Inter Miami CF earned the first point on the road and recorded its first clean sheet, drawing Atlanta United FC 0-0 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The matchup kicked off at 7 p.m. ET and aired nationally on FS1.
The road matchup saw Inter Miami play a complete performance, creating the bulk of the chances and defending well, limiting reigning U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup champions Atlanta United to few goal scoring opportunities and just one shot on target. This marked just the fourth time Atlanta has been held scoreless at home in club history. The visitors recorded 10 shots to five from Atlanta.
Jay Chapman and Brek Shea were awarded their first starts for Inter Miami, having previously appeared as substitutes on a number of occasions, while Juan Agudelo also returned to the starting lineup after recently featuring as a substitute. The team’s starting XI also featured two former Atlanta United players in Shea and Leandro González Pirez.
Inter Miami registered the first shot on target of the half in the 22nd minute; Nicolás Figal drove forward, entering the opposition half and delivering a pinpoint crossfield switch to his fullback counterpart Ben Sweat in the box. Sweat connected for a first-time strike from the left side of the box that was saved by Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Inter Miami continued to probe and created another good opportunity in the 39th minute after good interplay between Figal, Chapman, Rodolfo Pizarro and Lewis Morgan. After a string of quick passes between the group, the ball ended up with Morgan on the right wing who delivered a cross into the center of the box that found the left foot of Figal, whose first-time strike went wide.
The Inter Miami defense continued to stifle many of Atlanta’s best opportunities, including a 41st minute effort from González Pirez. The Argentine defender made two important interventions, first picking the ball off of Ezequiel Barco in the box and moments later stepping in front of a long range shot from Atlanta and blocking the strike.
The final opportunity of the half fell to the visitors in the first minute of added time; Morgan collected possession and created space at the top of the box before delivering a powerful right-footed shot that was saved.
The second half started with the first save of the night from Luis Robles, who was called into action to catch a long range effort in the 48th minute.
The visitors came close to finding the opening goal in the 56th minute on a well-worked corner routine. Morgan delivered the corner to the head of Victor Ulloa, who made a late run into the box and headed down to the foot of González Pirez, who flicked a shot just over the bar.
A couple of late chances fell Inter Miami’s way, including a shot by substitute Robbie Robinson in the box that was blocked by a defender in the 89th minute, and a header from Agudelo that drifted just wide after a corner delivery from other substitute MatÃas Pellegrini in the 90th minute.
Inter Miami will return to action Sunday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m. ET when it hosts Nashville SC at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
