Inter Miami CF reality check vs. Austin FC

Austin, TX – Inter Miami CF was corralled by Austin FC at Q2 Stadium Saturday afternoon, taking the loss in a 5-1 shellacking. The best part of the trip for the Herons was the unwavering support of “La Familia” during the game.

Thank you #LaFamiliaIMCF for your unwavering support on the road today. Time to bounce back next Saturday for you. 💗🖤 pic.twitter.com/6OElsQkmEd

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 6, 2022

Game Insights  1st Half

The Herons once again began the game looking nervous and lacking composure. The first 30 minutes saw the “Verde” on Miami’s half of the field, with ball possession and constant attacks through the middle and the wings. Noah Allen and DeAndre Yedlin tried pressing high on defense and attempted to get behind the Austin FC defense when Miami was attacking. 

At the 21’ minute a Verde counter finds Allen high pressing causing him to chase the play from behind. A nice through ball behind Allen leads to a Diego Fagúndez cross that is volleyed in for the goal by Sebastian Driussi and the 1-0 lead. 

Near the 26’ minute mark Zan Kolmanic sent a ball into the box where Julio Cascante headed it in to make it 2-0. The miscommunication is evident in the play for the Herons, Brek Shea is the only defender that did not step up to catch the Austin player offside. 

Shea started at center back on a line of three with Quinteros and Mcvey. Aimé Mabika, a natural center back was left on the bench by coach Neville.

The Verde neutralized Gregore by providing immediate pressure from all sides anytime he touched the ball.  The Herons captain was barely allowed to control the ball and was not allowed to make clean passes from the back. 

Jean Mota delivered a strong freekick under the Austin wall at the 40’ minute mark, with a save by the goalie. Mota also had a nice pass over the defense to Higuain earlier in the half. 

In stoppage time around the 48’ minute, Ariel Lassiter took a soft shot on goal with his left leg while he had Higuain running behind on his right waiting for the pass into the middle of the box.

Not the result the Herons envisioned to begin the game. Down 2-0 going into the half, the Herons were lucky the score was not worse.

2nd Half Insights

Barely 5 minutes into the second half a Mcvey errant pass out of the back to an Austin FC player leads to a quick counter and a goal.  A 3-0 lead for the Verde with the game completely under control. Miami continued to make foolish mistakes that cost the team goals. 

Leonardo Campana fired a shot into the Austin goal after a nice pass from Higuain. The play comes from a defensive mistake by Austin FC. The goal is the first of the season for Campana and the Herons to make it 3-1. 

Leonardo Campana scores his first goal for #InterMiamiCF to pull one back here in Austin! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/E4puBGfQVa

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 6, 2022

Poor team defending led to another Austin goal in the 64’ minute of play by Ethan Finlay. The players are slow to shift over and cover open spaces on the pitch. 

83’ minute Higuain once again makes a good pass into the box, this time for Robert Taylor, but the play is put out by the Austin defense. Mcvey had another bad pass out of the back at the 86’ minute.

At the 90’th minute, Finlay sent the Herons home with 5 in the bag with a laser shot into the top of the net. 

Acosta & Rodriguez Debuts

Emerson Rodriguez 79’ and George Acosta 84’ made their season debuts for Inter Miami CF on Saturday afternoon against Austin FC. Both players came onto the pitch when the game was already out of hand, but left some positive impressions. Rodriguez showed nice pace and quickness on the wing. He is an alternative moving forward for Lassiter. Acosta played well in the middle, made some nice passes, and took a shot on goal. He also defended adequately while treating the ball well with his elegant technique. Would love to see him spell Higuain and have the freedom to roam the pitch and create for his teammates.

Neville & Gregore Press Conference

Phil Neville and Gregore had a couple of quotes that indicate that the team did not execute the game plan the coach put in during the week. Coach Neville stated,

“For me the disappointment today was that we didn’t stick to what we had been working on all week, what we have been working on all preseason about the shape, discipline and compactness of the team.”

The leaders on the staff and on the pitch are responsible for the team’s implementation and execution of the game plan. Coach Neville must ensure that the players understand and execute his plan, or there should be changes regardless of who the player is. Higuain and Gregore are the leaders on the pitch who need to have all the players meet expectations. 

Phil Neville addressed the media after today’s #InterMiamiCF match. pic.twitter.com/H3UbL8rmbA

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) March 7, 2022

When asked about what he felt went wrong during the game, Gregore responded,

“Phil and his staff worked really hard during the week to prepare us for this match. We tried our best, but we just didn’t do what Phil asked us to do.”

Two things are concerning about what Gregore said. If this was the best effort and demonstration of the team’s talent level, the Herons are in trouble. I don’t believe that was the case. The team can and should do better based on the apparent amount of talent on this squad. Many will be tired of hearing that the team needs time in order to be more cohesive, but for now, that is the case. If at the midpoint of the season this team continues to get clobbered like they did Saturday, then management will have a mess on its hands. 

Photo | Jordan Vonderhaar