DC United Kingdom

Lineups

Inter Miami 

Starting Lineup: Drake Callender, Tomas Aviles, Jordi Alba, Nicolas Freire (Sergii Kryvtsov 66′), Sergio Busquets, Matias Rojas (Leonardo Campana 90’+3′), Lionel Messi, Julian Gressel (David Ruiz 82′), Benjamin Cremaschi (Robert Taylor 56′), Marcelo Weigandt, Luis Suarez

Unused Substitutes: CJ Dos Santos, Noah Allen, Franco Negri, Yannick Bright, Leo Afonso

DC United

Starting Lineup: Alex Bono, Lucas Bartlett, Christopher McVey, Steven Birnbaum (Garrison Tubbs 79′), Aaron Herrera, Jared Stroud (Jacob Murrell 79′), Mateusz Klich, Jackson Hopkins (Matti Peltola 57′), Pedro Santos (Martin Rodríguez 80′)(Gabriel Pirani 90’+2), Ted Ku-DiPietro (Cristian Dájome 64′), Christian Benteke

Unused Substitutes: Tyler Miller, Kristian Fletcher

Recap:

On a rain soaked night in Fort Lauderdale, DC United took on the current best team in MLS and held their own for over 90 minutes. Lessons learned from their midweek loss to the Red Bulls must have been taken to heart, because the Black & Red were disciplined in their positioning and how they defended one-on-one. Yes there were still a few unnecessary fouls, but some of that was due to a referee who was definitely in awe of who he was officiating in Miami. On the whole the Black & Red showed a defensive performance that if it can be repeated will lead United to more wins than not.

Unfortunately for DC United, Tata Martino was bailed out of the mistakes he had made with his substitutions, and Miami got the late winner.. Martin Rodriguez had to be substituted off because of a head injury. Since concussion protocols were initiated, DC United was allowed a sixth substitution. This meant that Miami would be allowed another substitution too; so Leonardo Campana got to come off the bench. He would score his stoppage time winner mere seconds later. 

Thus despite playing Inter Miami to a standstill for most of the game, and even creating better chances in the box, Inter Miami beat D.C. United 1-0.

First Half:

The match was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning. When it finally got underway the bad Florida weather continued in the forecast of monsoon like rains.

Inter Miami dominated possession in the early minutes of the game. DC was content to sit deep and look for counter attacks. 

Repeatedly Bouquets’ would attempt a through-ball for either Messi or Suarez but the Black & Red defense did well to make sure those probes didn’t come to anything. Miami kept much of the ball with DC looking to go forward only in quick counters. In those moments Christian Benteke did look threatening. 

It began pouring again and the conditions had their effects on the game, but more so was DC United’s concerted effort on defense. The Black & Red worked so hard to limit Messi’s influence. The GOAT ended up having precious few chances in front of goal.

When the rain finally eased up the teams started to find their footing better. Rojas is fouled in a very dangerous area. Rojas gets a yellow card for gesturing a yellow card to the referee. Messi’s free-kick yet again blocked by the wall. 

The halftime whistle saw Inter Miami zero, DC United zero.

Second Half:

After a bright start to the second half, DC went back to its first half tactics of holding a tight defensive shape and looking to attack on the counter whenever they forced a turnover. 

Theodore Ku-DiPietro is replaced after having put in a good turn. He had a few really good moments, but still unable to get his second goal of the season. He was replaced by Cristian Dajome as Head Coach Lesesne looked to add some speed to take advantage of tired legs.

Messi would often dribble past a couple DC players but there was always another to disrupt his play.

DC United started to really push in the final ten minutes of regular time. Switching to the front foot seemed to catch Inter Miami off guard and the Black & Red really threatened to go ahead. The most dangerous opportunity came from Christian Dajome. Drake Callender had to make a brillant save to deny a Dajome strike from the top of the box. 

Neither side seemed destined to find the net, as both goalkeepers made great saves to keep the match scoreless. Unfortunately, not long after that, Martin Rodriguez took the blow to his head, and had to be subbed off, which would directly lead to Campana with a decisive strike, blasting Inter Miami to the win.

Campana had only just come onto the field moments earlier. With Inter Miami out of substitute windows he should have still been on the bench, but then DC was forced to replace Martin Rodriguez with a concussion sub, which gave Tata Martino an additional change. He took full advantage, bringing Campana in, and the young Striker got away from Garrison Tubbs to receive the ball on goal, smashing the ball just over Bono and into the underside of the crossbar with a lightning strike. It was an amazing shot, and so undeserved, but that is sometimes the way of soccer.

Full Time 

Inter Miami 1 – DC United 0

Man of the Match: Christopher McVey 

McVey kept the DC defense organized and on their toes. They shut down the most explosive offense and it took a miracle shot for Miami to score.

Player Ratings:

• Alex Bono                       5.9
• Lucas Bartlett                  6.6
• Steven Birnbaum            6.5
• Christopher McVey         6.5
• Pedro Santos                   7.2
• Jackson Hopkins             6.7
• Aaron Herrera                6.7
• Jared Stroud                    7.4
• Mateusz Klich                 7.2
• Ted Ku-DiPietro              7.3
• Christian Benteke           5.8

Subs: 

• Jacob Murrell                  6.1
• Matti Peltola                    6.9
• Martin Rodriguez           6.7
• Garrison Tubbs               6.5
• Cristian Dájome              6.1
• Gabriel Pirani                  6.1

Up Next: Home at Audi Field against the Chicago Fire on Saturday, May 25, 2024

Written by: RJ Rolsen 

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