Miami Concede Six Goals as Cincinnati Run Riot

FC Cincinnati 6-1 Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami was taught a harsh lesson on Saturday evening when they were undone by a relentless, electrifying FC Cincinnati. The home team ware far too good for Miami, who struggled to cope with the pace and movement of their attacking opponents.

The normally unflappable Sergio Busquets was sent off for dissent just after the hour mark, but in truth, the game had already been lost at that point after some questionable defending from The Herons on a night that they’ll want to forget.

The game was played at a frenetic pace, with both sides having a number of chances in the opening twenty minutes and both keepers making saves. But it was the Cincinnati that scored first after Luca Orellano turned Sergii Kryvstov far too easily and had acres of space to run into.

He squared it into the path of Yuya Kubo, who managed to find the net despite Drake Callender getting a hand on it.

The game continued to flow, with both sides going close until Kryvstov met a corner with a thundering header that leveled the match.

Luciano Acosta was a constant threat to the Miami back line. His pace and trickery proved too much for Busquets and Co, and he showed great composure to score his sides second and start the onslaught.

They seemed to be able to score at will, and two minutes later, it was 3 -1. A corner played to the edge of the penalty area was met by Pavel Bucha, and his controlled volley crept into the goal, with Callender possibly unable to see the strike until late.

Further goals from Yamil Asad, Gerardo Valenzuela and another from Kubo set the seal on a disastrous night for Miami. And it could have been more. Callender made a number of good stops throughout the game but still had to pick the ball out of his net six times.

In some respect, it feels like this is a defeat you could see coming. Miami may have been winning games, but they’ve looked far from convincing at times. Of course, when you take Lionel Messi out of any team, they are going to feel it, and it’s going to be noticed, but it was the absence of the suspended Jordi Alba that showed in this game.

The fullback’s experience, along with Busquets, has often proved enough to get the team over the line. Both defensively and in attack, they have both proved to be fantastic additions to the team, so when they’re not playing, it shows.

Busquets will no doubt regret arguing with the referee, but it seemed very harsh to receive two yellow cards in such quick succession; however, he should know better, and we can only assume that whatever he said was deemed worthy of the decision.

The manner of the defeat will be hard to take for a side that has enjoyed the rub of the green more often than not. But to add insult to injury, Cincinnati dislodged them from the top spot in the process, making the loss all the more painful.

They have a ten-day break now to get that defeat out of their heads and move on as they entertain Toronto FC at home next.