D.C. United and Inter Miami CF will meet for the first time of the 2023 season at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
While the Black-and-Red looks to shake off a bit of a slump with a loss in Toronto and a 2-2 draw at home with CF Montréal, Inter Miami are dealing with a rough patch of their own.
Miami just parted ways with head coach Phil Neville after a 0-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls left the club sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table. A fourth defeat in a row proved too much for the club.
Javier Morales was named interim head coach, taking the helm for Inter Miami as assistant coach Jason Kreis was dismissed alongside Neville. Morales has a wealth of experience backing him up, including time as a professional player, academy coach, and first team assistant coach.
Will D.C. United be able to capitalize on Inter Miami’s turmoil to return to winning ways? The Black-and-Red will need to hone their concentration to deliver the kind of consistent performance that will see them through the rest of the season.
Check out the highlights from the last time D.C. United and Inter Miami CF met.
Key Players: Christian Benteke and Donovan Pines
It goes without saying that Benteke has been the stalwart attacker the Black-and-Red have needed. He leads the team with seven goals scored this season. Donovan Pines has come into his own and is just as dangerous a goalscorer as he is on defense. He’s still developing, but his incredible rise over the course of the season has us keeping an eye on him.
Watch Out For: Leonardo Campana and Josef Martínez
Campana is a danger on the pitch, capable of producing multiple-goal games with ease. Josef Martínez, is, well, Josef Martínez. Martínez is a standout player who has been causing trouble for the opposition throughout his time in the league. The fastest player in MLS history to score 100 goals in regular-season matches, D.C. United will need to keep an eye on Martínez throughout the match.
Challenges: Wayne Rooney will have even more limited choices as D.C. United is down several players due to injury, and Lewis O’Brien is sidelined due to suspension. Miami, however, is missing its head coach, leaving the team to find a new groove to settle into mid-season.
Previously: The Black-and-Red last met Inter Miami in September 2022, when they suffered a 2-3 loss at Audi Field.
Inter Miami CF Availability:
Out: Gregore (Lisfranc), Jean Mota (knee), Rodolfo Pizarro (hamstring)
Questionable: Robbie Robinson (calf), Corentin Jean (knee)
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Lewis O’Brien (suspension), Martin Rodriguez (knee), Nigel Robertha (ankle), Mohanad Jeahze (thigh), Ruan (thigh), Russell Canouse (head), Luis Zamudio (thigh)
Location: DRV PNK Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kickoff time: 7:30 PM ET
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Akinmboni was loaned down to Loudoun, joining Hopkins and Sargis for the season. Hopefully some consistent game time for them all will help in their growth. We know Akinmboni and Jackson are capable of hanging with the senior team, Sargis I’m still not sure of.
It makes me wonder if we’ve got some summer moves planned. Injuries are sure to pile up again.
I really liked Akinmboni when he saw the field in his limited capacity. He has the instincts and tools to be a great defender. Just needs more game time to keep progressing.
I sure hope some reinforcements are coming. In my opinion, DC needs a more reliable LWB if they want to keep this formation. Another, more creative CM couldn’t hurt either. It all really depends on how Rooney sees this team moving forward.
I’ll be at the game with my kids. Vamos United!!!
Hope you have fun and we get a good result! VAMOS!
Taxi and Birnbaum return to the lineup today. I don’t like Palsson in the midfield at all. He’s been stellar at CB but his lack of pace has made him a statue in midfield. Fingers crossed the team figures it out. Vamos!
Currently in the 56′ for OGDC at NOLA. OGDC is up 18-8. Its a must win for NOLA Gold to keep their playoff hopes alive and OGDC needs to win as well to keep in the playoff spots.
That’s 💯 a red for an obvious goal scoring opportunity denied, and this VAR screen check is an IQ test for the ref to see how quickly he gives it.
Red card to Kamal Miller 5 minutes into the game. DC needs to pile on the pressure and punish them for 85 minutes.
Also oddly poetic considering O’Brien wasn’t sent off on Wednesday.
But he was retroactively suspended.
Very true
Speaking of clear reds after review, someone said that O’Brien shouldn’t have been suspended because the tackle wasn’t “reckless or sloppy.” I’d like to point out that you can also get suspended for being cynical and dangerous enough to be suspended, that was pre-meditated attempted ankle murder.
That was me. And no, it wasn’t pre-meditated attempted ankle murder. It was a professional foul to bring down the attacker. The problem (from O’Brien’s end) was the attacker didn’t initially go down but stayed up an extra step. O’Brien didn’t lead with his studs. It was a foul. And I can understand the red. But I think given the nature of the foul, when and where it happened, how it happened, hitting the studs was unintended and not sloppy.
This is a patently bad take. He wanted him to stop, stamped on the back of his foot above the ankle while the player was running.
I don’t know if he wanted to injure the player, but he sure as hell didn’t care. One of the worst things a player can do intentionally.
This is going to be a very choppy game. Miami is pissed.
The fans are also still too immature in their fandom to not bay for blood rather than justice. They’ll want to see us hurt.
Lloyd Sam has to be looking at his partner like he’s crazy, this guy thinks every Miami foul is an immaculate interception
OGDC is triumphant over NOLA Gold 28-15. OGDC get 4 points for the win + 1 bonus point for scoring 4 or more tries. This moves them to 38 points and firmly in 2nd place. The loss all but eliminates NOLA Gold from contention for a playoff spot. They aren’t completely dead yet though.
A lot of clean tackles being called against both teams.
If Najar had any accuracy on his shots he’d be racking up goals for DC.
Strange to think he was the leading goal scorer for one of the worst United teams in his rookie year.
Taxi’s been missing the target, a lot, too, but Najar seems to be shooting 6 yards wide or more sometimes. Crazy bad shooting.
Does AppleTV+ not have the commentary team at the stadium? Or not have enough of a team providing them support? I have hardly seen a commentary team more lost. Spent what felt like 5-10 minutes analyzing the yellow card on Benteke w/o even realizing what it was actually for (the hand to the face of Kyrvstov, nothing to do with Yedlin.)
The weird thing for me is the rampant homer-ism of the play by play commentator. Like, this is Apple TV, thought the whole point of the broadcasts was no one gets a homer calling the game? If that’s not the case, screw them for pushing Dave Johnson to the radio.
Expectedly sloppy first half. DC played down to Miami and they’ve blown chances thanks to poor shooting for poor service. Need a motivated team in the second half. Miami are an error away from being up.
The broadcast keeps showing a golazo by Berry for another team. It’s almost like he’s tempting us to bring him b-lol, heck no, enjoy the highlight, you useless tree.
Took off Williams for Dajome, which I think makes sense, don’t really need three CB’s for 10 men. Before we can even see the new formation, Miami player looks to have destroyed his groin.
DCU needs to not play at Miami’s tempo. They need to control the game and make Miami play fast.
They had some chances in the first half, counter-attacking mostly — but Rooney needed to shake things up at halftime again. The lineup was fine if the teams were at full strength. Given the man advantage, Rooney need to shift to a more dynamic, faster group, to run at Miami and crate openings. Worked at the end — Klich to KDP, Palsson to Benteke, Dájome’s runs. Needed to happen much sooner.
Looks like Rooney might have won the “major formation collection sweepstakes” by playing (what looks like) a 4-2-3-1 with Taxi in the hole, If that’s accurate, he’s played every major formation in the book.
Anything by less than 8 minutes of stoppage time will be laughable. Not to mention all of Miami’s time wasting that the ref has done nothing about
Taxi hasn’t been his usually lethal self this season. Can’t seem to hit the target much.
Think he knows it, so might be a bit psychological, but he’s also just not had a lot of games to get consistent form with the hamstring issues. Think he just needs that first goal and to stay healthy for a bit, if he can find form at the right time, we might be quite dangerous
100% agree. I wouldn’t bet against him. Just a frustrating observation this season thus far.
Najar has a green light to shoot, but he has yet to hit the mark tonight I think.
There was one in the last game, there’s another bafflingly bad defensive header by Pines without a ton of pressure going absolutely not where he intended. Needs to tighten that up.
I think Fletcher needs to come in for Santos. His service and passing has been poor this second half
Instead it’s KDP. Either way I like it.
Santos for TKD
This might be sacrilege, but I think we should sub out Benteke for Fletcher. He’s gone a lot of minutes, but also might be the wrong tool for the type of game this is. Additionally, maybe Taxi enjoys more service centrally.
An ugly goal for an ugly game. I’ll take it!
You said it.
No surprise that Javier Morales is able to coach Miami into Concafafing this game.
KDP on should help with off ball movement but I worry about Durkin getting blasted on pace. (Although t that worry is always present with Santos)
Donovan Pines wins an old fashioned foot war with the goalie.
1-0, crazy
Those Daddy Long Legs of his really paid off for once.
More than once. Pines has been able to win those aerial duels and has just been incredible!
I’m avoiding Miami fan comments after the game, I for one do not think they deserve a win, a pony, and Lionel Messi.
Greene in for Taxi. Maybe next time, Fountas.
TKD JUST wide with a lovely chip attempt
I haven’t seen the stoppage time minutes, but I’m planning to make a quick coffee run to Havana during that period, anyone want anything?
It’s a shame that KDP can’t be considered for rookie of the year.
Thank you Benteke. Just see out these last 8 minutes.
Benteke with a smart finish from an even smarter pass by Palsson. Game over, surely.
I’m so fucking sorry, 2-1
Shhhh! 🤣
And like clockwork DC give them hope.
Palsson with a great takeaway and amazing pass.
Then he drops twelve yards to deep and completely loses his runner.
Son of a gun…this is gonna be wild
Well, as the ancient curse says, we are definitely living in interesting times
Pretty ironic that Miami are complaining about DC wasting time.
That was a hideous game but a win is a win. You’d think this team would’ve learned their lesson about letting teams back into games. On to Atlanta.
I’d say “what in the world was that?” But I know what it is.
It’s MLS.
Have enough spoons to switch over to the Spirit game, 1-1 against Louisville.
Oh, wow, Rodman is immediately pulled down outside the box for another red to the opposition!
It’s raining red. Hallelujah, it’s raining red
Better finishing and this game is a blowout. Benteke had 2 clear chances in addition to the goal, TKDP missed a clear chance, Taxi had 2 decent chances that he hit wide/high. I thought Palsson had one of his best games of the year. Durkin also impressed me.
Of note: Annapolis Blues played their first home match, up against FC Frederick. Nearly 8400 in the stands. NPSL record crowd. 4-2 to the Blues. Next week they host Va. Beach.
Did you get to attend? This looked FANTASTIC and I’d love to get to a Blues match!
Didn’t. Wanted to, but very busy… I’ll get there eventually
They owe me a jersey though. I paid for one and never received.