Inter Miami CF earned a point with a dramatic late equalizer in a 4-4 draw with FC Cincinnati at DRV PNK Stadium. The thrilling match saw Heineken Man of the Match Gonzalo Higuaín net a first-half hat trick, while Chris McVey scored an equalizer in the seventh minute of second-half stoppage time.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami’s starting XI for the match against Cincinnati featured just one change from the team’s most recent match. Drake Callender started in goal; DeAndre Yedlin, Damion Lowe, Ryan Sailor, and McVey lined up in defense; Jean Mota, captain Gregore and Alejandro Pozuelo formed the midfield three; Robert Taylor and Indiana Vassilev lined up on the wings alongside striker Higuaín.
Lowe returned to the starting XI following his suspension for yellow-card accumulation for tonight’s matchup, while Bryce Duke returned to the bench from his yellow-card suspension. French attacker Corentin Jean, who was signed by the club on June 29 from Ligue 1 side RC Lens, also featured in an Inter Miami matchday squad for the first time, opening the match on the bench, while forwards Leonardo Campana and Ariel Lassiter returned to the squad following their recoveries from injury.
Match Action
The hosts came racing out of the gates, testing the Cincinnati defense with early chances from Yedlin, Higuaín and Vassilev. In the 23rd minute, the team capitalized on its momentum, scoring the opening goal after Taylor drew a foul in a dangerous position; Higuaín stepped up and blasted his free kick from the edge of the box into the top right corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.
A rollercoaster of a first half proceeded to unfold, with Cincinnati equalizing five minutes later when Alvas Powell hit a low ball into Brenner in front of goal, who slid and finished with a strike.
Inter Miami reclaimed its lead for a brief period in the 37th minute; after a patient passing build-up, Pozuelo threaded an incisive ball between three defenders into Higuaín’s perfectly timed run past the defense and into the box. The Argentine then latched onto the pass, rounded the keeper, and hit his shot into the back of the net for his second goal of the first half and the 2-1 lead. Pozuelo’s assist marked his first with Inter Miami and his sixth of the season.
Cincinnati, however, equalized once again in the 40th minute when Luciano Acosta played a long through ball in transition to Brenner behind the defense, who once again finished to make it 2-2.
The first-half scoring wasn’t done there. Four minutes into first-half stoppage time, a penalty was called after video review identified a foul on Mota following a corner delivery heading for the Brazilian. Higuaín then stepped up to take the penalty, sent the keeper the wrong way and scored to take the 3-2 lead into halftime and notch a first-half hat trick. The goal marked the second hat trick in Inter Miami history, the fourth first-half hat trick by a player in MLS this season, and Higuaín’s seventh goal against FC Cincinnati in just his sixth appearance against the team, the most he has scored against any opponent in the league. His third of the half was also Higuaín’s fifth in his last four MLS outings, including at least one in each of the last three home matches, and his seventh of the season.
The second half saw Inter Miami make several substitutions, including bringing on Corentin Jean for his team debut.
The action continued late in the second half, with Cincinnati scoring goals in quick succession to take the lead past the 80-minute mark. First, Álvaro Barreal made a run into the box and hit a pass for Brandon Vázquez in front of goal, who scored to make it 3-3. Minutes later, the duo connected again, this time from a cross by Barreal to a sliding finish by Vázquez to make it 3-4 in the 86th minute.
Deep into second-half stoppage time, however, Inter Miami sent everybody forward and possession was recycled by Yedlin to Jean on the right wing, who then played a ball to McVey in the box. The defender cut onto his left foot, beating a defender, and rifled a left-footed shot off the bar and in for the dramatic late equalizer, sending the raucous home crowd into a frenzy. The goal was McVey’s first for the club while the assist was Jean’s first, and the secondary assist marked Yedlin’s third assist of the campaign.
Heineken Man of the Match
Higuaín fired his way to Man of the Match honors with his outstanding first-half hat trick that helped launch Inter Miami's attack on the night.
Post-Match Reaction
"I told the guys in there that they have a quality that you can’t put into teams, and that’s never knowing when you’re beaten, going right to the very last bit. Six minutes of injury time and we went and scored right on five minutes and fifty-eight and a half, and they never give in, they never quit," said head coach Phil Neville. "But, we’re here to win fútbol games, and you don’t win fútbol games against a team that I thought we dominated, defending like that."
Inter Miami CF Honors Servicemen and Women at Military and First Responders Appreciation Night at DRV PNK Stadium
As Inter Miami CF took on FC Cincinnati on Saturday night, the club also took time to honor the nation’s military members and first responders. The night was dedicated to the service and the tremendous sacrifice of military service members, first responders, and their families. The club highlighted and celebrated local South Florida servicemen and women, and hosted several activities to show its appreciation. In particular, select members of local Customs & Border Protection were recognized during the match for their courageous acts in the community. Another memorable moment came during pre-match build up as fifty civilians were sworn into the military, taking their oath before Lieutenant General Mick Bednarek.
Next Match
Next Inter Miami will hit the road for a long-distance trip ahead of the All-Star break, visiting the West Coast to take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 10:30 p.m. ET, and then heading north of the border to face CF Montréal on Saturday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Individual match tickets for each remaining regular season home match on the Inter Miami CF schedule are available by visiting https://www.intermiamicf.com/tickets/single. Fans can also call 305-428-0611 to learn more.
Stats
Possession:
MIA - 54%
CIN - 46%
Shots:
MIA - 14
CIN - 15
Saves:
MIA - 3
CIN - 3
Corners:
MIA - 5
CIN - 7
Fouls:
MIA - 11
CIN - 11
