FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Goals from Ariel Lassiter and Robert Taylor give Inter Miami a 2-0 win against the Red Bulls at DRV PNK Stadium. The win stretches Phil Neville’s side to three games unbeaten in the league. Conversely, New York has tasted defeat on the road for the first time.
Team News
For New York, Ryan Meara makes his second start in all competitions season, and Carlos Coronel misses out as he’s out with what the club calls a non-COVID illness. Dylan Nealis is back in the team along with Tom Edwards, Sean Nealis and captain Aaron Long in defense. John Tolkin remains in health and safety protocols. Cristian Casseres Jr, Frankie Amaya and Dru Yearwood make up the midfield. Patryk Klimala gets the nod over Tom Barlow and joins Omir Fernandez in the attack.
DeAndre Yedlin is along with the returning Damion Lowe in defense. Leonardo Campana is along with Ariel Lassiter and Indiana Vassilev in the attack. Inter Miami will look to build off two straight league draws.
Red Bulls lineup: Ryan Meara; Dylan Nealis, (C) Aaron Long, Sean Nealis, Tom Edwards; Dru Yearwood, Frankie Amaya Lewis Morgan, Cristian Casseres Jr; Omir Fernandez Patryk Klimala
New York subs: Anthony Marcucci, Jason Pendant, Caden Clark, Jesus Castellano, Cameron Harper, Daniel Edelman, Luquinhas, Tom Barlow
Inter Miami lineup: Drake Callender; Christopher McVey, Ryan Sailor, Damion Lowe, DeAndre Yedlin; (C) Gregore. Jean Mota; Ariel Lassiter, Bryce Duke, Indiana Vassilev; Leonardo Campana
Inter Miami subs: Clement Diop, Joevin Jones, Aime Mabika, Victor Ulloa, Mohammed Adams, Emerson Rodriguez, Gonzalo Higuain, Robbie Robinson, Robert Taylor
First Half: Ariel Lassiter puts Inter Miami in the lead
It was red versus pink like a clash of StarBurst colors. The Red Bulls held an early 70 percent of the possession of the ball as if they were the home team. New York started out on the better side with its possession including numerous chances. Patryk Klimala’s chance was the best of the half for the away side. He beat the offside trap but shot straight at the keeper. The Polish striker really should’ve done better, his chance put out an expected goals rate of 0.37, a good opportunity to put New York into the lead.
However, it would be the home side that struck first. Ariel Lassiter received a pass from Bryce Duke, and the former cut inside and struck a low drive from outside the box that slipped past Meara. The keeper didn’t know much about it so when he dove for it, it was too late. It is the first league goal for the Costa Rican this season, against the run of play. From the point forward, the wind seemed to be in Miami’s sails, but it would stay a one-goal game at the break. It’s a hot evening in Miami, there was a drinks break. New York outshot Miami in the first half 10-6 while recording two shots on target to one for the away team.
Oh my @Ari_Lassiter15!
The goal and the griddy to celebrate his first @InterMiamiCF goal. pic.twitter.com/i3FgPP1OoK
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 22, 2022
Second Half: Robert Taylor seals the win for Inter Miami
New York rang in the subs, bringing on the likes of Cameron Harper and Jason Pendant. Caden Clark even made a brief appearance, Luquinhas and Tom Barlow would follow suit but it didn’t matter. Nothing went right for New York in the last 45 minutes of the game. Inter Miami at times outplayed the visitors, and it would pay off with a second goal late in the game.
Robert Taylor slotted one home to seal the win. Inter Miami go three games unbeaten in the league, while the Red Bulls finally suffer defeat on their travels. Sean Nealis said the locker room was “pissed off” at their performance. Coach Gerhard Struber said “after 15-20 minutes, we lost our aggression, our intensity” and added they didn’t “deserve points” from this game.
Three Takeaways from New York Red Bulls vs Inter Miami
Three-straight unbeaten for @InterMiamiCF. pic.twitter.com/g7yMxjtLQ6
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 23, 2022
The Red Bulls’ worst performance of the year. It’s never that you simply lose, but it’s how you lose that tells the story. New York had started the better team and should’ve taken the lead with that Klimala chance. But as Struber mentioned post-game, the team lost its key characteristics and essentially became flat. As they say, it’s back to the drawing board for this team.
Inter Miami is finally back in the win column. It took a while – four games to be exact – but Phil Neville’s side finally got three points from a game. A month had passed and it felt as though the club would still be searching for a win. Now on a three-game unbeaten run, it’s time to continue building and see how far they can go during the summer.
It’s not going to get easier for both teams after this. Then again, the schedule does favor no one. New York hosts Charlotte in the Open Cup in midweek then hosts DC United. Miami plays Orlando in the Cup, then hosts the Portland Timbers. Given the eventual uptick in temperatures, both teams will likely need to bolster in the summer to endure tough stretches.
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