A Scrappy Encounter sees Nine-Man Inter Miami Secure the Win

Philadelphia Union 1 Inter Miami 2

Inter Miami managed to secure all three points after conceding an early goal and despite having two players sent off.

Inter Miami, missing the influential presence of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Matias Rojas, who are all currently representing their national teams at the Copa America, faced a determined Philadelphia side, desperate to end a six-match run winless streak.

Inter is making a bad habit of going behind and making it hard for themselves, and they were undone with ease in the third minute when they lost possession in the Union half.

A ball from the impressive Jakob Glesnes, looking for his striker Mikael Uhre, caught the Miami defenders on the back foot, and they never got close to catching him. His strength and pace created the shooting chance and he easily beat Drake Callender, who could have done better.

By playing such a high line at the back, Inter are running the risk of being caught on the break, and they must be much sharper in future against teams that can punish them and take these chances.

Minutes after the goal, the Union could have made it two with a similar move. Quinn Sullivan ran at Callender, but he shot wide after an attempted recovery challenge from Tomas Aviles did enough to put him off.

It was a scrappy game and Miami were forced back by a Union side that showed no fear and went looking for a second and were unlucky now to find it.

The second half ended with Union on top as they sought to extend their lead. Marcelo Weigandt made a fantastic block to deny Sullivan when it looked like he was destined to score and maybe should have. Jeremy Rafanello had a late chance but shot high and wide when he should have hit the target.

The second half started like the first with an early goal, but this time it was Miami that scored. Good work down the left fed the ball the tireless Jordi Alba. His ball into Benjamin Cremaschi eventually finds its way to Julian Gressel.

The winger was given way too much time by the Union defense, and he was able to let the ball come down as he struck a sweet volley into the net.

It was an equalizer they deserved and should have provided the platform to go on and win the game, but there was more drama to follow.

As Inter went about trying to find the winner, they shot themselves in the foot with some poor discipline. David Ruiz lost control of the ball on the edge of the Inter penalty area, and his attempted recovery tackle was late on Leon Flach. He received his second yellow card and was sent off.

It was a clumsy challenge that just made it harder for his team, but it got worse.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Aviles petulantly kicked the ball away in front of the referee and was also given his second yellow card.

It meant that Miami had to play the remainder of the game with just nine men and in reality, should have handed Union the ascendancy, but it didn’t turn out that way.

As the clock ticked down and another Union attack broke down, Yannick Bright did some great work on the Miami left and released Leonardo Frugis Alfonso who powered away from the defenders and beat Oliver Semmie with what turned out to be the winner.

It was probably more than they deserved, but you have to give credit to a side that is two players down and still poses a significant threat.

In Leo Campana and Cremaschi, Inter has two fine young players who are full of running and energy. It was that energy that helped Miami overcome a difficult game, but the Miami machine continues on. Next up, it’s the Columbus Crew in midweek as Miami will look to extend their winning form.