Inter Miami's Dream Start to the Season Ends in Chaos Against FC Dallas
Inter Miami's perfect start to the MLS season came crashing down in dramatic fashion as they fell 4-3 to FC Dallas on Sunday. The Herons blew a two-goal lead and, surprisingly, had to watch the chaos unfold from the sidelines, as superstar players Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez were rested by manager Javier Mascherano ahead of an important CONCACAF Champions Cup fixture.
Initially, Mascherano's gamble seemed strategic, but with Miami’s late collapse, that decision raised significant questions. The match started with Dallas catching Miami off guard. Shaq Moore opened the scoring just eight minutes in, firing a low shot into the bottom corner. This early setback ignited a response from the Herons.
Miami equalized when Moore turned a dangerous cross from Ian Fray into his own net. Shortly after, Allen Obando, stepping in for Suárez, tapped in another delivery from Fray to give Miami a fleeting 2-1 lead. Héctor Martínez then extended their advantage to 3-1 with an impressive finish, seemingly putting Miami in control.
However, FC Dallas wasn’t done. Osaze Urhoghide pulled one back with a clever lob over goalkeeper Drake Callender, and soon after, Anderson Julio equalized. The nail in the coffin came from substitute Pedrinho, who finished a slick counterattack to cap off an extraordinary comeback.
Miami pressed for a response, with Tadeo Allende's late free kick nearly leveling the score, but it wasn’t enough. As defensive weaknesses were laid bare, the Herons were left to contemplate their first defeat of the season as they shift focus to the upcoming Champions Cup match.
Player Ratings from the Chase Stadium Showdown
Goalkeeper & Defense
Drake Callender (4/10): Made a crucial save when Miami led 3-1 but faltered as Dallas launched their assault.
Héctor Martínez (6/10): Conceded an early goal but redeemed himself with a well-placed strike for Miami's third.
Maxi Falcon (4/10): Struggled defensively and failed to clear important set pieces.
Gonzalo Luján (5/10): Competent with the ball but lost his mark on Dallas' third goal.
Tomás Avilés (6/10): Showed reliability with crucial tackles, one of the few defensive bright spots.
Ian Fray (7/10): Provided valuable attacking options, with two key assists, marking him as a standout performer.
Midfield
Leo Afonso (4/10): Struggled to make an impact, completing just eight passes before his substitution.
Yannick Bright (6/10): Solid defensively but lacked the creativity needed without Busquets.
Benjamin Cremaschi (5/10): Worked hard but was out of position in a creative role.
Fafà Picault (7/10): Added pace and threat down the flank, contributing significantly to Miami’s offense.
Attack
- Allen Obando (7/10): Scored on his first MLS start, showing promise with intelligent movement.
Substitutes & Manager
Noah Allen (5/10): Brought energy to the backline but couldn’t stem the Dallas tide.
Federico Redondo (5/10): Showed enthusiasm but struggled with composure in crucial moments.
Tadeo Allende (7/10): Injections of energy off the bench, nearly equalizing with a dangerous late free kick.
Telasco Segovia (5/10): Little impact in a brief appearance.
Javier Mascherano (5/10): His decision to rest key players was risky, and the team's late-game collapse raises concerns ahead of their must-win match against Vancouver.
Looking Ahead
As Inter Miami seeks to bounce back from this defeat, the pressure mounts on Mascherano and his squad. With glaring defensive issues to address, they must regroup quickly to face Vancouver in a crucial upcoming clash. Can they overcome the disappointment and find their footing again? Only time will tell.
0 comments:
Post a Comment