Inter Miami CF continued its preseason preparations at DRV PNK Stadium tonight, taking on D.C. United in a preseason match. The match, closed to fans, saw a mix of First Team players and players from the club’s development pathway feature for the hosts, with a second-half goal giving D.C. United a 0-1 win.
The team lined up with a similar starting XI to Wednesday’s 4-0 victory over Club Universitario de Deportes, mixing new and familiar faces; Drake Callender started in goal behind a defensive line of Harvey Neville, Ian Fray, Aimé Mabika, Christopher McVey, and Brek Shea, while the starting midfield featured Jean Mota and Mo Adams, and the attacking trio of Ariel Lassiter, Robbie Robinson and Gonzalo Higuaín once again started.
Every member of the starting lineup featured for at least 45 minutes, with a few playing into the second half. The team continued to sharpen itself for the new season, playing more competitive minutes against MLS opposition.
The first half saw standout play from the team’s defense, with Fray and Mabika pairing to deny a number of D.C. United attacks. On the other end of the pitch, Lassiter and Higuaín connected for a dangerous scoring chance, while Robinson stretched the field and held the ball well.
The team made five substitutions to start the second half, bringing on Clément Diop for Callender in goal, Academy graduate Ethan Hardin in for McVey in defense, Victor Ulloa for Mota in midfield, George Acosta for Brek Shea (sliding Adams out to wing back), and Edison Azcona for Lassiter in attack.
The remaining first-half starters featured for about another 15 minutes before coming off, with Fort Lauderdale CF products Romeo Beckham, Modesto Mendez, and Abel Caputo, along with SuperDraft pick Tyler Bagley in defense, replacing Adams, Fray, Mabika, and Neville, while Academy product Dairon Reyes and Fort Lauderdale product Shaan Hundal replaced Robinson and Higuaín. One last change was made in the second half, with Academy product Drew Hardin replacing Reyes.
The second-half substitutes also had standout moments, with an Acosta free kick and an Ulloa header off of a corner testing D.C. United goalkeeper, Jon Kempin, and Diop commanding his own box, making saves and claiming balls in the air.
D.C. United’s second-half goal came from Jackson Hopkins, who finished after a scramble in the box.
Inter Miami will return to action next week, with its next preseason match at DRV PNK Stadium, taking on CF Montréal on Friday.
