Inter Miami CF (4W-4D-8L, 16 points) earned a deserved 2-1 victory over Nashville SC with a late winner from Indiana Vassilev, extending the team’s unbeaten streak to four, the longest in team history. Gonzalo Higuaín scored Inter Miami’s other goal in the match and was named Heineken Man of the Match.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami made two changes to the starting XI from Wednesday’s road draw with Orlando, with Leandro González Pirez, returning from a yellow card accumulation suspension, and Rodolfo Pizarro slotting in for Victor Ulloa and Robbie Robinson.
Match Action
The match opened at an even pace with the hosts controlling the majority of the possession, probing the defense for openings and firmly defending their own half. The Argentine duo of LGP and Nicolás Figal snuffed out the only hints of attack from Nashville in the first 25 minute; first, LGP was isolated on the left wing but closed space and made an important tackle as the Nashville attack was driving towards the box. Minutes later, Figal found himself in a similar possession on the opposite side of the field while an attacker attempted to beat him, but the defender smartly poked the ball away.
In the 26th minute, Inter Miami created one of its best opportunities of the half; Pizarro sent a long switch of play to Kelvin Leerdam down the right wing, who controlled the pass beautifully, taking a touch past the defender and cutting into the box before firing a left-footed shot that went wide.
Two more chances of note fell to the hosts before the half; in the 40th minute, a good passing sequence saw Lewis Morgan receive a pass at the top of the box, turn onto his right foot and deliver a quick, curling snapshot that drew a save from the keeper. In first-half added time, Kieran Gibbs received a pass from Pizarro and burst between defenders, driving into the box, and firing a shot towards the far post that was saved by the keeper.
The match entered halftime scoreless with Inter Miami controlling the rhythm of the match, holding 57% possession and leading in shots taken and shots on target.
It was Nashville, however, that opened the scoring; in the 48th minute, a corner found C.J. Sapong in the box, who headed it off the bottom of the crossbar and into the back of the net for a 0-1 lead.
Inter Miami responded to the deficit in the following moments, bringing on Indiana Vassilev and Brek Shea for Leerdam and Gibbs. Following the changes, the hosts continued to put pressure on the visitors with a handful of chances falling to Gonzalo Higuaín. The striker capitalized on the momentum in the 60th minute; Blaise Matuidi latched onto a loose ball and slid a through pass in between defenders to Higuaín, who held off his defender and curled a shot inside the far post for an equalizing goal. The goal was Higuaín’s team-leading eighth of the season, while the assist was Mautidi’s first of 2021.
The hosts continued to push for a winner throughout the remainder of the half, with Vassilev playing a starring role in driving the team forward. Inter Miami also made another change, bringing on Federico Higuaín for Pizarro.
This duo proved pivotal in the dying moments of the match, combining for a dramatic late winner; Federico collected the ball deep in the right half-space and delivered a perfect cross into the box that met a strong run from Vassilev. The young attacker rose up to head a shot past the keeper and into the back of the net for a 2-1 lead. The goal was Vassilev’s first since joining the team in July while the assist was Fede’s third of 2021.
The goal was enough to secure a deserved victory for Inter Miami, handing Nashville its second loss of 2021. The hosts controlled the bulk of possession throughout the match, finishing with 59%, and tallied 15 shots (nine on target), compared to eight (two on target) from Nashville.
Heineken Man of the Match
Gonzalo Higuaín was voted Heineken Man of the Match for his standout performance, netting Inter Miami's first goal of the match, at the time the equalizer.
Post-Match Reaction
"When a team scores late on, I think it’s a great sign for everybody. It’s a great sign for everybody inside the club that we’re headed in the right direction," said head coach Phil Neville. "I am super proud. We are taking good steps forward, there's still more to come and we’re now beginning to play like I expected an Inter Miami team to play. We’re playing with an identity, we’re playing with the right style, we are super happy tonight. I am going to enjoy the win.”
Up Next
Inter Miami will be back in action next weekend, traveling to take on New York City FC on Saturday, Aug. 14 at 8 p.m. ET.
