This Match recap is presented by Powerful Foods
Inter Miami CF fell 3-0 against the Philadelphia Union at Subaru Park.
"I think we had a lot of opportunities to score today. We didn't have the luck to score,” said manager Diego Alonso. “We worked hard to create those opportunities but unfortunately we were unlucky. We have to keep insisting until we're more clinical."
Inter Miami’s newest signing Gonzalo Higuaín made his debut for the Club, stepping into the starting XI and playing the full match.
Higuaín got himself involved often right from the opening moments of the match. The forward’s first shot came 13 minutes in after an efficient counterattacking move; Nicolás Figal won the ball and pushed forward, connecting with Lewis Morgan down the right wing before squaring a pass to Pizarro in the middle of the field. The Mexican international then played it forward to Higuaín, who cut onto his left foot, and delivered a powerful left-footed shot just over the bar.
The Argentine threatened the Philadelphia goal again in the 20th minute, this time shooting in spectacular fashion; Figal whipped a cross into Higuaín in the box, who attempted an overhead volley that nicked the post and went just wide.
Philadelphia, however, took the lead in the 25th minute. The hosts won the ball high up the pitch, Kacper Przybylko played it into Anthony Fontana, who dribbled into the box and struck a powerful shot from a wide area into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Higuaín played an important role in two more attacking moves before the end of the half, first collecting possession at the far post after a set piece and taking a shot from a narrow angle that was saved. In the 40th minute, he controlled a long ball, patiently created an opening and cut a pass back to Morgan, whose low shot went just wide.
Inter Miami created an opportunity to equalize in the 62nd minute. Matuidi quickly restarted play after a foul and played the ball forward to Ben Sweat, who cut in on his right foot and curled a shot that was narrowly saved.
Philadelphia extended its lead in the 69th minute when Przybylko slid a cross across the face of goal that Ilsinho connected with and knocked into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Inter Miami had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the 76th minute when Przybylko was called for a handball in the box, but Higuaín’s shot from the penalty spot went off target.
The hosts sealed their victory in the seventh minute of second-half added time when Brenden Aaronson won the ball high up the pitch and struck to make it 3-0.
Inter Miami will return home to face New York City FC on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 8:00 p.m. ET at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
