Miami rally for draw with Atlanta but decry lack of late penalty call
LOS ANGELES: Lewis Morgan’s late equalizer gave Inter Miami a 1-1 Major League Soccer draw against Atlanta United on Sunday, but inter were incensed at being denied a chance at a stoppage time penalty for the victory.
Gonzalo Higuain fired a perfect cross in from the let to Victor Ulloa, who appeared to be fouled by Brad Guzan when ater the Atlanta goalkeeper blocked his shot and Ulloa raced up to try again with the rebound. Guzan, still on the ground, appeared to trip Ulloa with his arms, prompting Miami players to appeal for a penalty call they didn’t get.
“That was 100% a penalty,” Inter Miami coach Phil Neville fumed. “Poor refereeing.
Inter had trailed much of the match ater Atlanta’s Josef Martinez fired a let-footed shot from the center of the area into the botom corner to open the scoring in the ninth minute.
Scotland’s Morgan finally got the equalizer with a let-footed blast that marked the 2020 Most Valuable Player’s first goal of the season.
Neville had challenged Morgan to step things up on atack, and he kept Morgan even though he was cramping late in the second half.
Higuain was back in the lineup and his brother Federico came off the bench in the second half ater they missed last week’s match against Nashville ater the death of their mother.
But Inter were without injured starters Nico Figal and Robbie Robinson and midfielder Blaise Matuidi exited in the 14th minute ater colliding with Atlanta’s Santiago Sosa.
The match marked a reunion of sorts for Neville and Gabriel Heinze. The two were teammates for one season at Manchester United and Heinze was named head coach of Atlanta shortly before Neville was tapped to lead David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
Elsewhere the Seatle Sounders rode second half goals from Raul Ruidiza and super-sub Fredy Moreno to a 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers in a Cascadia regional clash.
Bill Tuiloma fired in a stunning free kick for the Timbers just before the final whistle, but it was the Sounders who came away with their third victory in four matches this season.
With 10 points they top the Western Conference standings.