Disorganized Miami wasted a two-goal lead as their big names were rested after a midweek loss in the CONCACAF Champions Cup
Inter Miami collapsed at home without their big names Sunday, turning a 3-1 lead to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of FC Dallas – all while Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez watched from the sidelines.
Manager Javier Mascherano elected to leave his Catalan quartet out, with an eye on a CONCACAF Champions Cup tie midweek And although things looked good through an hour, the Herons collapsed late as they fell from the ranks of the undefeated in MLS.
Things started poorly for Miami, who struggled to find a foothold without their big names. And Dallas took advantage. Shaq Moore grabbed the goal, smashing into the bottom corner after eight minutes.
Then the Herons woke up. Moore handed them an equalizer, the defender turning Ian Fray's teasing cross into his own net from close range. Allen Obando – in for the rested Luis Suarez – gave them the lead, getting on the end of another Fray cross to poke home.
Hector Martinez thought he had given Miami daylight with a fine finish. But Dallas responded in style. Osaze Urhoghide got the first, swinging a leg at a loose ball in the box that looped over a stranded Drake Callender to cut the Herons' lead to 3-2. Anderson Julio leveled things, latching onto a fine lofted ball before tucking it into the bottom corner.
The winner was always coming. Pedrinho, brought off the bench to great effect, provided it, a calm finish from inside the box to cap off a well constructed counter-attack. Miami pushed for an equalizer, but aside from a Tadeo Allende free kick that sailed narrowly over in stoppage time, created little. The undefeated streak is over – and the Herons have plenty of questions to answer over a leaky defense.
GOAL rates Inter Miami's players from Chase Stadium.
Goalkeeper & Defense
Drake Callender (4/10):
Made an important save at 3-1 which might have wrapped it up, but could do nothing about the remaining three (!!)
Hector Martinez (6/10):
Casually elected not to defend to give Dallas the opener, rather redeemed himself with a lovely strike to give Miami their third.
Maxi Falcon (4/10):
Failed to deal with a corner, effectively gifting the visitors an equalizing goal.
Gonzalo Lujan (5/10):
Fine on the ball, but got his body position all wrong to allow Julio to run through for the third.
Tomas Aviles (6/10):
Won all of his tackles, and stepped out at the right times to cover Lucho Acosta. The only one of three center-backs to equip himself well on the day.
Ian Fray (7/10):
Effective on the right, with two of his crosses leading to Miami goals. He has impressed this season.
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Leo Afonso (4/10):
A poor audition from the Brazilian, who completed just eight passes in 65 minutes of work.
Yannick Bright (6/10):
Not quite the same without Sergio Busquets alongside him. Won plenty of challenges in midfield, but isn't at his best when asked to dribble.
Benjamin Cremaschi (5/10):
Charged with a creative role that didn't quite suit him, but his energy couldn't be faulted.
Fafa Picault (7/10):
Got on the scoresheet, and stretched the game with his pace out wide.
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Allen Obando (7/10):
Found the net for the first time in MLS in his first start. Made some neat runs, but his link up play wasn't the best. Needs more support in the attack.
GettySubs & Manager
Noah Allen (5/10):
Extra legs at the back. Didn't do much to shore things up.
Federico Redondo (5/10):
Scrappy – without offering much in the way of quality – in midfield areas.
Tadeo Allende (7/10):
A lively 15 minutes. Could have done with being introduced a bit earlier.
Telasco Segovia (5/10):
Not much of an impact in 15 drab minutes.
Javier Mascherano (5/10):
Rested all of his big names with an eye on the CONCACAF Champions Cup tie midweek. Seemed to be going well for an hour, but his team collapsed – which isn't promising considering they have a 2-0 deficit to overturn against Vancouver.
