FORT LAUDERDALE, FL–LAFC continue their winning ways with a 2-0 victory in Miami. First goal coming from the 20 year old Ghanaian international Kwadwo Opoku in the 45th minute, just 2 minutes later Inter Miami defender Brek Shea saw a straight red after pulling down LAFC winger Brian Rodriguez after he appeared to be through on goal. The final nail in the coffin was a free kick from Ismail Tajouri-Shradi that came whipping in from the outside the left of the box that went bouncing in front of goal and went untouched into the back of the net making it 2-0 in the 82nd minute–a score that would keep true until the final whistle.
Through the first 45 minutes, it appeared that the Herons were in the driving seat as Inter Miami manager Phil Neville made the decision to change from the 3-5-2 formation that he sported most of last season and both of the previous 2 games of this season. Instead, he went with a more traditional 4-4-2.
A change that appeared to be working, their best chance of the game from a Jean Mota curling shot was tipped over the bar from LAFC keeper Maxime Crepeau in the 40th minute. The Miami defense was holding well against the potent Los Angeles attack until the Opuku goal in the 45th. Once Shea was sent off though, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Miami who in the second half struggled to find much success trying to penetrate the LAFC back line.
Miami’s best chance in the second half came from Robert Taylor in the 52nd minute as he was able to dribble through the LAFC back line and fire off a shot that was comfortably saved from Crepeau. It would be all Los Angeles the rest of the game. The best chance for LAFC before the goal came from the their #9 Cristian Arango who was subbed on for goal scorer Opoku, hit the the crossbar in the 79th minute.
The second goal coming directly from a Ismail Tajouri-Shradi free kick as the ball came dipping into the six-yard box and went untouched into the far left post, a combination of the weather which played a part all game with swirling winds that made any pass or shot dip and swirl in a unpredictable fashion.
LAFC are now tied with Real Salt Lake for first place in the Western Conference and will be looking to keep this momentum as they will be host to the Vancouver Whitecaps who will be trying for their first win of the season after a 2-1 defeat to Houston on Saturday.
Inter Miami seem to be facing a uphill battle again this season as after they are 0-1-2 and have only scored one goal across all three games. Neville called out their star players in the post game press conference saying ” I just want more quality from my quality players. Every team we play against their quality players stand up and score. Ours don’t and they need to.” Inter Miami will look to turn things around next week as they travel into the Midwest to play an upbeat FC Cincinnati who just ended a 14-game losing streak on Saturday in a win over Orlando.
.
