Inter Miami captain Luis Robles has slammed referee Rubiel Vazquez for his handling of Orlando City forward Dom Dwyer.
Miami lost its MLS is Back opener against Florida rivals Orlando City on Wednesday night, Nani completing the comeback seven minutes into added time for the hosts after Chris Mueller cancelled out Juan Agudelo’s opener.
The Herons looked in control until shortly after taking the lead when defender Andres Reyes suffered a worrying injury.
Orlando forward Dwyer’s trailing arm caught 20-year-old in the throat, leaving him in great discomfort.
Reyes – who has released from hospital on Wednesday night, Inter Miami since confirming that he is ‘doing well’ and in ‘good spirits’ – was stretchered off and the incident seemed to disrupt the Herons.
Florida is purple ?
Great start boys, big 3pts let’s keep it going!
Prayers up Andrés Reyes ??— Dom Dwyer (@Ddwyer14) July 9, 2020
Despite catching Reyes, Dwyer was not punished and while Miami skipper Robles does not blame the Lions striker for the incident, he has voiced his frustration over referee Vazquez, who watched on as Dwyer crashed into player after player all evening.
“For us to lose a guy like Andres who’s in the middle of the park, who’s having a great game, it completely changed the entire complexion of the game,” Robles said. “I don’t even blame Dom, that’s just the way he plays, and like I said I respect the way he plays – that’s why he’s been so successful.
“But then the worst part is that the referee tells me that it’s our own guy, so then it shows me – I’m just completely confused by what he’s watching, because when he watched the play, it’s just him and Andres.
“I’m just going to point to that play because in the end it completely changed the match, which leaves us a bit sour and, of course, now we have to regroup because there’s two more games coming up in the group stage and we lost one of our best defender.
Photo: MLS
“Again, I don’t even put that on Dom, I put that on the ref. It’s very, very poor officiating from him today.”
Miami is next in action against Chicago Fire on July 14 (pending decision on Nashville SC) and while Diego Alonso’s men head into that one on the back of a defeat, they do have ‘the foundation’ to put things right, according to their captain.
“The only way we’re going to be able to do it is by sticking together and believing in what we’re building here [and]maintain a great spirit, because we have an incredible locker room,” the goalkeeper added.
“The chemistry in the locker room is phenomenal and I believe it’s on that foundation that we can change this, that we can start getting points, that we can start getting wins. And this season is something we can look to and know that it’s the fortitude that comes from within that locker room that’s going to be able to change the tide.”
