By Area Sports Network
Inter Miami earned three valuable points on the road with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park, despite finishing the match with nine men. Academy product Leo Afonso, who was awarded his first Royal Caribbean Icon of the Match, scored a stoppage-time winner, while Julian Gressel recorded his first goal for the club. This win extended Inter Miami’s club-record unbeaten run on the road to six matches, maintaining their lead in the MLS Supporters’ Shield race.
First Half
The match began with an early setback for Inter Miami as Philadelphia Union's forward Mikael Uhre opened the scoring in the third minute. Despite this early goal, Inter Miami defended resiliently for the remainder of the first half, thwarting multiple attempts by the home side to extend their lead. The teams went into halftime with Philadelphia holding a narrow 1-0 advantage.
Second Half
Inter Miami started the second half strongly and quickly found an equalizer. In the 47th minute, Jordi Alba delivered a cross from the left wing to Benjamin Cremaschi, who then set up Julian Gressel in the center of the box. Gressel controlled the ball and fired a right-footed shot into the net, marking his first goal for Inter Miami. Cremaschi’s assist was his second of the regular season, and Alba’s secondary assist increased his tally to five.
Challenges and Red Cards
The second half turned increasingly challenging for Inter Miami as they were reduced to ten men in the 69th minute and then nine men in the 84th minute due to red cards. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Inter Miami showed remarkable character and determination to hold off the Philadelphia Union’s advances.
Dramatic Late Winner
In a stunning turn of events, Inter Miami found a late winner in the fourth minute of added time. Second-half substitutes Yannick Bright and Leo Afonso combined for the decisive goal. Bright recovered possession in Inter Miami’s half and delivered a perfectly timed pass behind Philadelphia’s defenders to find Afonso. The young Academy product dribbled past one defender and finished skillfully at the near post, securing the victory. This was Afonso’s second goal of the regular season, while Bright earned his first MLS assist.
Team and Player Performances
Drake Callender: Wore the captain’s armband in Lionel Messi’s absence and provided a solid performance in goal.
Julian Gressel: Scored his first goal for Inter Miami, contributing significantly to the team’s attack.
Leo Afonso: Scored the match-winning goal in stoppage time, earning the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Match award.
Yannick Bright: Provided the crucial assist for the winning goal, showcasing his impact as a substitute.
Post-Match Reaction
Head coach Gerardo 'Tata' Martino praised his team's resilience and effort, stating, "This has to do with the effort, the character, the guts that the boys had, beyond the mistakes that we've made, to push through the result and win the match. The players deserve all the credit."
Conclusion
Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Philadelphia Union highlights their tenacity and ability to secure crucial points under challenging circumstances. With this win, they remain unbeaten on the road and continue to lead the MLS Supporters’ Shield race. As they look forward to their next matches, maintaining this form will be key to their continued success this season.
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