Miami secure the win despite another red card

Inter Miami 1 – 0 Charlotte FC

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL–Inter Miami managed to hold on to a precious win after losing keeper Oscar Ustari towards the end of the first half, after a reckless challenge on MLS new boy Wilfred Zaha.

Astonishingly, it was the team’s third red card this season after having only played three games. While Ian Frays’ dismissal last week was rescinded, and rightly so, Ustari’s will not. Leaving coach Javier Mascherano having to cope without his keeper for the next two matches.

The opening five minutes were a little frantic as both sides tried to settle on the ball, but there was little in the way of goal scoring opportunities throughout, and up until the red card it was a rather drab affair.

Both sides had been seeing plenty of the ball, but Charlotte was dictating the pace of the game a little, leaving Inter to try and catch them on the break and use their pace to unlock the Charlotte defence.

Zaha chased down an optimistic long ball from the Charlotte defence. He was met by Ustari, who had committed himself to the challenge, having come a long way outside of his penalty area, but the keeper got it all wrong.

The referee had no hesitation producing the red card, but it did seem like Zaha was running away from the goal rather than towards it, which makes me question if it was a clear goal scoring chance. Either way, it wasn’t Ustari’s best moment, and he had no complaints.

It was a first half devoid of any real talking points other than the red card. Zaha had been industrious down the flanks, but to no real effect. He spent much of the half sitting on the turf throwing his arms about complaining to the referee. Some of it justified, much of it not.

Recent goal-scoring heroes Luis Suarez and Telasco Segovia had hardly seen the ball, and Miami wasn’t playing its typical flowing game. And now with ten men for the entire second half, it was reasonable to expect an uphill battle.

But no sooner had you sat down to watch the second half, Miami scored with a delightful bit of football inside twenty seconds of the restart.

Another long ball played from deep, this time for Miami, searched out the tireless running of Tadeo Allende. His neat back heel found Suarez, and the Uruguayan floated the perfect chip back to the new signing.

He controlled it perfectly on his chest before slotting the ball beyond Kristijan Kahlina in the Charlotte goal to continue his goal scoring start since his recent arrival.

The move was a joy to watch. Allende continued his run, and Suarez lofted the perfect sand wedge back to his teammate for yet another assist. After six games played this season, Suarez has a staggering nine goal contributions.

His quality often makes the difference for Miami as he continues to defy age and remains a potent weapon in front of goal.

Charlotte seemed a little shell shocked and after going a man up would have expected to dominate the game. Miami set up a low block to frustrate the away side who had no penetration and couldn’t break down a stubborn Miami defence.

Yannick Bright was excellent and everywhere on the pitch. The whole team’s tireless efforts were rewarded as Charlotte struggled in the final third.

They did create chances and could have scored. Zaha crossed for Patrick Agyemang who headed wide when he should have done better. And Idan Toklomati skimmed the outside of the post with a close effort after some of the team’s best work of the afternoon.

Yet they failed to really test and extend the substitute keeper Rocco Rios Novo, who had come on for the sacrificed Ben Cremaschi, and despite some nerves amongst the home supporters, their side were comfortable enough to play out the game and take the win.

Coach Mascherano will be pleased with all three points, and having rested his jewel in the crown, captain Lionel Messi for another game.

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