Inter Miami CF (2W-2D-7L, 8 points) narrowly fell 1-0 against CF Montréal at Red Bull Arena.
LINEUP NOTES
Inter Miami opened the match making one change to its starting XI from the team’s previous match; with Gregore taking Victor Ulloa’s place in midfield. Blaise Matuidi donned the captain’s armband.
MATCH ACTION
It was a first half in which Inter Miami stood firm in defense, with goalkeeper John McCarthy being called into action several times throughout the first 45 minutes. The most impressive defensive play came in the 11th minute of the match; with McCarthy saving a right-footed shot from Djordje Mihailovic inside the box before Christian Makoun reacted quickly to make an athletic double save off the line, denying the opening goal to Romell Quioto and Mihailovic once again. In the 21st minute, right back Kelvin Leerdam made a decisive interception, tracking back in a counter by Montréal before clearing a dangerous low cross that was delivered into the box from the right wing by Quioto.
The hosts, however, opened the scoring right before the break. In the 41st minute, Mihailovic played a pass to Mathieu Choinière inside the right side of the box, who unleashed a right footed shot into the back of the net to send the match into the half with Montréal leading 1-0.
Inter Miami started the second half making a substitution to add firepower in attack; with striker Gonzalo Higuaín coming on for Brek Shea.
In the 70th minute, Rodolfo Pizarro replaced Jay Chapman as Inter Miami seeked to add creativity in midfield.
Inter Miami’s most dangerous chance in attack came in the 88th minute; in a free kick opportunity, winger Lewis Morgan served a through ball for Gonzalo Higuaín inside the right side of the box, but his right-footed shot was saved by the keeper.
The visitors then made two more substitutions; with Federico Higuaín replacing Matuidi in the 89th minute and Ryan Shawcross coming on for Leerdam in the first minute of added time.
Despite Inter Miami’s efforts, Montréal held onto its lead and won the match 1-0.
Inter Miami will have a break next weekend before the team returns to action on Saturday, July 17, when it goes back to Red Bull Arena, but this time to visit the New York Red Bulls. The match is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET.
SPECIAL EDITION ADIDAS AMERICANA PRE-MATCH TOPS
Before kick off, Inter Miami players wore the limited edition adidas Americana Pre-Match Tops during the team’s pre-match warmups. The top is part of Major League Soccer's initiative in which all teams in the league wear the pre-match jersey to commemorate Independence Day on July 4 in this weekend’s matches. The Americana top is the reimagining of the 1994 US World Cup jersey featuring the original red stripes and navy accents.
POST-MATCH REACTION
“We’re obviously disappointed. We’ve lost five straight games and that is unacceptable. We know what we have to do now. We have to attack the rest of the season. It’s win time now,” said head coach Phil Neville. “We’ve got to make sure that we are better at both ends of the pitch. Ultimately, Montréal was better than us in both boxes and that’s why we must be better. The players have to deliver, that’s what the demand will be. We are losing too many games and we now need to stand up to make sure we are better.”
