Stade Saputo – Inter Miami, led by Matias Rojas rallied from a 0-2 deficit to defeat CF Montreal 2-3 to earn their first win at Stade Saputo. CF Montreal took an early 2-0 lead but had it vanish with three Inter Miami goals scored by Matias Rojas, Luis Suarez, and Benjamin Cremaschi.
Starting XI
Tata Martino gave the 5-3-2 formation another shot against CF Montreal, and it almost shot him in the foot as things didn’t go well early for Inter Miami. Drake Callender started in the goal, with Franco Negri, Nicolas Freire, Sergii Kryvtsov, Marcelo Weigandt, and Julian Gressel as the five. Matias Rojas, Sergio Busquets, and Benjamin Cremaschi anchored the midfield. The attack was led by legends Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Match Action
CF Montreal tested Miami’s resolve early on with their speedy and vertical style of play. Montreal countered Inter Miami’s high line by launching long passes over and behind the defense. Former Heron Bryce Duke put Montreal up 1-0 with a left-footed shot between Drake Callender’s legs in the 22nd minute.
Bryce Duke, our old friend gives CF Montreal the 1-0 lead… #InterMiamiCF keeps giving up the early goal in matches..#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 12, 2024
Ten minutes later, another long ball from the Montreal defense led to a Jules-Anthony Vilsant goal from outside the Miami box, giving the Canadians a surprising 2-0 advantage.
CF Montreal is outpacing #InterMiamiCF with a vertical game that exposes the lack of speed on the Miami defense… 2-0 Montreal leads
pic.twitter.com/jUjbkduLGY— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 12, 2024
Matias Rojas sparked Miami’s comeback with a beauty of a goal. Rojas launched a curbing, majestic free kick from a long distance to shrink the deficit, to 2-1.
Matias Rojas with a majestic free kick gets one back for #InterMiamiCF 2-1#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 12, 2024
Just minutes later, Luis Suarez tied the match when he outhustled Montreal’s Ariel Lassiter on a corner kick to push the ball in with his left foot. Three minutes into first-half stoppage time Miami and Montreal were 2-2.
Luis Suárez is in the right spot once again for #InterMiamiCF pushing the ball ⚽️ into the CF Montreal for the tying goal 2-2…
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 12, 2024
The half ended 2-2.
Inter Miami would take the definitive lead in the 59th minute when Benjamin Cremaschi muscled a ball past Montreal keeper Jonathan Cirois. Matias Rojas placed a lovely pass into space behind the CF defense and Benja finished the job, Miami led 2-3 and completed another comeback.
Cremaschi with a great effort gives #InterMiamiCF the 2-3lead… Matias Rojas gives a pass into space perfectly for Benja …#MLS
— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) May 12, 2024
Postgame
Tata Martino receives major criticism from some fans because they often perceive his tactics as wrong. During Saturday’s press conference, the Inter Miami Coach candidly admitted that he made a mistake in the reading and preparation for the match against CF Montreal,
I shouldn’t modify the team’s style of play. The minutes I modified the team’s style we were down 2-0. I made a mistake in my reading and preparation for the match. The moment we switched to a 4-4-2, we were more comfortable and more ourselves, and we were able to revert the match.
Tata seems to want to force the 5-3-2 on Inter Miami, but every time he uses that formation Miami’s defense becomes Swiss cheese. The holes in the backline of five are taken advantage of by opposing teams. The only positive of Miami’s early deficit is that it allowed Tata to understand that his team is not built to play with a high press and a backline of five. It takes immense courage and confidence for a coach to admit he made a mistake in reading the opponent and also in his preparation of the team for the match.
Final thoughts
Matias Rojas is an absolute gem of an acquisition by Chris Henderson. Henderson has surrounded Messi with lots of midfield talent but he needs to get some fast and talented defenders on the squad. Miami has a stellar team, but they will find it very difficult to have to consistently score three or more goals a game.
The Goat was stepped on and went down in pain. It looked accidental, but the Impact defender should have received a yellow card.
It looks like Tata will minimize the 5-3-2 formation in favor of playing formations that are more in tune with Miami’s player profile. It doesn’t mean we won’t see the formation or the tactics again, I think it means there will be some adjustments made. One possibility is placing the defensive block a bit lower to protect from the long passes over and behind the defense.
Tomas Aviles did not play in the match and there was a glaring hole at center back. Ian Fray is being brought back slowly by the team, he would seem like the natural replacement when Tomas is out. Kryvtsov has been injured a lot this season and just looks like he has lost a step. I’m not sure why Ryan Sailor in a situation like Saturday doesn’t get an opportunity.
Once Diego Gomez and Federico Redondo return fully healthy many of the defensive issues will improve. The dynamic midfielders provide greater intensity and energy defensively and on the attack.
The Herons continue in first place in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield race, but FC Cincinnati is hot on their trail. Inter Miami needs to dispose of their rivals, Orlando City, this Wednesday on the road to stay on top of the MLS mountain. It’s going to be a tough match for Miami, Orlando City will be out seeking to avenge the drubbing Miami gave them earlier this season.
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