Washington D.C. (March 16, 2024) – Inter Miami CF (3W-1L-1D, 10 points) earned a valuable 1-3 win over D.C. United this afternoon to remain unbeaten on the road this 2024 regular season. Goals from strikers Luis Suárez and Leonardo Campana, who bagged a brace and a goal respectively, led the team to the win at Audi Field.
“I liked how the team overcame the initial 15 minutes. I believe that after the first 15-20 minutes of the first half the game was absolutely managed correctly and we deserved the win,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Inter Miami took the field with several changes to the team’s starting XI from the midweek win over Nashville SC in 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup action. Drake Callender started in goal; David Ruiz, Tomás Avilés, Nicolás Freire and Noah Allen made up a back line of four; Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets and Diego Gómez started in midfield; Julian Gressel and Robert Taylor flanked striker Campana in attack.
Notably, with his appearance today Taylor registered his 83rd overall appearance across all competitions in his Inter Miami career and is now the player with most appearances in Club history. Callender, meanwhile, wore the team’s captain’s armband this afternoon at Audi Field in the absence of attacker Lionel Messi.
The match saw the hosts take an early lead, with a goal from midfielder Jared Stroud opening the scoring in the 14th minute.
Inter Miami, however, would find the equalizer shortly after; with Campana scoring with his second shot in under a minute to tie the scoreline at one in the 24th minute. After combining with Gómez to make his way into the box, Redondo tipped the ball Campana’s way for the striker to finish off the play with a first time left footed strike to the far post to send the ball to the back of the net. The goal was Campana’s second this regular season, while the assist was the first for Redondo since joining the Club.
Inter Miami then nearly took the lead in added time through a shot from Taylor inside the box, but his attempt bounced off the post and out of play and the match went into the half with the 1-1 scoreline.
The second half then presented an even matchup with both sides probing the opponent’s defense in search of taking the lead. It was Inter Miiami who would then strike again to take the lead in the 72nd minute. A ball from the top of the box from Redondo found Campana in space inside the box, where he served the ball to second half substitute Suárez in front of goal for the Uruguayan striker to give the team a 1-2 lead. The goal was the fifth for Suárez across all competitions this season who has now scored five goals in the last five matches, while the assist was the first for Campana this season.
Suárez then carried on with his spectacular form and gave the team a 1-3 lead in the 85th with a chipped shot from the edge of the box following a pass from Gómez. The goal was Suárez’s team-leading sixth this season, while the assist was the first for Gómez this regular season and his overall second across all competitions in 2024.
The 1-3 scoreline then remained unchanged throughout the final minutes and Inter Miami claimed all three points and stayed unbeaten playing away from home this regular season.
Inter Miami will now remain on the road for its next matchup, with the team set to visit the New York Red Bulls next Saturday, March 23 at Red Bull Arena at 2 p.m. ET.
Scoring Summary:
DC – Jared Stroud (Mateusz Klich) 14’
MIA – Leonardo Campana (Federico Redondo) 24’, Luis Suárez (Leonardo Campana) 72’, Luis Suárez (Diego Gómez) 85’
Misconduct Summary:
DC – Chris McVey (Yellow Card 21’), Gabriel Pirani (Yellow Card 27’), Aaron Herrera (Yellow Card 34’), Matti Peltola (Yellow Card 68’), Mateusz Klich (Yellow Card 74’), Pedro Santos (Red Card 90’)
MIA – Tomás Avilés (Yellow Card 28’), Sergio Busquets (Yellow Card 55’), Diego Gómez (Yellow Card 79’),
Lineups / Substitutions:
D.C. United – GK Alex Bono; D Aaron Herrera, Lucas Bartlett, Chris McVey, Pedro Santos; M Matti Peltola, Jared Stroud (Martín Rodríguez 79’), Gabriel Pirani (Kristian Fletcher 65’), Mateusz Klich; F Christian Benteke, Cristian Dájome (Jacob Murrell 75’)
Unused Substitutes – GK Luis Zamudio; D Matai Akinmbon, Conner Antley; M Jackson Hopkins
Inter Miami CF – GK Drake Callender ©; D David Ruiz, Tomás Avilés, Nicolás Freire (Sergii Kryvtsov 31’), Noah Allen; M Federico Redondo, Sergio Busquets, Diego Gómez; F Julian Gressel (Jordi Alba 75’), Leonardo Campana (Shanyder Borgelin 75’), Robert Taylor (Luis Suárez 62’)
Unused Substitutes – GK CJ dos Santos; D Ryan Sailor; M Lawson Sunderland
Details of the Game:
Date: March 16, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Stadium: Audi Field
Stats:
Possession:
DC – 49.9%
MIA – 50.1%
Shots:
DC – 13
MIA – 17
Saves:
DC – 4
MIA – 6
Corners:
DC – 8
MIA – 5
Fouls:
DC – 19
MIA – 12
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