Welcome to Matchday 32. It’s been a news filled week for D.C. United with the departure of General Manager and Chief Soccer Officer Ally MacKay and the announcement of soccer super-agent Erkut Sogut as his successor. After a week of tumult, the Black-and-Red travel to Fort Lauderdale to take on Inter Miami. Under the stewardship of René Weiler, D.C. United is undefeated, going 1-0-3 in those four games. Though it’s a small sample size, the statistics show improvement by United under Weiler. United have averaged about 1.25 goals per game under Weiler, while more importantly conceding 1 goal per game in that time. Under Troy Lesense, the Black-and-Red averaged .94 goals per game and 2.5 goals allowed over 18 games. Under Kevin Flanagan, the team averaged a goal per game and 2.5 goals allowed over 5 games. Their opponent today will challenge whether this improvement is real or just the result of the new coach bump.
Inter Miami opens today sixth in the Eastern Conference table, sitting on 49 points, but possessing a real possibility of claiming the division. Miami is eight points behind Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia with three games in hand. Since their appearance at Audi Field last month, Inter Miami have played four matches, two in the Leagues Cup and two in MLS play. In the Leagues Cup, the Herons defeated cross-state rivals Orlando in the Semifinals. Miami, ultimately fell to the Seattle Sounders in a final which featured a much discussed fracas at the end. In league play, Miami were shutout by Charlotte before defeating Seattle in a much calmer match midweek. Miami will play their third game this week against the Black-and-Red.
Watch Out For: Lionel Messi
This almost seems like its too obvious, but Messi didn’t feature in last month’s draw. Everyone knows what he is capable of. Messi will face a D.C. United without first choice starters in the midfield and along the backline. If the replacements are not up to the task, Messi could make it a long day for DCU.
Key Player: Luis Barraza
My heart wants to say Jackson Hopkins given his form lately. My brain is telling me it’s Barraza. Under Weiler, D.C. United has been out possessed every game. Last time against Miami, as well as against Montreal and NYFC, D.C. United limited the shots on goal (three in each game). Last week against Orlando, DCU conceded 10 shots on goal. On the road, against more of Miami’s first team lineup, DCU will likely concede more shots on goal than last time. DCU will need Barraza to keep them in the game if Benteke, Pirani, and Hopkins are to give the team a chance to win.
Challenges: Lack of MacNaughton and Peltola
The Black-and-Red will be without the services of first choice starters Lukas MacNaughton and Matti Peltola. MacNaughton drew a red for a dangerous play on Alex Freeman’s game tying goal last week. Peltola drew a late yellow against Orlando and will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation. DCU will need to incorporate their replacements against an Inter Miami team loaded with talent.
Previously:
The two sides faced each other last month at Audi Field in a match that finished 1-1. Jackson Hopkins scored for the home team. Baltasar Gallego equalized it in the 64th minute for the visitors.
DCU has a 4-3-3 record against Inter Miami in this fixture. Over the last 5 matches, D.C. are 1-2-2 against the Herons.
Inter Miami Availability:
Out: Luis Suarez (Suspension), Allen Obando (hamstring), David Ruiz (hamstring), Fafa Picault (quad)
Questionable: None
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Lukas MacNaughton (Suspension), Matti Peltola (Suspension), Dominique Badji (thigh), Kristian Fletcher (knee)
Questionable: Randall Leal (leg)
Location: Chase Stadium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Kickoff time: 7:30 ET
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Available streaming: Apple TV
Herrera is slotted as AM/Winger in 3-man front line. With Pirani playing behind him. Interesting. Or, the intern screwed up with the lineup graphic.
No the league site has it that way to.
(L->R)
Barraza
Schnegg; Rowles; Bartlett; Antley
Hopkins; Servania; Pirani
Peglow; Benteke; Herrera
Bench: Stroud, Zouhir, Clark, Dodson, Murrell, Kijima, Farr, Enow, Joon
…2 goalies on the bench….
Apple broadcast has Herrera behind Pirani.
Full Lineups:
DCU: Peglow, Benteke, Herrera, Hopkins, Sevania, Pirani, Schnegg, Rowles, Bartlett, Antley, Barraza.
Subs: Clark, Kim, Farr, Dodson, Zouhir, Enow, Stroud, Kijima, Murrell
MIA:
Lineup: Alba, Messi, Allende, Bright, Busquets, De Paul, Allen, Falcon, Lujan, Weigandt, Ustari
Subs: Silvetti, Pinter, Aviles, Segovia, Morales, Rodriguez, Sailor, Fray, Rios Novo.
It’s actually kinda fun seeing Apple put up a little thing on the broadcast saying that DC is undefeated under Weiler
Have they jinxed us though is the question?
Is it me, or is the pitch looking a little rough on some of these close up shots?
Even on the far shot it looks…bumpy?
Very chewed up. Florida isn’t known for being hospitable for grass. I’m guessing the drainage at this old
collegehigh school stadium isn’t great.Yeah, I’m curious to see how the pitch holds up under this downpour.
The way the one announcer is saying Pirani is funny.
Now I can’t not hear it.
I want to ask the announcer to say the name of the mountains on the border of Spain and France to she how it sounds,
Miami’s CB gets away with one on Schnegg in the box.
The wet ball almost ends up with a DCU shot in the back of the net, but the ball goes off the goalies hands and leg then just misses the corner.
Barraza with a good save.
Well there’s the first Miami goal.
The Herons are emulating the Shark part of the now defunct MLR side Miami Sharks that played on a stadium connected to this one.
Poor Hopkins. At least the list of people Messi has done that too is long and distinguished.
Miami up 1-0 at half time. DC has played decently well, and has given Miami quite a bit of trouble, but we just can’t quite put a goal away
I find it funny that the broadcast has shown Weiler 3 times this game, and he’s had a different outfit on each time
Benteke forces a save after a great ball from Pirani.
Benteke ties it!
Great cross from Servania
The Swiss cheese defense finally did its thing
Benteke doing Benteke things!!!
The woodwork denies Messi
Oh wait it was a deflection off a Barraza save that went off the bar.
So far 2 Miami players are on yellows, but no DCU players on yellows yet.
This has gotta be a new record for amount of minutes in a game without a DC yellow
Messi is starting to heat up. This is getting dangerous.
Caden Clark lives! And he comes on for…Schnegg?
Miami with a double switch. Now Caden Clark makes his DCU debut coming in for Antley and Herrera slides back.
Correction Schnegg came out, Herrera slid back and Antley went to the left…
Barraza with a big save!!!
That yellow on Fray is a little harsh, but it did stop a promising counter attack.
Messi reclaims the lead for Miami….
The way they are playing there really could be another goal in this game for DCU if they can settle things down a bit.
Miami with another double switch.
Peglow had a great chance, but gets it wrong and puts it off the goalie.
Barraza yields a penalty….this is about to be 3-1 and the nail in the coffin.
Never mind the woodwork denies the penalty.
Barraza gives up a penalty after DCU has a good look down the other end.
Crossbar MVP!
Another Miami yellow drawn by Pirani.
He hits the crossbar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zouhir for Hopkins and Enow for Servania
There goes our yellow-free game. No way Enow gets out of this game clean
Falcon picks up yet another yellow for Miami for delaying the restart. That’s 5 yellows for Miami and none on DCU so far….
Make that a 6th yellow for Miami…that’s a penalty
Let’s hope VAR thinks so.
VAR thought so, but ref didn’t…
That has to go to VAR…that’s in the box.
Oh that’s bull….that was on the line and if its on the line its in the box and a penalty.
I mean, the foul on Schnegg in the first half was a penalty too. It’s Miami. They will call whatever they can to keep them in front
And there’s a yellow for DCU on Peglow…took till the 81′.
Messi puts the nail in the coffin….
Messi with the dagger.
Murrell and Kijima are ready to come in.
Peglow and Pirani make way.
There’s a 2nd yellow to DCU.
9 minutes of stoppage…
Nine minutes of extra time.
Not a fan of Zouhir taking free kicks
Murrell makes it 3-2 and an assist to Benteke on the counter. DCU is not going quietly into the night. And now the non-pk call on the VAR is looming large.
Benteke feeds Murrell who puts it int he back of the net. Still some time left to break hearts.
There should’ve been more stoppage for the fan running on the field.
And the goal
It’s a loss, but that was a respectable performance against a good team. We kept the juggernaut honest
Agreed. Its a loss and I am grumpy about it. There are things that mad me hapy thought. The team, which for large parts of this year played punchless, listless, and dour soccer, played enjoyable soccer tonight. They fought and played to the end. They showed creativity and the ability to string passes together. One of the things that they kept saying on the Apple broadcast is, even though they are eliminated from playoff contention, this team still has things to play for whether its their career or just to be petty and play spoiler. It gives me a little hope for next year.
Also, if Miami plays like that against playoff teams, they will be in trouble.
My bartender at http://www.tampicogirll.com in Laurel, MD thinks that it was a BIG mistake by the new manager to not have put Jacob Murrell in earlier.
Agree! Being inserted in the 89th minute makes it difficult to accomplish much, but Murrell made an immediate impact. Would like to see him come in around the 65th minute and play with Benteke.
I’m on record as being a fan.
Very respectable competitive showing. Messi was the difference.
Really amazing what Weiler has accomplished in his limited time here. Without him, I think the players are sulking after the first goal and concede 4 more. With him, I bet they’re kicking themselves that they didn’t get a point or more.
It was a respectable scoreline, especially considering…Messi.
Weiler lost his unblemished record, but this would take an asterisk.
Miami deserved another goal at least, if only for the missed PK — but there were other near misses. But I suppose DC also deserved more. Still grumbling over the ref’s not giving a PK.
Yes. The ref missed that one for whatever reason. He otherwise had a decent game.
DCU beaten on a behind the back line run for first time in Weiler era. This was a feature of Lesesne’s defense!
Nice to see Murrell score. It was very precise.
Benteke involved much more in the game with several assists after he has been played further back. Nice move by the coach.
Still not a fan of Peglow. He has talent but doesn’t seem to connect with the team well.