Inter Miami get back to winning ways in style

Inter Miami 4 – 0 DC United

MIAMI, FL–The Herons ended a run of five games without a win by comfortably defeating DC United in front of their raucous home crowd.

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez led the charge with a brace apiece, as they set the standard for the rest of the team and continue to show their qualities.

And they didn’t take long to set the wheels in motion. Just two minutes in and Sergio Reguilon had room on the left. His cross was flicked on by German Berterame, which found Suarez who was off balance but floated his shot into the top corner.

The goal gave Miami the incentive to go looking for a second, but the game slowly drifted as neither side created any decent chances of note.

DC are content to let the opposition keep the ball as they look to punish them on the break, and this plays into the hands of Miami who like to control the game and dictate play.

However, Miami didn’t show their normal level of urgency. And then out of nowhere Messi created confusion in the penalty area and the ball eventually fell for Suarez to get his second.

When they were two goals down DC might have had a penalty after a clash in the area led to a video review, but surprisingly nothing was given and Miami got the rub of the green.

The second half started like the first with a Miami goal in the opening minutes after Messi got on the end of a Suarez pass in front of goal. It effectively ended the contest there and then and Miami went on to win comfortably.

Messi hit the post after another scintillating run that had defenders backing off until the Miami captain was in sight of goal.

And he was at it again soon after when he jinked his way into the area before passing the ball into the net to make it four and get the sellout crowd in party mood.

DC looked like a side that have struggled in recent times, and they just weren’t able to compete with the Miami frontline.

Miami enjoyed more than sixty percent of possession throughout the game, but interestingly both sides had similar amounts of attempts on goal, which clearly points at the Herons ability to finish their openings.

Berterame will be disappointed not to be a scorer when his team plunder four goals, but his input needs to be acknowledged. His tireless running and hold up play is often the reason his veteran colleagues get the space they need to score.

He is the most fouled player in the side this season, which is a result of his hold up play, inviting the defenders in to win his side a free kick and create a set piece opportunity.

It was a dominating performance from Miami who will be pleased, if not relieved to get back to winning ways, and a rare clean sheet.

The win moves them up to second spot in the table and cements Messi’s position as the season’s top scorer with six games of the regular season to go.