Inter Miami ousted by Orlando in a shootout
Inter Miami had just been eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup by Orlando City 4-2 in a penalty kick shootout Wednesday night, and although the loss hurt, coach Phil Neville had bigger concerns on his mind.
“On behalf of everyone at Inter Miami, we want to send our condolences to the children and their families and the people that lost their lives in Texas, it’s deeply affected us all over the last 24 hours, especially those with children that drop their little babies off at school and are now wondering whether it’s safe to do so,” Neville said.
“It puts everything in perspective when you lose a game as we have. There are more serious issues going on in the world, particularly in this country. The words of [Golden State Warriors coach] Steve Kerr resonated with everybody — it’s got to stop. It’s got to stop.”
Right back DeAndre Yedlin also commented on the Texas school massacre.
“I don’t want to speak too much because as a country we’ve done enough talking and not enough acting,” Yedlin said. “This has happened countless times where our kids are losing their lives to stupidity and it’s a tragedy. Especially having a daughter, it really makes you think if you can’t even send your kid to school and feel safe with them there, then what is this world coming to?”
Asked about the game, Neville praised his team’s efforts against Orlando City, saying he was “super proud” the players gave everything they could, and that it didn’t feel like a loss.
“It was a typical derby game, a hell of a game played between two teams that just wanted to win it,” he said. “These U.S. Open Cup games are the future, winner takes all, loser goes home. What you saw was not just 11 players, but also the five subs, give absolutely everything and it came up to penalties.”
Neville has been insisting all season that the U.S.
Open Cup is a priority, but with Wednesday’s Round of 16 match sandwiched between weekend league games, he chose to rest a few of his regular starters in the first half.
The game began with Leo Campana, Yedlin, Ariel Lassiter and Bryce Duke on the bench. As it turned out, it was hardly a restful night for the quartet, who came in during the second half of a game that stretched 124 minutes and then to a penalty kick shootout.
Campana and Lassiter made their penalty kicks, but Duke’s was saved and Yedlin’s sailed untouched over the crossbar. Orlando’s four shooters scored, including the game-clincher by captain Mauricio Pereyra. He converted with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner past Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender, who continued to impress with a handful of huge saves in regulation.
Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota, scorer of the lone regulation goal for Miami, did not take a penalty kick because he was cramping and “could barely move his legs,” Neville said.
Miami was looking to extend its unbeaten streak to five after a league win over the New York Red Bulls, ties against Philadelphia Union and D.C. United and a U.S. Open Cup win over South Georgia Tormenta.
Miami and Orlando remained in a scoreless tie at the end of regulation despite taking a combined 31 shots — 21 by Orlando and 10 by Miami. Only four of those shots were on frame, and Callender and Orlando’s Mason Stajduhar each made big saves to keep clean sheets through 90 minutes.
Mota finally broke the deadlock in the 94th minute, unleashing a left-footed rocket after a nice set-up by Joevin Jones. The men in pink swarmed Mota to celebrate his first goal of the season.
But the home team struck back three minutes later, after Uruguayan winger Facundo Torres scored the equalizer from close range, a curling low shot just inside the far post.
Campana had a chance to seal the win for Miami in the 124th and final minute. Stadjuhar had run off his line, Duke and McVey combined to get the ball to Campana in front of the open net, but his shot went off an Orlando City defender’s head and went high over the bar.
Orlando outshot Miami 28 to 12 on the night. The home team dominated possession 65 percent to 35 percent and had 12 corner kicks compared to three for Miami. But the gritty Miami squad survived Orlando’s relentless attack to force extra time and penalty kicks.
“They’re really hurting in the dressing room, some are really upset they missed the penalties, but we have to move on to Portland very quickly,” Neville said. Miami hosts the Timbers on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Gonzalo Higuain finally got back into the Miami starting lineup for the first time in weeks and played 74 minutes at center forward before being replaced by Campana, who had taken the starting role from Higuain. Emerson started on the left wing in place of Lassiter and Indiana Vassilev played on the opposite wing.
Yedlin stayed on the bench for the first 60 minutes before coming in to replace Victor Ulloa.
“I had to rotate,” Neville said. “Yedlin and Campana had been struggling for a couple of days and the plan was not to put them on the pitch at all. Bryce was gassed a little at the weekend. I had to freshen it up.”
Neville made it a point to hug Higuain as he came off the field. The Argentine forward, Miami’s highest paid player, has been dropped from the starting lineup of late, which has been tough for him to accept.
“I hugged him because his attitude’s been incredible,” Neville said. “He’s frustrated. He’s angry. But his attitude has been all about the team, so I hugged him because he got through more minutes than we thought he would.”
Robbie Robinson was suspended for Wednesday’s game after getting a red card in the previous round win over South Georgia Tormenta. He will be eligible to play against Portland on Saturday.