Inter Miami’s matchup against D.C United last weekend was one that witnessed many firsts. Not just for the Club in general, but for certain members of the squad. For defenders Andrés Reyes and Dylan Nealis, it was an evening that marked a significant milestone in their professional careers as footballers and that they will likely remember for the rest of their lives. Reyes, 23-year-old Colombian defender who joined Inter Miami from Colombian first division team Atlético Nacional, and Nealis, who was selected by the Club as the third overall-selection of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, were named as starters for their MLS debuts. For Nealis, the match was the first one of his professional career.
In his first match with Inter Miami, Reyes played the full 90 minutes and recorded one shot on target, 31 successful passes, three tackles, three interceptions, four clearances and 11 recoveries. Meanwhile, on his professional debut, Nealis played the entire match and finished with 30 successful passes, one key pass, one tackle, two clearances and nine recoveries to his name.
“I felt great overall. I think I played pretty well,” stated Nealis.
“I take pride in being defensive first, being defensively sound and then joining the attack whenever I can to create problems for the opposing defense, that’s definitely part of my game,” he added.
“I was satisfied with my performance. My teammates told me that I did well,” said Reyes. “For it being my first match I think I did very well and I hope to continue performing well so that I can contribute to this team.”
After a positive start to life in MLS, both defenders have switched their focus and are ready for Inter Miami’s historic home debut against the LA Galaxy coming up over the weekend.
“I think that with the preparation we’ve been having we can win the match. We just have to give it our all, be intense, and trust our system of play as sooner or later the goals will come. We have to remain calm and be focused on the game and jump onto the pitch ready to get the three points,” declared the Colombian youth international.
“My sole focus is on getting the three points. These past two games we’ve been very close. I think getting on the board with three points is our main goal this weekend,” concluded Nealis.
