Inter Miami preseason kicks off with unplanned fireworks and 3-0 loss to Vasco da Gama
The 2023 Inter Miami preseason kicked off with plenty of drama, an energetic crowd, and a 3-0 loss to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium.
The evening began with unplanned fireworks set off from the north stands by members of the diehard “La Familia” supporter group, leading to the expulsion of four fans and a walkout of hundreds more in protest because they felt the punishment was too harsh.
Pyrotechnics are banned from the stadium per team rules, which read: “Fireworks of any kind including but not limited to flares, smoke bombs, incendiary devices and pyrotechnics.”
Inter Miami coach Phil Neville said he was unaware of the removal of the fans. “We recognized there were fireworks because there were so many of them. I didn’t notice people had been ejected. We think we’ve got the best set of supporters in MLS. They’re our 12th person. We need them behind us at all times.”
Despite the drama in the north stands, there was a halftime celebration of new Venezuelan forward Josef Martinez, who ran onto the field through a tunnel of local Venezuelan fans, youth players and celebrities. Among those who welcomed him: former Venezuelan national team captain Jose Manuel Rey, actor Juan Carlos Garcia (2.3 million Instagram followers), rapper Micro TDH (2.3 million followers) and musician Oscarsito, also known as Yakozuki (1.2 million followers).
Martinez spent the second half mingling with celebrities in field-side suites. The former Atlanta United star and 2018 MLS MVP is working his way into game shape. Neville said the goal is for him to be in peak form by the Feb. 25 home opener against CF Montreal.
Martinez was among several projected starters missing from the lineup Saturday. Recent Argentine signees Nicolas Stefanelli and Franco Negri, both of whom are expected to vie for starting roles, are awaiting visas and are not yet with the club.
Midfielder Jean Mota was out injured, as were midfielder Bryce Duke and defender Ryan Sailor. Victor Ulloa and Kieran Gibbs rested. And winger/forward Emerson was not available. A team source confirmed they are working on a loan deal for Emerson, but it is not final.
The starting lineup was goalkeeper Drake Callender; defenders DeAndre Yedlin, Damion Lowe, Christopher McVey, Noah Allen; midfielders Gregore, Coco Jean, Robert Taylor, Rodolfo Pizarro; and forwards Ariel Lassiter and Leo Campana.
Pizarro returned to the club after spending last year on loan with Monterrey in Mexico. Jean and Campana were back after missing the end of the 2022 season with injuries.
“Rodolfo played with freedom and enjoyment,” Neville said. “Some really nice touches. He committed himself to the game plan and the team.”
Inter Miami strung together nice passing sequences in the first half, but created few scoring chances.
Vasco took a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute on a goal by 41-year-old Nene, who is the same age as the team’s coach Mauricio Barbieri.
“Nene is a very important player for us, gives us advice, speaks several languages, and obviously, as a player, when I first arrived and saw the shape he was in I was surprised,” Puma said. “He plays the entire game and doesn’t get tired. He inspires all of us.”
Neville played his starters just one half and brought in 11 subs for the second half. The subs included goalkeeper Nick
Marsman, Aime Mabika, the coach’s son Harvey Neville, Edison Azcona, Canadian player Noble Okello (trying out for the team), Key Biscayne teenager Benjamin Cremaschi, and forward Robbie Robinson, who missed most of last season after hamstring surgery.
Asked about the play of Azcona, Neville said: “Eddy’s been really good in preseason. He’s at a point where he needs to start delivering consistently. There’s a real good player in there, just inconsistent. When we had 11 on the field, he was really lively, causing problems. Our subs created more chances than we did the first half.”
Robinson left the game midway through the second half after “tightening up,” Neville said, and they had to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men. Vasco scored two more goals in the second half,
one by Alex Teixeira and another by Figueiredo.
“The plan was to play Robbie for 22 minutes, he felt great and he just started to tighten up, it’s nothing major,” Neville said. “He showed glimpses. We’re going to be patient with him.”
Overall, Neville said he was pleased with what he saw.
“We just have to keep building, get sharper, the bit that will come with time is the final third,” he said. “This is the first game these guys have played in three months and Vasco is eight weeks ahead of us in preparation.
“We asked a lot even to play this friendly. Other teams are playing scrimmages behind closed doors but we wanted a bigger test.”