Miami Wears The Crown Dismantling Charlotte 4-0 To Reach Leagues Cup Semifinals

Drv Pnk Stadium- Inter Miami CF dismantled Charlotte FC Friday night to move on to the Semifinals of the Leagues Cup where they will face Philadelphia Union on the road on August 15. Josef Martinez, Robert Taylor, and Lionel Messi scored for Miami with Adilson Malanda scoring an own goal for Charlotte.

Kick Off

Tata Martino inserted Benjamin Cremaschi back into the Starting XI replacing Diego Gomez in the midfield, the only change from the previous match versus FC Dallas.

Cremaschi back in the Starting XI …#InterMiamiCF #MLS #LeaguesCup #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/DI2aIXxpxX

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 11, 2023

Dixon Arroyo was fouled in Charlotte’s box 10′ minutes into the match, and Miami was awarded a penalty kick. Josef Martinez stepped up and placed the shot neatly in the lower right corner of the FC net. Miami led 1-0; another early lead in a Leagues Cup for the Herons.

Josef converts his PK to give us the early lead over Charlotte FC 🔥👊#MIAvCLT | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/qKrgXNwX4o

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 12, 2023

Charlotte FC began to gain control of the match after the Miami goal, pressing high trying to find a vulnerability in the Miami defense. The Inter defense bent but did not break, and Miami found its second goal via a Robert Taylor smash off a precise DeAndre Yedlin pass into the box in the 32′ minute, the lead was 2-0.

Yedlin to Taylor for his fourth of the tournament to double our lead 🤩🤩#MIAvCLT | 2-0 pic.twitter.com/Q4AOWxnaES

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 12, 2023

The second half was wide open with both squads pushing forward, Miami seeking the dagger and Charlotte looking to shorten the lead. It would be Inter Miami via a Charlotte FC own goal that would claim the prize. Adilson Malanda’s own goal gave Miami the 3-0 lead and effectively ended the match for FC.

Only one more thing remained for Inter Miami, a Lionel Messi appearance on the scoresheet. Messi scored in the 86′ minute off a Leonardo Campana dart pass into the box. Lionel’s elegant left foot finished the scoring for the night, 4-0 final.

Another match, another 🐐 goal#LeaguesCup2023 pic.twitter.com/0ipfNdwcK8

— Leagues Cup (@LeaguesCup) August 12, 2023

Postgame Press Conference

In the mixed zone I was able to ask Kamal Miller and Drake Callender questions, and both as usual, were very honest and open with their responses. I asked Kamal about the FC Dallas match and the trouble their speed caused Miami’s defense and what they learned from that match to help get the clean sheet versus Charlotte FC,

I asked Kamal Miller what #InterMiamiCF learned from the FC Dallas match to help the defense get the clean sheet 🆚 #CharlotteFC… “It was a real collective effort”…#LeaguesCup #MLS #Messi pic.twitter.com/Ror3ACrBb5

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 12, 2023

It’s more on us. I think we just prepared better , I think we helped each other a lot more. Against Dallas it was a bit too individual defending, today it was a real collective effort and I think that’s how we did a better job to keep the ball out of the net and make everyone look better. We felt more comfortable just helping each other out at the back.

If Miami tightens up defensively they are a difficult team to defeat, because the ball possession and newfound scoring prowess make them a strong balanced squad.

Drake Callender is the unquestioned starter in the goal for Miami, even when veteran Nick Marsman was on the team.  Marsman is gone now and two inexperienced keepers remain as Drake’s backups, just a Callender injury away from starting for Miami. I asked Drake how comfortable he was that the backups could perform in the unfortunate case of an injury,

I asked Drake Callender about the young backup goalkeepers now that Nick Marsman is no longer with #InterMiamiCF…#MLS #LeaguesCup #Messi pic.twitter.com/B1QolxFtJk

— Xavier Guerrero (@XGLAVOZ) August 12, 2023

It was a position I was in not too long ago. Of course the main objective is to stay healthy but I think whoever is in the goal here with the goalkeepers that we have is going to perform well.

If Drake feels that the young keepers will be able to step in and perform if he is injured, then that’s good enough for me. As Callender mentioned, not too long ago he was the young inexperienced backup that stepped up when the starter Nick Marsman was injured. Drake filled in so well that he took over as the starter.

Final Thoughts

Inter Miami CF has won five matches in a row since the arrival of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and later Jordi Alba. The “Three Amigos” have given the Herons an aura of confidence, changed the playing style of the team, and led the squad to the Leagues Cup SemiFinals. The investment in these three has paid dividends immediately on the pitch and off it marketing-wise.

Tata Martino put Benjamin Cremaschi back in the starting lineup against Charlotte FC after starting Diego Gomez the previous week versus FC Dallas. Martino is a savvy experienced winning coach because he’s not afraid to make changes if a move doesn’t initially work. Gomez will be a fine player for Miami but at the moment Cremaschi is clearly in my estimation the better option in the midfield.

What an amazing difference players who have played at an elite level make to a team when they come on board with the desire to win, and the humility to pass down their wisdom to teammates. The “Three Amigos” will be a part of Inter Miami lore forever if their legacy is to mold young rising players like Cremaschi, Allen, Ruiz, Gomez, Campana, etc. into champions.

It’s a wonderful time to be a part of the Inter Miami CF universe right now, with things going the team’s way and young stud reinforcements finally here. It’s a new season in this alternate universe, one where Inter Miami CF can possibly be a champion.