Inter Miami CF fell 0-2 to LAFC at DRV PNK Stadium in a match played in swirling winds on Saturday afternoon.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami opened proceedings with a new shape for the first time this season; Clément Diop once again started in goal; DeAndre Yedlin, Damion Lowe, Chris McVey and Brek Shea started in defense; Gregore and Mo Adams formed a double pivot in midfield, while Robert Taylor, Gonzalo Higuaín and Jean Mota lined up behind the striker; Leonardo Campana led the line in attack.
The start marked Diop’s 50th regular season MLS appearance while Taylor made his first start for Inter Miami. Lowe, meanwhile, returned to the starting lineup following a one-week injury absence. Academy graduate Edison Azcona also made his first appearance on the bench of the season after returning from injury.
Match Action
Inter Miami dictated the tempo of the match for much of the early going, controlling the majority of possession and probing the LAFC defense for openings. The hosts were particularly strong through the middle, with the center back duo of Lowe and McVey defending well and offering composure on the ball, as well as Adams repeatedly winning the ball and driving forward from midfield.
In the 45th minute, however, LAFC found the opening goal of the match when a heavily deflected pass fell to the path of Kwadwo Opoku in the box, who then curled a shot into the back of the net to make it 0-1.
Moments later, Inter Miami went down a man when Shea was sent off before the halftime whistle.
Inter Miami made one substitution at half time, bringing on Jairo Quinteros for Campana. Following the changes, the hosts created a few scoring opportunities despite the man disadvantage.
In the 52nd minute, Taylor deftly evaded a defender in the box and fired a low shot at goal that was saved. A few more chances came at the feet of Yedlin with dangerous runs down the right wing, as well as from the energy of second-half substitute Ariel Lassiter, but the team was unable to find the back of the net.
In the 82nd minute, LAFC doubled its lead; a free kick from Ismael Tajouri-Shradi came in from a wide area, curling across the face of goal and in at the far post to make it 0-2, which would hold through the final whistle.
Among Inter Miami’s second-half substitutes was Azcona, who came on for Taylor in the 75th minute to make his first appearance of 2022.
Post-Match Reaction
"I saw a team that tried to do the right thing. I saw, my feeling within the game, they played with real courage and the mistake for the goal was probably the first chance in the game and then the sending off changed the whole rest of the game,” said head coach Phil Neville.
Next Match
Next Inter Miami will hit the road again for a match against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m. ET.
Stats
Possession:
MIA - 47 %
LAFC - 53 %
Shots:
MIA - 7
LAFC - 6
Saves:
MIA - 10LAFC - 2
Corners:
MIA - 3
LAFC - 3
Fouls:
MIA - 12
LAFC - 15
