Inter Miami CF earned a 3-2 victory over the 2021 Supporters’ Shield champion New England Revolution at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The win was the team’s first of the 2022 MLS regular season, while Heineken Man of the Match Leonardo Campana netted a hat trick, the first in club history.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami made two changes to its starting XI from a week ago. Nick Marsman again started in goal; DeAndre Yedlin, Damion Lowe, Aimé Mabika and Chris McVey formed the team’s defense; Gregore, Jean Mota and Robert Taylor once again started as the midfield trio; Campana started as the team’s striker while flanked by Robbie Robinson and Ariel Lassiter on the wings.
The two changes from last week’s starting XI saw Mabika make his first start of the season in place of Noah Allen, sliding McVey to left back. Campana, meanwhile, returned to the starting lineup in place of Gonzalo Higuaín, who missed the match with an injury.
Match Action
It was New England who got off to the faster start, opening the scoring in the 11th minute; a cross came from DeJuan Jones down the right wing to Justin Rennicks in front of goal, whose strike found the back of the net to make it 0-1.
Just six minutes later, however, Inter Miami equalized; Lassiter took his defender on with a stepover down the right wing, finding space and hitting a right-footed cross to Campana in the box. The young Ecuadorian striker met the cross with a powerful header at the far post that beat the keeper to make it 1-1. The assist was Lassiter’s first of 2022.
The hosts then took the lead with a perfectly worked counterattack; Robinson drove forward from his own half, playing a ball to Gregore who dribbled towards the box. The Brazilian then returned a pass to Robbie down the left side of the box, who hit a left-footed square ball to Campana at the far post, and the striker blasted a left-footed shot into the roof of the net for the 2-1 lead. The assist was Robinson’s first of 2022, and the secondary assist marked Gregore’s first of the campaign as well.
Campana’s second goal of the afternoon was enough to give Inter Miami the lead entering halftime.
In the 65th minute, however, a penalty was called for New England and 2021 MLS MVP Carles Gil stepped up and scored from the spot to make it 2-2.
Neville made three subs throughout the following twenty minutes that proved decisive for Inter Miami; Allen, Bryce Duke and Emerson Rodríguez came on for Lassiter, Taylor and Robinson respectively. The appearance marked Duke’s first for the Inter Miami First Team following his club debut on loan with Inter Miami CF II on Tuesday.
In the 88th minute, two of the subs combined in the buildup to the late winner; Allen played a ball to Duke, who burst forward into the box and hit a ball back towards Campana that was deflected. The pass eventually fell to Campana, who quickly poked home the late winner for a hat trick and the 3-2 scoreline. The goal was Campana’s fourth of the campaign and marked the first hat trick in club history.
Heineken Man of the Match
Leonardo Campana was voted Heineken Man of the Match after netting the first hat trick in Inter Miami history.
Post-Match Reaction
"We spoke a lot about what we want to be reflected, and the basic thing in football is what we saw on that pitch today: a team that played with freedom, a team that played with togetherness, and a team that was never ever going to be beaten with those qualities," said head coach Phil Neville. "I’m proud of every single one of them, every single one of them in the squad and those that weren’t in the squad that supported us throughout the week. That victory was a long time coming, but I think we’ve been consistent in our messages with the building process."
Next Match
Inter Miami will hit the road for its next match, visiting the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET.
Join the Heartbeat!
Inter Miami fans can join the Heartbeat of the club and secure their seats for the 2022 campaign by becoming Season Ticket Members. Season Ticket Members receive the best prices and priority seating locations for all 2022 home matches. Additional benefits include priority access to home playoff matches, interest free payment options, and discounts on season parking passes. For more information on Season Ticket Memberships, please visit intermiamicf.com/tickets.
Individual match tickets for each remaining regular season home match on the Inter Miami CF schedule are available visiting https://www.intermiamicf.com/tickets/single. Fans can also call 305-428-0611 to learn more.
