Subaru Park- Inter Miami CF lost a team-record seventh consecutive match Saturday night crumbling 4-1 versus the Philadelphia Union. The Herons are in a tailspin with mounting losses and injuries hounding the team. Messi and friends cannot arrive soon enough for Miami.
Kick Off
The Starting XI for Inter Miami CF had Josef Martinez as captain and the lone striker, and the midfield diamond was composed of Dixon Arroyo, David Ruiz, Benjamin Cremaschi, and Rodolfo Pizarro. The back five consisted of Franco Negri, Noah Allen, Chris McVey, Ian Fray, and Robert Taylor.
Inter Miami began the match looking comfortable maintaining possession of the ball on Philadelphia’s side of the pitch. Unfortunately, it was only a mirage as Philly scored on a Jakob Glesnes header off a corner kick. Glesnes simply overpowered David Ruiz and hammered the ball past Drake Callender in the 13′ minute.
Glesnes with the header to score for #Doop …He simply overpowered David Ruiz…Can #InterMiamiCF bounce back with a team full of youngsters? ..#MLS 1-0
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
The early goal seemed to send the Herons into a plunge as Philadelphia began to assert control of the match. Philly pressured Inter Miami into mistakes and took advantage by countering quickly to create scoring opportunities.
Chris McVey mistimed a deflected ball that bounced over his head and straight to Mikael Uhre who laid it off for Julian Carranza’s rip past Drake Callender. Philadelphia led 2-0 and Miami was in trouble.
Carranza with the 2nd goal for #Doop .. McVey who’s having a bad game mistimes the jump and has the ball go over him leading to an Uhre assist for Julian 2-0 ..#InterMiamiCF is in trouble again..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
Philadelphia would not let up on a wounded Miami team and after a series of passes around a lax defense, Leon Flach torpedoed a left-footed shot into the Miami goal in stoppage time of the first half. The rout was on and Miami was hapless to do anything to stop it.
Flach with the left footed dart 🎯 puts #Doop up 3-0… #InterMiamiCF fell apart after the first goal for Philly..The veterans on this team need to show up & show some pride & passion…#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
Philadelphia led 3-0 at the half and there were no signs that Miami could revert the score or even show signs of resistance.
The second half began in a promising manner as Inter Miami CF scored via a Robert Taylor deflected shot to make it 3-1 and provide some hope and motivation for Miami.
Robert Taylor puts one in for #InterMiamiCF with a deflection off a #Doop defender…3-1 let’s see what can come of this..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
Inter Miami continued to play hard and battle, but luck was not on their side as David Ruiz would score an own goal at the 67′ minute for the final 4-1 score.
David Ruiz with the own goal for #InterMiamiCF …The team can’t catch a break…4-1 #Doop #MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
Postgame Press Conference
Coach Javier Morales began the press conference by taking questions and immediately a colleague asked Morales the reasons why the team is on a seven-game losing streak, and how they can change the situation.
“We are not a good team because we don’t defend well, and if we don’t defend well it’s impossible to win a game.”
The defense starts from the forwards all the way back to the goalie on a team, and Inter Miami CF is not defending well as a collective. The pressure from the forwards has been weak and the backline has lacked aggressiveness, often shadowing players and not attacking the ball.
Coach Morales’ answer on how to change the current situation was short and to the point,
“How do we get out of this…for me with changes, it’s simple.”
Javier has mentioned making changes before, and the status quo is not working so we should expect new faces in the lineup for the upcoming games.
I asked Morales if the veterans on the team were doing enough to help win games for Miami given the fact that so many young players are on the pitch for the team. He gave me the politically correct answer by praising the young players and saying that as a team they must defend better.
I asked Coach Morales after the Philadelphia Union loss if #InterMiamiCF the veteran players were doing enough to lead this team to a win…#MLS pic.twitter.com/a1HS5VkG0N
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
I asked Robert Taylor a similar question and he also praised the young players but added that,
“We all need to focus on ourselves rather than pointing fingers or giving advice.”
Both player and coach with their answers demonstrated the unity on the team and the mentality of sticking together despite the terrible circumstances the team finds itself in.
I asked Robert Taylor what the veteran player’s can do to help the young #InterMiamiCF starter’s and lead the team to a much needed win…#MLS pic.twitter.com/ZFalhNJmAz
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 25, 2023
Final Thoughts
Inter Miami CF is a mess right now. Nothing is working for this team, not lineup changes or formation changes, or even a coaching change. Messi and friends are the last hope for Miami. Lionel will be coming in as Obi-Wan Kenobi did after being summoned by Princess Leia,
Only one man can help #InterMiamiCF turn around this wretched season, Obi-Wan Messi.. “Helps us Obi-Wan Messi, you’re the only hope to save the season”… #MLS #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/0Ra0cgXyxv
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) June 26, 2023
Messi is Miami’s only hope to make this dreaded season interesting and possibly salvageable. Technically there are still enough points in play to make the playoffs, but it will take a spectacular change of form from Inter Miami. If anyone can do it, Obi-Wan Messi can.
Personally, I expect more from Josef Martinez, Rodolfo Pizarro, Leonardo Campana, and all the higher-salaried players on this team. The young players are making mistakes, but that is part of the process and development of a professional fútbol player. The big-money guys are getting paid to make big-money plays scoring and defending. That’s not happening right now.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Tata Martino will be heading to Miami soon to provide much-needed leadership and quality on the pitch for Inter Miami. They can’t come soon enough, they’re Miami’s last hope.
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