Miami FC vs. Carolina RailHawks – Sept. 14, 2016

No bullshit, Miami FC has been playing some good football as of late. The suggestion of disbelief in that previous sentence is not meant as disrespect. In fact, the pleasant surprise lends credence to just how much this team is overachieving. Puerto Rico FC might be the freshest franchise to join the NASL, but Miami FC did not start much sooner. After the inaugural and warm-up 2016 spring season for the local club, Miami FC has suffered just two losses in 12 matches following the break. Their 22 points had them firmly holding on to the 3rd place in the fall season standings as they found themselves amidst an undefeated 5 game stretch coming into tonight.

Let’s be real, David Beckham and his people are straight sleeping on this Miami soccer scene. Meanwhile, Miami FC is doing nothing if not capitalizing on this town’s insatiable thirst for the beautiful game and a winning culture. On a Wednesday night for a game that started at 8 PM local time, an estimated 6,500 Miami fans filled and made the Ocean Bank Field bleachers come to life. The ever excitable Dade Brigade continued their usual ways of loud, unfiltered, and unwavering support for their local squad. Miami is clearly riding the confidence that comes along with their current streak as they were dominant and aggressive in this game.

This game had a little bit of everything. A young rookie making his first NASL start in Aaron Dennis; a very impressive game until he came out. Plenty of scoring opportunities on free kicks, crosses, and corners. In the 44th minute, Gabriel Farfan cleared a ball off the line to save his Goalkeeper’s ass and keep the score at 0; Mario Daniel Vega, you owe that man some dinner. It was in the 76th minute that Miami FC Head Coach, Alessandro Nesta, made his last move. Miami played its last sub wisely as Dario Cvitanich replaced a hobbling, aforementioned Dennis for a late game offensive surge. In less than one minute on the pitch, Cvitanich intercepts the somewhat careless throw from Goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre and curls in the 1-0 game-leading goal. Un-fucking-real! Holy shit! Just picked the RailHawks’ Matt Watson’s pocket for the eventual winning goal. Coach Nesta stated after the game: “I had programmed to put in Dario for the last 20 minutes”. Following a tough recent travel schedule, Nesta saved his striker and premier goal scorer for last and damn it if Dario didn’t make him look good.

Miami FC puts up another three points on the table as they tentatively rise to a tie for second place. The roll continues as the undefeated streak is now at 6. Headed on the road to face Indy Eleven in their next match (Saturday, Sept. 17th, 7:30 ET), Miami continues the improbable, but extremely welcomed surge they currently look to expand. Seemingly, Miami and its fans have found a soccer franchise they can safely get behind and excited about.

For a complete photo gallery from this game, please CLICK HERE.