Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
GROWING PAINS
Inter Miami give valiant effort, edged 1-0 by host Los Angeles FC in MLS debut
The Inter Miami CF starting lineup gathers for photos before the start of Sunday’s match in Los Angeles. The result in front of the club’s owners and more than 22,000 MLS fans, including David Beckham’s star-studded guests, wasn’t what the club wanted, but its inaugural MLS game was less about a win or loss and more about the process. And they showed they can at least battle with the best MLS has to offer. Full coverage of Sunday’s match in Sports.
LOS ANGELES — Inter Miami CF was able to block out the off-field noise for the first time in nearly six years, making their MLS debut against Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
They didn’t have to worry about when they’re going to add the striker they’ve been searching for, who’s going to fill their third designated player slot or when they’re officially going to receive a lease for their planned Miami stadium.
For 90 minutes of gameplay, their only concern was an LAFC team in a 1-0 Los
Angeles victory in Banc of California Stadium.
“We had a good game,” said midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro, who finished with team highs of four total shots and two shots on goal. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to finish our chances. The man of the match was their goalkeeper and I think that says a lot about our play.”
Sure, Sunday’s result in front of the club’s owners and 22,121 MLS fans, including David Beckham’s star-studded guest list that included Eva Longoria, Gordon Ramsay and Liv Tyler, wasn’t what Inter Miami wanted.
But the club’s inaugural MLS game was less about a win or loss and more about the process. And they showed for at least one game that they could battle with the best MLS has to offer.
“What I said in the locker is that I thank them for the effort,” coach Diego Alonso said. “They played their hearts out. If they can [continue to] play with this intensity, I think we’re going to do great things in MLS.”
Although LAFC dominated many statistical categories — total passes, passing accuracy and time of possession — Inter Miami hung with the defending Supporters’ Shield champions for the entire match and accomplished many “firsts” along the way.
The first save: An impressive stop by goalkeeper Luis Robles in the game’s fifth minute.
The first shot: Midfielder Matías Pellegrini in the 20th minute with midfielder
Lewis Morgan getting the club’s first shot on target nearly nine minutes later.
The first corner kick: Midfielder Wil Trapp in the 20th minute, resulting in Morgan taking a shot attempt that sailed over the goal and landed in the stands.
The first goal allowed: A beautiful chipped shot by 2019 MLS MVP Carlos Vela right over Robles’ outstretched right arm in the 44th minute, which was the game’s lone score.
Inter Miami came close to tying the match towards the end, recording five shots in the game’s final 23 minutes. But LAFC proved to be the better team and took home the victory in front of their home crowd.
“I really thought optimistically we’d make one at the end and maybe a fair result,” Robles said. “For our first game, you could see we’re a work in progress but there’s a lot of encouraging things. This is why the group is so optimistic. It’s our first game and we know that it’s not going to be perfect, but nonetheless it was a good team performance and it’s a great place to start with a very high ceiling.
Robles had an impressive showing, finishing with eight saves and an 88.9 save percentage.
“We know he’s an experienced goalkeeper with a great track record,” Pizarro said. “He’s an important player for our team.”
Inter Miami will continue to wait for their first goal and win, with their next opportunity to accomplish both being at D.C. United on Saturday. The club’s first chance to show this fight in front of their home crowd will come on March 14 when its faces off against L.A. Galaxy at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
About 300 members of Inter Miami’s supporter clubs were able to get an idea of what to expect. And the players received a taste of kind of energy their fans can bring.
“They were amazing,” midfielder Lee Nguyen said. To travel all the way from the east coast to L.A. — to be able to show that kind of support, it was amazing. We felt that and we hope they know we appreciate them for that.”
In between now and Saturday, Inter Miami will have chances to get better familiar with one another on the field and better implement their playing style.
While the striker they covet likely isn’t coming before Saturday, the need for a more reliable scoring option was evident against LAFC and that will be something the team will need to focus on internally for the time being. And eventually, the club will have to find answers to its looming questions on and off the field.
But until Saturday, Inter Miami can leave Los Angeles knowing they put up a valiant fight against one of MLS’ elite clubs. Which is another small victory that can be added to the multiple that helped them get to Sunday.
“We’ve been together for a couple of months,” forward Robbie Robinson said “Think of with this team in a couple of more months how much more we’ll improve — even the next game. It’s coming together really well and I think everyone’s really excited for what’s happening.”