Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Morgan nets draw with late equalizer
Inter Miami loses out in stoppage time on controversial non-call
Lewis Morgan’s late goal versus Atlanta United FC on Sunday saved Inter Miami CF from suffering consecutive home losses to start 2021, but a controversial no-call may have stopped them from getting their first win at DRV PNK Stadium this season.
In the 77th minute with Inter Miami trailing 1-0, Gregore passed the ball to Morgan on the right wing with Atlanta United’s George Bello and Santiago Sosa in front of him.
Federico Higuaín, who subbed in for Brek Shea in the 57th minute, made a run behind Morgan as he was dribbling to momentarily attract the attention of Bello, with Morgan beating Sosa one-on-one into Atlanta’s box before slotting a left-footed shot past Brad Guzan to tie the match at 1, his first goal of the season.
“He was MVP last year, with that come expectation and pressure,” Phil Neville said of Morgan, who recorded five goals and eight assists across 23 games for Inter Miami last year. “What you’ve seen in the last couple of games [is] him getting back up to those levels and going beyond those levels. [Sunday] was just a continuation of him getting more fitness and speed into his play.
“We’ve challenged him to score more goals. We know he can assist goals from either flank and from set plays, but we really challenged him on scoring goals. That’s the next step for Lewis Morgan.”
Morgan and Jay Chapman were subbed out four minutes after the score for Edison Azcona and Sami Guediri, with Morgan visibly fatigued late in the match.
“I think everybody can be a little bit tired at that point, to be honest,” Morgan said. “It’s just about
preserving and always believing a chance is going to fall to you. Luckily, I was able to make it for myself and take it.”
It looked like Inter Miami were going to earn a penalty kick for a during stoppage time, but it didn’t happen.
Gonzalo Higuaín served Victor Ulloa with a cross in Atlanta’s box, with Ulloa taking a shot that Guzan blocked and ricocheted in between him and Ulloa. The 29-year-old midfielder ran toward Atlanta’s goal to take another shot, but as Ulloa was making contact with the ball, he was tripped up by Guzan, who was diving toward the ball.
Several Inter Miami players pleaded with the on-field referees to call the penalty inside the box, but no call was made, and Inter Miami (1-1-2, five points) had to settle for the draw with Atlanta United (1-1-2, five points).
Coach Phil Neville, who credited the referees for making the right call last week against Nashville SC by not giving Walker Zimmerman a red card after a controversial tackle, said Inter Miami should’ve been awarded a penalty kick on that play.
“That is 100 percent a penalty. We should’ve had two, maybe,” Neville said in reference to Ulloa’s scoring opportunity and Miles Robinson not being called for a handball inside Atlanta United’s box on a Gonzalo shot attempt in the 60th minute. “Poor referring. I’ve seen it four times. It got reviewed, so whoever reviewed it let the referee down. We’ll put that in our [post-match] report.”
Guzan disagreed with Neville’s assessment on the play involving him and Ulloa.
“He said the same thing to me as we walked off the field,” Guzan added, according to MLSsoccer. com. “For me, it’s not a penalty. I disagree with him.”
Inter Miami trailed Atlanta United 1-0 for nearly 70 minutes after Josef Martinez netted an early goal courtesy of an Emerson Hyndman assist in the ninth minute.
Miami showed the ability to create scoring opportunities throughout Sunday’s game, taking 17 shots (seven on goal), but it once again didn’t display the composure in the final third necessary to take advantage of those chances until late.
Gonzalo took four shots, but put only one on goal and missed two clear-cut scoring opportunities, making it 13 matches with Inter Miami where Gonzalo hasn’t scored from the run of play. All three of the goals he’s scored with Inter Miami dating back to last season have come from set-pieces or a penalty kick.
Inter Miami once again lost the possession battle, with Atlanta possessing the ball for 61.5 percent of the match compared to Miami’s 38.5 percent.
“We had enough chances in the first half to be at least level, if not in front with the chances we created, but we didn’t play as a team or didn’t stick to the plan we set before the game,” Neville said. “The second half, I saw a team that was prepared to do anything to get back into the game, win the game and certainly not lose it.
“I’m happy at the end of the game, but not happy, raging with what I thought we should’ve had a penalty.”
Inter Miami were without a few key players versus Atlanta United: backup center forward Julian Carranza (vertigo), starting center back/right back Nico Figal (hamstring injury), starting right back Kelvin Leerdam (undisclosed injury) and starting left winger Robbie Robinson (hamstring injury).
Their starters in light of their absences: John McCarthy; Ulloa, Ryan Shawcross, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Shea; Gregore, Blaise Matuidi; Morgan, Rodolfo Pizarro, Jay Chapman, Gonzalo Higuaín.
Matuidi had to be subbed out 14 minutes into the match after taking a tough hit from Sosa within the first 10 minutes of the game.
He walked off the field with trainers before returning, attempting to play through the injury, but Joevin Jones subbed in for him after Matuidi sat in the middle of the field to receive attention from trainers.
“Blaise, we don’t know yet,” Neville said. “I think he’s going to go for tests to the hospital.”
Inter Miami have a quick turnaround for their next match, with the South Floridians hosting CF Montreal on Wednesday evening at DRV PNK Stadium.