Inter Miami CF (9W-2L-4D, 31 points) earned a 1-0 win over D.C. United in dramatic fashion on Saturday night to extend the team’s current unbeaten run this regular season to nine. The team’s goal on the night was courtesy of striker Leonardo Campana, who entered the match as a second-half substitute late on, just one minute before bagging the winner in stoppage time. Additionally, goalkeeper Drake Callender once again led the back line with a solid display in goal and registered his fourth shut out of the campaign.
Lineup Notes
Inter Miami lined up with two changes from the team’s midweek match against Orlando City SC. Callender started in goal; Marcelo Weigandt, Tomás Avilés, Nicolás Freire and Jordi Alba made up a back line of four; Julian Gressel, Sergio Busquets and Benjamin Cremaschi lined up in midfield; captain Lionel Messi and Matías Rojas flanked striker Luis Suárez in attack.
Notably, with the start Alba marked his return to the team’s starting lineup for the first time since the road win against Sporting Kansas City on April 13.
Match Action
The match got underway at a rainy Chase Stadium following a 25-minute-long weather delay and presented an even matchup throughout the first 45 minutes of action. Inter Miami’s most dangerous opportunity in attack throughout the half came in the 43rd minute; a precise long ball across the pitch from Alba found Cremaschi inside after a defensive header, but our Homegrown midfielder’s subsequent attempt inside the box was stopped by the keeper.
Despite both sides’ efforts throughout the first half in South Florida, the match went into the break scoreless.
The second half then presented another balanced 45 minutes and it seemed as if the match was going to end scoreless until a thrilling, emotion-packed stoppage time. First, the visitors nearly scored the go ahead goal in the third minute of stoppage time, but Callender rose to the occasion and exhibited great reflexes to deny forward Cristian Dájome’s attempt from the center of the box.
One minute later, it was the hosts that were finally able to find the opener on the other end of the pitch in dramatic fashion. In the fourth minute of added time, Busquets delivered an inch-perfect ball over the top of the defense to find Campana just outside the box. The Ecuadorian marksman, who had entered the match as a late substitute just one minute prior, then masterfully brought down the ball before unleashing a powerful right-footed strike that bounced off the crossbar and finished in the back of the net to grant Inter Miami a 1-0 lead in the dying moments. The goal was the third for Campana this regular season, while the assist was Busquets’ fourth this regular season and fifth overall in 2024. Notably, with the goal Campana took his personal tally to five goals in six appearances against D.C. United.
The scoreline then remained unchanged for Inter Miami to extend its current unbeaten streak to nine and record the team’s ninth win this regular season, the fifth one at home, to remain atop the Supporters’ Shield standings.
Post-Match Reaction
"I highlight our defensive effort because we had to cover large spaces and we resolved it well. And today without a doubt what is celebrated are the three points that are very valuable for what we always talk about, what the team needs to continue adding for when the FIFA window, the Copa América and the Olympic Games come,” said head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino.
Next Match
Next, Inter Miami will hit the road for the team’s first-ever matchup against the Vancouver Whitecaps, with the sides set to face off at BC Place at 10:30 p.m. ET next Saturday, May 25.
Stats
Possession:
MIA - 62.8%
D.C. - 37.2%
Shots:
MIA - 9
D.C. - 14
Saves:
MIA - 3
D.C. - 2
Corners:
MIA - 4
D.C. - 3
Fouls:
MIA - 8
D.C. - 15
