In the return of the MLS season with the clash between the two best teams in the East, Inter Miami CF received this Saturday, August 24 at the Chase Stadium to Cincinnati FC, in a match with outstanding accounts and unable to count on its star Leo Messi, who recovers from his ankle injury and is close to returning.
In a highly contested match, the Miami team with 10 men prevailed 2-0 against Cincinnati to take the rematch, after the last clash between the two ended 6-1 in favor of the visitor team, while prematurely securing a spot in the playoffs.
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The Miami team (17-4-5) now leads the conference with 56 points, while Cincinnati (15-7-3) escorts him with the same 48. Inter Miami had not beaten Cincinnati since 2021.
Undoubtedly it was a great exercise of effectiveness and resistance that of Miami, which after the initial goals of an inspired Luis Suarez (1st and 6th), defended with nails and teeth the result.
“Luis was within what he usually offers the team, apart from the goals he offered effort and competence,” Tata said.
While we had 11 players the game was even. In the second half, I think we went back well and finished it well, the most important thing was order and commitment and respecting the way of play.
It is not a minor fact that the pink team has achieved this without the contest of Messi, who could return sooner than expected.
“I am already training with the ball and now you have to recover physical shape and feel confident,” Martino revealed.
Without Messi and without Juan Gressel Martino left with the best eleven possible with Drake Callender, Marcelo Weigandt, Tomas Aviles, Hector Martinez, Jordi Alba, Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Jannick Bright, Matias Rojas, Luis Suarez and Mario Gomez.
The first time was much contested, although it ended 2-0 favorable to Miami, which was more effective with a double by Luis Suarez.
Fans had not sat when Suarez scored 1-0 for Inter, after dropping a center at half-height Chelo Weigandt and right-legged shooter Cincy goal Roman Celentano, scored the fastest goal in the club’s history
The play came from a brilliant steal from Bright, who also returned the wall to Chelo for him to give the pass to the goal.
And Suarez did not take long to score 2-0 for Miami, masterfully topping a big pass from Rojas to the first stick, when the Pistolero stung space on the right of the area.
Martino’s team, very well-planted, dominated the first 15 minutes, showing great touching football and attacking at full speed. But in the next 15 minutes, Cincinnati had more of the ball, while Miami defended itself with a lot of order and solidarity, having Callender as the hero in the 31st minute by taking out a finish at close range.
At the 42nd minute, when Miami was best played, Toto Aviles received the second yellow card leaving the team with 10, forcing Busquets to definitively delay his position, to maintain the 2-0, after the 55 minutes that lasted the first time.
For the second time, Tata dug a trench, giving entry to Ian Fray for Rojas, thus reinforcing the defense with a clear line of 5 while Cincinnati’s DT, Dominic Kinnear, put Luciano Acosta, on the court.
Miami endured well the first 15 minutes of the complement and then, at 69, entered the Benjamin Cremaschi soda for Redondo, betting on the backlash.
Cincinnati had the discount at 76, but between Callender and Martinez, who took the ball out in the mouth of the goal, they disrupted the clear occasion.
In the end Inter, in a great exercise of endurance, endured all the attacks the rest of the time and took the result, taking the important 2-0 win, the first against Cincinnati since 2021.
