Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Union
Inter Miami defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1 thanks to goals from Robert Taylor and Lionel Messi. It was a chippy affair that saw 34 fouls called and 8 yellow cards handed out, mainly to Miami. The Union out-shot Miami 20 to 6 and their 2.5 xG was greater than Miami’s 1.9. Nevertheless, a composed and highly efficient Herons side were able to weather the Boys in Blue’s pressing, and see out the win.
First Half
It would be the Herons who had the first real chance of the match. In the 5th minute, former Union man Fafà Picault leapt over Nathan Harriel to head a cross towards Andre Blake’s net. The Jamaican net-minder could only watch but the ball clanged off the upright, preventing Miami from taking an early lead.
The Union had a good counter attacking opportunity in the 13th minute. Daniel Gazdag was hacked down and Frankie Westfield collected the loose ball as the referee signaled for advantage. The LB found Mikael Uhre, who carried forward to just outside Miami’s box. His cut back pass found Jovan Lukić but the Serbian’s strike was saved by Miami keeper Oscar Ustari.
Miami’s Benjamin Cremaschi was the first player to enter the referee’s book in the 21st minute due to a late tackle on Gazdag that left the Hungarian international’s ankle bloody. This level of intensity would continue throughout the match, from both sides.
Shortly after, Miami would score the opening goal of the match. The Heron’s calmly played around the Union’s press and broke through the Philly defense. Despite slipping near midfield, Sergio Busquets was able to play a penetrating pass that put Jordi Alba in behind the Union’s backline. His cross to the back post found Benjamin Cremaschi, who passed to an open Robert Taylor for a tap-in from just inside the 6 yard box.
After a period of back and forth possession, the Union had a great opportunity to level things up in the 34th minute, but were unable to finish the chance. After great work from Gazdag in midfield, Tai Baribo found Quinn Sullivan on the wing. His cross came in too high for Uhre, but Danley’s header across kept the play alive. Miami’s Falcon cleared but only as far as Baribo. The Israeli international’s strike was blocked by a Miami defender, and Sullivan’s follow up cross sailed over everyone in the box.
Second Half
Feeling the need to make a change, Bradley Carnell inserted Indiana Vassilev into midfield and withdrew Lukić at halftime.
In the 52nd minute, Miami had a dangerous chance. Lackadaisical defending from Glesnes allowed Picault, who is well known for his speed, to chase down a long pass from Suàrez. The Haitian’s lofted cross found Cremaschi who nearly picked out Taylor again, but Danley’s sliding block allowed Blake to collect the ball.
Miami would break through again in the 57th minute. Second half substitute Lionel Messi coolly slotted home from a tight angle following a Miami counter attack. Glavinovich was mere inches away from blocking his fellow Argentinian’s shot, but the World Cup winner’s finish was too precise.
The Union had two fantastic chances to score, both headers from corner kicks. First, in the 60th minute Baribo’s point blank shot was saved by Ustari and bicycle kicked away by a Heron defender. Then, in the 64th minute Harriel had a wide open header, but his run took him too far and the shot skewed well wide of the net.
A late Gazdag strike in the 80th minute gave the Union hope. Jesús Bueno, Harriel, and Chris Donovan combined to get Sullivan on the ball. His cross had the perfect angle to find Gazdag, who settled and ripped a powerful shot past Ustari.
Though Philadelphia had a few chances to tie the game late, it just wasn’t meant to be. After 9 minutes of added time the final whistle blew and the game ended 2-1 in favor of Miami.
3 Points
- Individual Errors: Too. Many. Mistakes. Far too often the Union were undone by only themselves. Whether it was a poor touch, an inaccurate pass, or lack of communication, many of Philly’s better looking attacks were ruined by a costly individual blunder.
- Press vs Possession: The Union’s reliance on the press was exposed by a Miami side that was composed and clinical on the ball. Although the Herons didn’t have a majority of shots, their attacks were usually a result of passing through the Union’s press. Once that happened, Philly was very vulnerable, and they paid for it in this game. How will Carnell and the Boys in Blue respond in future games against opposition that is comfortable in possession?
- No Kai, No Party: Kai Wagner’s abductor injury kept him from dressing for this game. Going into this game week, Wagner led the league in assists with 4. The German’s absence was felt, as the Union could’ve benefitted from his two-way abilities. The last game the 2x All-Star missed was an October 4th showdown with Atlanta back in 2023. He has started every league game since.
Lineups
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Frankie Westfield (Olwethu Makhanya 90+2’), Ian Glavinovich, Jakob Glesnes, Nathan Harriel; Jovan Lukic (Indiana Vassilev 46’), Danley Jean Jacques ( Jesus Bueno 75’), Quinn Sullivan, Daniel Gazdag; Mikael Uhre (Bruno Damiani 59’), Tai Baribo (Chris Donovan 75’).
Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Olivier Mbaizo, Alejandro Bedoya, Cavan Sullivan
Inter Miami CF: Oscar Ustari (Drake Callender 86’); Jordi Alba, Maximiliano Falcón, Tomás Avilés, Ian Fray; Federico Redondo (Yannick Bright 70’ ), Sergio Busquets, Fafà Picault (Noah Allen 87’), Benjamin Cremaschi (Telasco Segovia 70’), Robert Taylor (Lionel Messi 55’); Luis Suárez.
Substitutes not used: Gonzalo Luján, Julian Gressel, Santiago Morales, Leo Afonso
Disciplinary Summary
MIA – Benjamin Cremaschi – 21 ‘ (Yellow Card)
PHI – Tai Baribo – 45 ‘ (Yellow Card)
MIA – Bright – 76 ‘ (Yellow Card
MIA – Falcón – 79 ‘ (Yellow Card)
PHI – Glesnes – 88 ‘ (Yellow Card)
PHI – Busquets – 90 + 2 ‘ (Yellow Card)
MIA – Alba – 90 + 4 ‘ (Yellow Card)
MIA – Suarez – 90 + 5 ‘ (Yellow Card)
Scoring Summary
MIA – Taylor – 23 ‘ (Cremaschi)
MIA – Messi – 57 ‘ (Suárez)
PHI – Gazdag – 80 ‘ (Sullivan)
