Inter Miami made it back-to-back wins with victory over Houston Dynamo in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday.
Lewis Morgan’s second-half penalty proved the difference in a tight game, the Scot making no mistake from the spot to ensure Miami moved to within one point of Nashville in that all-important 10th spot.
Gonzalo Higuain came close to putting the hosts ahead within 15 minutes with a low strike from range, the Argentine firing just wide as wind and rain descended upon the Inter Miami Stadium.
Memo Rodriguez came close for Houston just moment later, his deflected effort dripping just over the top.
And the chances continued in the first-half, Morgan this time taking aim only to be denied by Marko Maric in the Dynamo goal.
Miami thought they should have had a penalty in the first half when Leandro Gonzalez Pirez was wrestled down in the box following a corner.
Inter were denied but the Argentine defender must have had a word with the referee at half-time because when the same thing happened early in the second half, a penalty was swiftly awarded.
Oh look, it’s the @CaptainMorganUS Goal Celebration from L. Morgan ? #InterMiamiCF pic.twitter.com/YJ5hXSZ0D3
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 10, 2020
Morgan stepped up to take the penalty and tucked it home, sending the excellent Maric the wrong way.
And aside from a smart John McCarthy save to deny Ariel Lassiter, Miami was comfortable in seeing out its lead, and indeed the win.
That’s now consecutive wins for Inter and at a crucial time having lost three straight games previously.
“It’s the first time we’ve been able to win two matches in a row,” Miami boss Diego Alonso said. “I think it strengthens our spirit.
All smiles here! ? #MIAvsHOU pic.twitter.com/CNGFzY0MvU
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) October 11, 2020
“I think the two wins were deserved and that also strengthens us, because winning by doing things well strengthens our convictions.
“We have to keep working and pushing forward. We’ll enjoy today and tomorrow we’ll begin work for the match against Atlanta.”
Inter are now in 11th, a point behind Atlanta United and Nashville in ninth and tenth respectively, though Nashville does have two games in-hand.
