if this guy sticks around for one last game.

Higuain The Super Sub?

Last but surely not least, Gonzalo Higuain may have found a role that suits him on this team: A super sub.

The 34-year-old may not have the legs to start a full 90, but his football brain has never left him. The run he made to score Miami’s equalizer was vintage Pipita. 

The pass from Gregore was even better.
Higuain has scored two goals in Miami’s last two matches – both off the bench.  Could this be the role the former Argentina international gets comfortable in?
That’s up to Phil Neville at the end of the day, but, it’s definitely a role that gets people’s heads turning.
Inter Miami CF

How Will Inter Miami Line Up With Alejandro Pozuelo?

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Inter Miami has made some noise in the summer transfer window.

According to various reports, 30-year-old attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo will be heading to South Florida in a trade from Toronto FC for $150,000 in allocation money.

What comes as a massive addition to the squad at a critical moment in the playoff race, Inter Miami will have an MVP-caliber player at their disposal. Not only does Pozuelo bring MLS experience, but he also is the progressive passer that Miami’s midfield has been searching for since the club’s inception.

With a potential midfield partnership alongside Jean Mota and Gregore, suddenly, Miami’s playoff hopes are looking a little more likely.

Let’s see how the Herons will line up with the Spaniard.

How Will He Fit In?

Phil Neville lines up Inter Miami in a traditional 4-3-3. While this system normally doesn’t require an out and out number ’10,’ with Inter Miami, at least one central midfielder pushes up into the forward line to work in the half spaces:

Bryce Duke has been the go-to player for Neville in this position. The 21-year-old has steadily shown his quality and playmaking ability as Miami’s main creative presence through the middle.

When Pozuelo dons the pink and black, he will – presumably, take the place of Duke in the midfield three. Playing just in front of the more defensive duo of Mota and Gregore, the Spaniard will have the freedom to roam and combine with the front three of Miami’s attacking trident.

According to FBref, Pozuelo is in the 94th percentile of progressive passes per 90 with 7.05 and also in the 95th percentile of passes into the final third with 5.38.

With players like Ariel Lassiter, Robert Taylor, Indiana Vassilev, and Emerson Rodriguez on the wings, Pozuelo’s slick passing and ball retention will be key to Miami’s offensively expansive, yet defensively disciplined style.

Being able to hit players running the channels on the touchline with his vision and ball skills, will give the South Florida club even more potency on counters:

This season, Miami has oftentimes relinquished the ball in favor of defensive compactness. Though Neville has spoken about wanting to keep more possession, they haven’t quite found a way to be able to do that consistently.

Pozuelo is adept at controlling the rhythm of the game and will look to retain possession instead of forcing a pass or shot that may not be on:
Inter Miami has scored the third least goals in all of MLS. For a team looking to kick that habit, there couldn’t have been a better player to bring into the club than Alejandro Pozuelo. He’s a no-risk, high-reward signing, and gives Miami some much-needed offensive firepower as they sit on the playoff bubble.

Bravo, Chris Henderson.

Inter Miami CF

The Three Biggest Storylines Of Inter Miami’s Season So Far.

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Inter Miami is in the playoff hunt.

With a rocky start to the 2022 campaign, many believed that the South Florida club would be wooden spoon material. However, Phil Neville and his squad took that to heart and used the doubt as motivation. Now, they find themselves only a point away from the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

As The Herons head into the halfway point of the season, they’ll look to continue this good run of form in the hopes of making the playoffs.

All that said, let’s look back at some of the season’s biggest storylines of Inter Miami’s season so far.

Higuain’s New Role and the Rise of Campana

Gonzalo Higuain was brought to Inter Miami in the fall of 2020 with high expectations. Coming from a club like Juventus, the Argentinian arrived in South Florida to be the face of the club. For a period of time, he was.

In his first season with The Herons, the then 32-year-old only scored one goal and had two assists in his first nine matches for the team.  Though he underperformed, his physical presence in and around the club made Inter Miami a major talking point for the media both domestically and internationally.

After taking an offseason to get adjusted to the physicality of the league, the former Argentina international exploded in 2021. He carried the team with 12 goals and seven assists on the season.

Fast forward to 2022 and the hope that he could top his 2021 form has come to a halt.

Injuries have hampered the 34-year-old and he’s been relegated to the bench, getting sporadic starts as he returns to full fitness.

In his place has been Ecuadorian international Leonardo Campana.

Since being penciled into the lineup, the 21-year-old has been lights out.

His seven goals in all competitions have been a breath of fresh air in a position that The Herons have struggled with in 2022. The Ecuadorian’s stature, work rate, and silky first touch have been key to Inter Miami’s turnaround. His chemistry with his teammates and ability to play off them seamlessly has given Miami’s attack much more fluidity in the final third.

As the 2023 season begins to creep up, the big question will be: will IMCF be able to keep Campana?

Reading the fine print, there is an option to purchase the 21-year-old at the end of the season.

Surely, Inter Miami’s Sporting Director Chris Henderson will have a firm eye on this.

Drake Callender, GK1?

Drake Callendar has a rough start to 2022. After a few blunders in pre-season that subsequently saw him fall out of favor, the California native rebounded better than ever.

Since taking the spot between the sticks for Miami’s US Open Cup match against Miami FC, Callendar has been a force to be reckoned with.

His 33.3% clean sheet percentage puts him in the 80th percentile of all MLS goalkeepers. For perspective, he’s only three percent below highly touted wonder kid Gabriel Slonina.

As the team gets deeper into the season, having Callendar continue this run of form will huge if The Herons want to push for the playoffs.

The Emergence of Bryce Duke

Though Miami is a town where glitz and glamor reign, David Beckham and Chris Henderson wanted one non-negotiable as the South Florida club went into rebuilding mode: trust the youth.

There’s no other player that exemplifies this new mindset better than Bryce Duke.

Duke’s emergence as one of the key figures in Miami’s midfield comes as no surprise if you watch his game. He’s smart, offensive-minded, and has the stamina to press when needed.

The 21-year-old’s 4.21 shot-creating actions per 90 put him in the 83rd percentile of attacking midfielders in MLS. His progressive passes are even better as he racks up 5.77 a game which, once again, puts his numbers amongst the upper echelon of ‘number 10’s’ within the league.

His tenacity and desire to get forward is one of the reasons Miami’s offense has more bite. Check out this nicely timed through ball to Ariel Lassiter that nearly ends up as another Campana goal:

As Inter Miami continues to get younger as the 2023 season gets closer, expect Duke to be a central player as the club moves forward.

The season is still young, but there were plenty of intriguing headlines to takeaway in the first 15 weeks of the season.

Inter Miami CF

Player Ratings: Inter Miami vs the Portland Timbers

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Inter Miami get themselves above the playoff line with a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers. After starting the season on the wrong foot and receiving tons of criticism, Phil Neville and the Herons have started to hit their stride at the right moment.

Miami is 5W-2L-2D in their last nine games. This latest win against Portland shows that the South Florida club has been progressing well as the season plays on.

The Herons have a budding identity and a group of players that work well together – something the team hasn’t had in their entire history:

Here are the player ratings from Inter Miami’s win vs the Portland Timbers.

*Anything under a six is below average/poor. A six is average and or good. A seven through ten is great and or excellent.*

Goalkeeping

Drake Callender – 7.3: Had another solid game between the sticks. Was confident, vocal, and had a great command of his box. Making the case to stay on as Miami’s starting goalkeeper.

Defense

Chris McVey – 8.3: Had his best game in an Inter Miami shirt. Was lively down the left side and got the game opening assist. Being right-footed allows Miami to open up other passing angles that normally wouldn’t be possible with a left-footed left-back. He was defensively solid and kept Dairon Asprilla at bay all game.

Ryan Sailor – 7.3: Improving with each match that he starts. There were moments of shakiness at the beginning, but Sailor is a rookie and that’s understandable. He did well to grow into the game and looked comfortable once he found his footing. Ended the match with an impressive 93% pass completion percentage and seven clearances.

Damion Lowe – 7.5: Another solid performance from the Jamaica international. Was first to every ball, and aggressive in winning every 50/50. Criminally underrated by the national media, but, his work doesn’t go unnoticed.

DeAndre Yedlin – 7: Consistent, again. Used his recovery speed well against a tricky Portland front three. Got a little tired at the end but did well to hang on.

Midfield

Bryce Duke – 6.7: Didn’t quite have the same impact that he normally would. Looked a little fatigued, but still got the hockey assist on Miami’s first goal. Showed great vision all night and was unlucky to get a yellow card that saw him pulled from the game early.

Gregore – 7.9: Once again, he was the metronome for Miami’s midfield. Paired up nicely with Mota as the team’s double pivot. Was defensively sound and drove the team forward when possible. Ended the game with five recoveries and 70 touches.

Jean Mota – 8: An absolute engine for Inter Miami. With each game, the 28-year-old is showing just how important he is for Miami’s attack. Alongside Gregore, Mota was very good against a solid Timber midfield. His passing ability and vision dictated the tempo. Ended the match completing 67% of his long balls and 90% of his passes.

Attack

Robbie Robinson – 6.3: Looked a little lost on that right-hand side. Tried his best to get going but couldn’t quite find his rhythm. Had a couple of good moments in the final third but didn’t quite connect. This two-week international break will do the 23-year-old a world of good.

Leonardo Campana – 8: Got his seventh goal of the season. Was physically imposing vs the Timber defense and his movement inside the final third was excellent all game. His linkup play was immense. Had several moments in the game where he switched the point of attack seamlessly. The perfect number nine for Neville’s expansive 4-3-3.

Ariel Lassiter – 8.1: Was a thorn on the left side of Portland’s defense. His speed and willingness to take on his defender one. v one was a big reason why Miami was able to hit the Timbers on the counter. Starting to develop very good chemistry with McVey on the left flank.

Subs

Indiana Vassilev – 6.7: Did a solid job on the left side after Robinson came off injured. Had some good moments cutting in on his left foot and did a great job tracking back on defense.

Robert Taylor – 8: Had a phenomenal impact off the bench. Slotted into the midfield well, and got the game-sealing goal.

Gonzalo Higuain – 6.3: Came on and had some decent hold-up play. However, there was a moment where he was dispossessed in a bad spot that led to a Portland counter where they nearly scored. A player of his caliber has to do better in those situations – especially when three points were on the line.

Aime Mabika – 6.5: Had a couple of good clearances near the end of the match. His imposing stature made it a nightmare for Portland’s attackers to get crosses into the box.

Victor Ulloa – 6.5: Did well to clog up the middle where Portland was most dangerous, especially in the second half.

Coaching

Phil Neville – 7.5: Another well-coached game from Neville. The players are beginning to understand his philosophy and they execute it well. The 4-3-3 the Herons play suit the personnel at his disposal and he has made the most of it. Got the club inside the playoff line just as the season gets to the halfway mark; very impressive considering how the team started the season.

Inter Miami CF

Player Ratings: Inter Miami vs the New York Red Bulls

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Inter Miami get themselves within one point of the playoff line with a 2-0 home victory over the New York Red Bulls.

With the most complete performance Miami has put on to date, Phil Neville’s men played with confidence on both sides of the pitch.

Led by an in-form Drake Callender, his saves gave Miami the confidence to push on.

With the Herons hitting their form at the right time, they’ll have to keep it consistent if they want a real shot at the playoffs.

Here are the player ratings from Inter Miami’s win vs the New York Red Bulls.

*Anything under a six is below average/poor. A six is average and or good. A seven through ten is great and or excellent.

Goalkeeping

Drake Callender – 9: Gave another Man of The Match performance. Made the case to stay as Inter Miami’s number one starting goalkeeper.

Defense

Chris McVey – 8: Comfortabably making that left-back spot his own. His right foot opens up another passing option for Miami in case the opposition decides to push him wide. Was solid on the ball and had several switches of play that tilted the field in Miami’s favor.

Ryan Sailor – 7.3: Another solid game from the rookie. Did just enough to keep the Red Bull attack at bay. Developing a nice partnership with Lowe.

Damion Lowe – 8.5: Arguably the first name on the teamsheet, Lowe’s been a rock for the Herons every time he has started. His performance against the Red Bulls showed once again he’s one of Miami’s best defenders. The Jamaica international ended the match with six clearances, five headed clearances, four interceptions, and seven recoveries.

DeAndre Yedlin – 8: Once again showed his class and experience. Didn’t put a single foot wrong up against ex-Heron Lewis Morgan.

Midfield

Bryce Duke – 7.4: The creative spark in Miami’s midfield right now. His endless running, tackling, and progressive passing has been the link from defense to attack that the Herons’ missed in their first few games of the season. Against the Red Bulls, his technical skills and knack for finding pockets of space saw him end the game with four chances created.

Gregore – 7.3: Was solid the entire match. Picked up a yellow card which could’ve gone horribly wrong against a tricky Red Bull offense, but, he did well to manage that and was the ideal single pivot to stop any attacks.

Jean Mota – 8.2: Had his best game for Inter Miami. His passing range and defensive ability were on display. Ended the game with an 81% pass completion percentage and a whopping 16 recoveries.

Attack

Indiana Vassilev – 6.5: Didn’t have too much of an impact on the game, but his runs in behind the Red Bull defense did cause some problems.

Leonardo Campana – 6.7: Was largely isolated most of the match. Had a few touches here and there but nothing too convincing. Missed a wide-open chance to put the Herons up 2-0 in the first half, but made up for it with some playful technique.

Ariel Lassiter – 8.2: Has been in amazing form for Inter Miami. His goal against the Red Bulls was well taken and on his less dominant foot. His speed and dribbling were a nuisance to the Red Bull back line all night long.

Subs

Robbie Robinson – 6.7: Came on and had a couple of good looks. Did well to peel off the shoulder of defenders on the counter. Opened the game up well for Miami.

Robert Taylor – 7.3: Got the game-killing goal. Finally getting into full form for the Herons. His speed and technical ability threw the Red Bulls off balance.

Gonzalo Higuain – 7.1: Did very well off the bench. Showed some hustle and combined well with Ulloa and Taylor to get the second goal:

Victor Ulloa – 7: Was lively and plugged the gaps in the midfield well as the Red Bulls pushed for a goal. Did nicely to slot it over to Taylor to get the goal.

Aime Mabika – (n/a): Didn’t have too many touches, but it’s a welcomed sight to see the big man back on the field for Inter Miami.

Coaching

Phil Neville – 8.5: His best-coached game for Inter Miami so far. The tactics were spot on, the personnel was correct, and his substitutions won the game. Neville has put on an impressive string of results that has seen Miami shoot up into playoff contention. The team is much more balanced, tactically aware of their jobs on the pitch, and attacking with more conviction.

Inter Miami CF

Player Ratings: Inter Miami vs the Philadelphia Union

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Inter Miami keeps one foot in the playoff door with a 0-0 draw vs the Philadelphia Union.

The Union is one of the top teams in MLS, and thanks to the heroics of Drake Callender, Miami was able to hold back their high octane offense to see through a draw.

Here are the player ratings from Inter Miami’s draw against the Philadelphia Union.

*Anything under a six is below average/poor. A six is average and or good. A seven through ten is great and or excellent.*

Goalkeeping

Drake Callender – 8.3: Another excellent game from the 24-year-old. He had eight saves and was in total command of the penalty box. Callender is making a serious case to stay the team’s first-choice goalkeeper.

Defense

Chris McVey – 7.3: Another solid performance by McVey. Despite playing in every game of the season, his incredible work rate and ability to play multiple positions across the backline make him undroppable.

Ryan Sailor – 7: Started a bit shaky, which is understandable, but slowly grew into the game. Had several great headed clearances and fancies a line-splitting pass. Will be interesting to see how he settles into MLS play as the season goes on.

Damion Lowe – 8.2: An outstanding game for the Jamaica international. Another tremendous defensive display by the center back. Played well alongside Sailor and had a commanding presence on the backline.

Victor Ulloa – 6.3: Unfortunately, Ulloa was the odd one out vs the Union. Through no fault of his own, he was shoehorned into a position where he didn’t look natural. He had moments on the overlap but his connection with right winger Indiana Vassliev looked forced.

Midfield

Bryce Duke – 8: One of the best players on the field for Miami. His boundless energy, technical ability, and agility to evade defenders give the midfield some real bite. Got himself into good spots to score but couldn’t finish them off. Ended the game with two chances created, 10 recoveries, and two clearances.

Gregore – 7.9: Put on a brave performance for the Herons. Had the most tackles in the match (five) and was the perfect anchor to deal with the Union’s midfield diamond. Finished the match with eight recoveries, and two blocks.

Jean Mota – 6.8: One of the underperformers in Miami’s midfield, Mota had flashes quality but they were few and far between.

Attack

Robert Taylor – 6.5: Looked slow and sluggish. Had a couple of good one v. one moments but couldn’t capitalize on too many. He ran his legs off and looked visibly gassed after the game.

Leonardo Campana – 6.7: Was isolated most of the match, and didn’t have too many chances. Still managed to get a couple on target, but without a true creator in the middle, he was always going to suffer vs a direct team like the Union.

Indiana Vassilev – 7.2: Looked hungry and dangerous. His left foot prove to be valuable as he cut inside several times to pull Philly’s defense out of shape. Ended the game with a 93% pass completion percentage and two chances created.

Subs

DeAndre Yedlin – 6.3: Provided some spark, but was out of the game rhythm. Did well to see out the draw.

Ariel Lassiter – 6.2: Much like Yedlin, looked out of rhythm and struggled to connect with his teammates. Was solid on defense to help Miami keep the point.

Gonzalo Higuain – 6: Looked motivated and was that creative spark Miami need to get three points. Unfortunately, a lot of his ideas didn’t connect and fell flat.

Emerson Rodriguez – 6.2: Didn’t do much during his cameo off the bench. Had some flashy moments but didn’t make a real impact.

Coaching

Phil Neville – 6.8: Another solid tactical match from the Englishman. Got the starting eleven spot on except for the inclusion of Ulloa. McVey could’ve slotted over to right back and Joevin Jones could’ve started on the left. Besides that, Miami’s attack had plenty of chances and more possession. As the season continues on, expect Neville to build upon the counterattacking 4-3-3 they’ve stuck with.

 

Inter Miami CF

Player Ratings: Inter Miami vs DC United

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Inter Miami couldn’t wash out their opponents on a rainy Saturday evening, as they settled for a 2-2 draw against DC United.

With arguably the best first half of football the club has played this year, carelessness at the back saw the lead slip through their hands.

Besides the defensive blunders, Miami’s attack on the other hand looked balanced, fluid, and had real intent in the final third.

As Miami’s schedule begins to get even more congested, dropping points at home will only hinder their playoff chances.

Here are the player ratings from Inter Miami’s draw against DC United.

*Anything under a six is below average/poor. A six is average and or good. A seven through ten is great and or excellent.*

Goalkeeping

Drake Callender – 6.5: Tried his best to keep a clean sheet. Had a couple of solid saves and had a good command of his penalty box.

Defense

Kieran Gibbs – 6: Injury issues continue to plague his season. Didn’t look 100% and it showed in his performance. Shouldn’t have started the match if his condition was that poor.

Chris McVey – 6.5: “Steady Eddy,” once again. Other than the nasty yellow card he picked up in the 2nd half, McVey had a decent game. He was also integral in getting Miami’s first goal as well.

Damion Lowe – 8.3: The best game he’s had all season. He was strong, had a good presence on the back line, and got his first goal of the year.

DeAndre Yedlin – 6.2: Had a bad game, and it was probably due to fatigue. Miami doesn’t have a backup right back at the moment, so Yedlin is forced to play in almost every match. With the team’s fixture list becoming even more congested, expect him to rotate a bit more.

Midfield

Jean Mota – 7.5: Another very good performance from the Brazilian. Was the perfect box-to-box midfielder to compliment Gregore and Bryce Duke. Ended the game with an assist and created three chances.

Gregore – 8.5: A metronome. Dictated and controlled the tempo very well. Stepped his game up in attack as well. Ended the game with a 90% pass completion percentage, three chances created, and seven recoveries.

Bryce Duke –7.3: Young, brave, hungry. The exact type of player Miami needs during this period of transition. Duke has the mind of an attacking midfielder and the work rate of a number six. He did well to balance out the Brazilian duo behind him. He also showed some good physicality.

Attack

Ariel Lassiter – 7: Played much better on Miami’s left wing. He was a constant threat on the counter and provided an outlet for the team in case they were under pressure.

Leonardo Campana – 7: Was anonymous for large parts of the first half. Got back on the score sheet with some slick passing and good positioning. He has six goals in the league this season.

Robert  Taylor – 7.5: Put Brad Smith on skates all game. Nifty on Miami’s right wing. One of the team’s most dangerous players.

Subs

Ryan Sailor – 6.7: Did a good job on the defensive side, but had some moments of shakiness at times. Cleared his lines well, and was great in the air.

Joevin Jones – 6.5: Working his way back from injury and put in a decent shift.

Indiana Vassilev – 6.5: Came on and tried to make something happen. Technically excellent on the ball, but couldn’t get into a good area in the final third to have a big enough impact.

Gonzalo Higuain – (n/a): Had a few good touches but nothing too threatening.

Coaching

Phil Neville – 6.5: Got the timing of substitutions in the 2nd half wrong. Arguably the two most dangerous players on the pitch in Robert Taylor and Bryce Duke were taken off too early. It’s no shock that Miami conceded just two minutes after that. Besides the questionable timing, in the first half, Miami was well-coached and tactically disciplined. The wingers hugged the touchline and the midfielders were active. Miami also had more possession of the ball compared to previous matches.

Inter Miami CF

Four Takeaways From Inter Miami’s US Open Cup Win vs Tormenta FC

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Inter Miami advances to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup with a 3-1 win over Tormenta FC.

While the Herons went into the match looking for a comfortable victory, Tormenta did a phenomenal job of putting the pressure on the hosts.

Miami was pinned back into their side of the field for the majority of the first half.  The visitors looked far more threatening than the home side, and it took several Drake Callender saves to keep the game level.

Eventually, Miami took the lead with a nicely worked goal from Ariel Lassiter just before halftime:

Though Tormenta fought hard, Miami was able to extend their lead with goals by Robbie Robinson in the 46th minute and Lassiter in the 83rd.

Although Miami got the win, there were plenty of storylines that will make for some intriguing talking points as the team gets set to take on DC United this weekend.

Here are four takeaways from Inter Miami’s US Open Cup win against Tormenta FC.

Neville Not Satisfied

Normally, advancing to the next round of a major tournament would be something to celebrate. But for Phil Neville, he wasn’t happy with the team’s performance:

Looking at the match, this isn’t an inaccurate assessment. Tormenta was the more dangerous side in the first half. Miami’s defense was sluggish, the midfield left gaps in behind, and the offense wasn’t clicking.

It was, quite frankly, ugly!

If it weren’t for Callender standing on his head to make numerous saves, Miami would’ve been down at least two goals:

The Herons inevitably found their way through Tormenta’s defense, but for a couple of moments in the game, it could’ve been disastrous for the men in pink.

Neville also mentioned in his post game conference that there were various players who started the match that asked for game time but, weren’t up to the standards he demanded:

Strong words from the Englishman that will, surely, continue to be dissected as the week goes on.

Drake Callender, Future Number One?

On the flip side, not all of Neville’s post comments were negative. Drake Callender is steadily showing why he could be starting more consistently:

The 24-year-old made his presence known as he saved multiple shots from a solid Tormenta attack. If Nick Marsman continues to have injury issues, it may not be too far-fetched to say that Callender is slowly cementing himself as the future number one goalkeeper for Inter Miami.

Lassiter Scores

Other than Callender, Ariel Lassiter had a great game for Miami.

The Costa Rica international was lively down Miami’s right downside before switching to the left where he looked much more comfortable:

His two-goal performance against Tormenta earned him the Man of the Match award.  Lassiter is showing why he’s becoming one of the first names Neville writes down on the teamsheet. His pace, speed, and experience are valuable for a rebuilding team like Miami.

WWE or Drive Pink Stadium?

Lastly, just after he scored to put Miami up 2-0, Robbie Robinson and Tormenta defender Jake Dengler got into a bit of a scrap:

It was reminiscent of a school yard fight that didn’t have too much in it besides two people losing their cool. Both of them got sent off which saw their teams end the game with 10 men.

Because of this, Robinson will now miss Miami’s next match in the tournament, which will be a huge blow to Neville and his plans.

Inter Miami CF

Player Ratings: Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC

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It’s back to the drawing board for Inter Miami.

After a stunning April that saw them win four straight games in all competitions, they started off May on the wrong foot with a 0-1 loss away at Charlotte FC.

This match saw the return and debut of Indiana Vassilev and Ryan Sailor. Both players had a standout game, but unfortunately, their efforts (through no fault of their own) weren’t enough to help Miami get three points.

The Herons had a myriad of chances to score, but due to a lack of awareness in the penalty area, they failed to capitalize on three big chances.

Here are the player ratings from Inter Miami’s loss against Charlotte FC.

*Anything under a six is below average/poor. A six is average and or good. A seven through ten is great and or excellent.*

Goalkeeping

Drake Callender – 8: Outstanding game from the 24-year-old. Had several incredible saves to keep Miami in the game.

Defense

Kieran Gibbs – 6: Decent game back from injury. Had a couple of good moments to get Miami a goal, but didn’t take his chances or pass it to a teammate. Was slow getting back defensively.

Ryan Sailor – 7.5: An excellent first start by the young center back. Was calm, cool, and collected against a tricky Charlotte offense. Ended the game with a whopping nine clearances, six headed clearances, four recoveries, and two blocks.

Chris McVey – 7: Looked much more comfortable as a center back than a full back. Did well to keep Charlotte’s attack at bay for most of the match. He was also a very good center-back partner to Sailor.

DeAndre Yedlin – 6.8: Got into good positions on the overlap and once again used his pace to put out any fires. He created two chances and ended the game with an 83% pass completion percentage.

Midfield

Jean Mota – 6.7: A vastly improved performance compared to the Revolution match. Despite leaving gaps behind in the first half, he did well to fix that and stymie Charlotte’s attack for the time being in the second.  Ended the game with eight recoveries and one big chance created.

Gregore – 6.8: Another player that improved since Miami’s last game against New England. He was lively, drove the team forward when they needed a push, and was a constant thorn in Charlotte’s side. He ended the game with 12 recoveries, six clearances, and three headed clearances.

Bryce Duke – 6.8: Solid game from the 21-year-old. Created four chances and won 60% of his ground duels.

Attack

Robbie Robinson – 6: An unspectacular game from Robinson. He is coming off an injury and playing on turf did him no favors. Hopefully, he’ll be able to regain full fitness by this weekend.

Leonardo Campana – 6.5: Nothing too fancy from Campana in this match. He did find himself in plenty of very good scoring positions, but his teammates couldn’t quite find him.

Indiana Vassilev – 7: A very welcomed return for Vassilev. Looked snippy, spry, and threatening offensively.

Subs

Ariel Lassiter – 6: Only had 29 minutes to come on and do some damage. Didn’t see too much of the ball either.

Victor Ulloa – (n/a): Played seven minutes, only had nine touches.

Emerson Rodriguez – (n/a): Like Ulloa, Emerson only played seven minutes. Had 11 touches and had two successful dribbles.

Coaching

Phil Neville – 6.5: Got the formation and personnel correct. Unfortunately, due to some dodgy decision-making on the pitch from his players, Miami was unable to get a result. Still needs to find a way to get this team to play more possession based football: