NASHVILLE, Nov 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – David Beckham’s Inter Miami saw their
Major League Soccer play-off hopes destroyed as fellow newcomers Nashville
deservedly sealed a place in the next round with a resounding 3-0 triumph at
Nissan Stadium.
Nashville were in control after an early wonder goal from Randall Leal
before a penalty from Hany Mukhtar and a second-half Dax McCarty effort
helped the team from Music City hit all the right notes as Miami were easily
dispatched.
Gary Smith’s team, who were great value for this triumph in the first ever
post-season game to feature two expansion clubs, face Toronto next Tuesday
for a place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
“It was a fabulous performance,” Smith said. “I know this year hasn’t been
easy and I tip my hat to Miami for giving us such a tough game considering
all the problems they have had.
“Toronto are a top side with a lot of experience but we’ll have a plan and
make life difficult for them.”
It was a sorry end to a difficult first campaign for the team co-owned by
former England captain Beckham, who were forced to take the field without
star striker Gonzalo Higuain and key defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez after
the Argentine pair, as well as Higuain’s older brother Federico, tested
positive for Covid-19 and didn’t travel.
Losing such important performers was a hammer blow for Inter Miami coach
Diego Alonso, who needed all the help available to him after winning just
seven matches from 23 in the pandemic-disrupted regular season.
The Uruguayan now has to plan for the 2021 campaign and will need to mount
a better showing than this inaugural effort.
Miami coach Alonso refused to use the absence of two of his best players
as a reason for the defeat.
“We knew the difficulties we were facing missing some players but it’s not
an excuse,” he said. “The last two weeks have been complex and complicated
because it was tough for us to train. I didn’t make excuses ahead of the game
and I am not going to make them now.
But we feel hurt for losing and ashamed for our fans because we couldn’t
get the win. They have been here for us during a very difficult year.”
With the younger Higuain missing, the pressure was on Mexican
international Rodolfo Pizarro to become the creative spark for Inter, but it
was Nashville’s Costa Rican forward Leal who stole the show early on with a
wonderful 14th minute opener.
He picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and sent an unstoppable shot
flying past John McCarthy and when the Miami keeper was somewhat harshly
adjudged to have brought down Mukhtar in the area on 23 minutes, the visiting
team were suddenly in very deep trouble.
The German dusted himself down and coolly scored the resulting penalty to
put Smith’s impressive side firmly in control and from that point, they never
looked back.
McCarty’s well-taken strike on 56 minutes sealed the deal and ensured
Nashville became the first debut MLS franchise to advance in the playoffs for
22 years.