Leo Campana strikes once more, however Inter Miami settles for 2-2 house tie with D.C. United

A lightning storm delayed the beginning of Inter Miami’s house recreation in opposition to D.C. United by 75 minutes on Saturday night time, and the lads in pink wished nothing greater than to reward their soggy followers for sticking round and persevering with to sing, dance and beat their drums.

Instead, they let a 2-0 lead slip away and needed to settle for a 2-2 tie after a pair of defensive lapses.

Miami would have moved as much as the center of the Eastern Conference pack with a win however stays caught in 13^th place with 11 factors heading right into a street recreation Wednesday in opposition to the Philadelphia Union.

“I’m disappointed we didn’t get the victory we thought we deserved and that hurts a little bit,” coach Phil Neville mentioned. “We’re all frustrated because we feel we’re better than the position we’re in. We want to stay in touch with those above us and we can’t afford too many one points or dropped points and the home games are where we’re going to have to be really good.

“We feel as if one result can take us to a position where we can start attacking. The attitude has been fantastic, I really believe in this group. They want to climb up the table and if they continue to perform at this level the results will come.”

Opportunistic ahead Leo Campana as soon as once more was in the suitable place on the proper time and pushed in an Ariel Lassiter cross from shut vary to gave Miami the lead within the 31^nd minute. Campana, the 21-year-old Ecuadorean, has supplanted ageing Argentine star Gonzalo Higuain within the beginning lineup.

Campana has scored a team-high six targets with two assists in 12 matches.

Miami’s second purpose got here within the 45^th minute off the pinnacle of 6-3 Jamaican heart again Damion Lowe, who leaped within the field to attach with a Jean Mota nook kick. It was Lowe’s first MLS purpose.

And then, simply when it appeared the house staff would enter halftime with a two-goal lead, D.C. striker Taxi Fountas took benefit of free defending within the field and closed the hole to 1 after scoring on a low cross within the third minute of added time.

“Their goal was just one of those where the defender goes to the near post, the striker just gets a flick in the box and everyone is moving 90 miles per hour, it’s very difficult to stop and try to react sometimes,” Lowe mentioned. “Unfortunately, they were just lucky on that one.”

Miami appeared to open a 3-1 lead after midfielder Bryce Duke despatched a protracted ball to speedster Lassiter, who used his burst to get behind the D.C. protection and rating. But it was waved off for offside, deflating the gang of 13,317.

In the 74^th minute, Fountas gained his 1-on-1 duel on the wing and helped arrange Ola Kamara for the close-range equalizer.

D.C.’s Christopher Durkin picked up a second yellow of the night time and was despatched off throughout stoppage time. Miami, with a person benefit and Higuain coming off the bench within the ultimate minutes, made a final effort however couldn’t discover the again of the online.

Among the gamers Neville singled out have been Duke, Campana, Ryan Sailor, Lassiter and Robert Taylor, whom the coach felt performed his finest recreation of the season. Taylor’s mother and father have been visiting from Finland and Neville had a hunch he would further motivated.

“I feel the future’s really bright,” Neville mentioned.

Lowe agreed.

“We’ve been playing well, we’ve been growing,” Lowe mentioned. “If you look from the start of the season til now, it’s a different team. We have an identity and I feel like we’re getting more respect every week from teams…The guys are frustrated with the result, but not with how we’re playing.”

Drake Callender began at goalkeeper for the third time instead of injured Nick Marsman and the sure-handed 24-year-old Californian confirmed as soon as once more why Neville mentioned he’s battling for the No. 1 place. Callender made a couple of huge saves early within the recreation.

Robbie Robinson missed the sport on concussion protocol. Robinson was ejected from Tuesday’s Cup recreation after an altercation with an opposing defender that left each gamers on the bottom in a double headlock.

This story was initially revealed May 15, 2022 12:41 AM.