Quick Hits:
- The Good: Well, for the first 20 to 25 minutes, DC United were the better side. Their press gave Miami all sorts of trouble. Miami could do little but send it long and they failed to really develop much. DC pounced. Pirani created an excellent opportunity that Benteke failed to generate much power on the shot. Then came Jared Stroud’s first goal for DC United, which was an elite strike from the edge of the box. Also developed from an incredible pass from Klich in the midfield to set up the goal. DC United looked like they were cruising. Then Miami adjusted, and well we will cover that later.
- I will add that the team did come out of the second half and showed a different look. They were much more patient in the build-up and slotted Peltola deeper in the field. They managed to keep Miami off the score sheet until Suarez came in, and even generated some decent looks offensively. Big problem with pressing teams is when the press fails to work the chances dried up. DC did show they could generate chances even when not able to press as high as they did in the first 25 minutes.
- I will be willing to give Pirani some props for a more involved performance. His biggest issue the past two games was not that he made bad decisions is that he made no decisions. He has been invisible the past three games. Today, his runs seemed better. He attempted to beat guys on the dribble. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. If Stroud plays the ball to him instead of shooting in the second half, it is possible he finds the back of the net for the first time this year. He still has a long way to go, but seeing him more involved actually trying something is hopefully a base to build on.
- The Not-So-Good: Miami made adjustments and started to recognize the switch and quick counters were a way to beat DC United. From minute 24 to half time, it was basically one way traffic the other way for Miami. They exploited Peltola’s high line to bypass the midfield and beat DC on the break. Redondo, Gressel, Campana, and Taylor feasted on the quick counters and big switches gave DC United fits in defense. They did adjust in the second half, but I would argue they need to figure it out quicker. Peltola deserves some criticism for not recognizing the need to prevent counterattacks.
- Even with no Messi, DC United needed to be darn well perfect, and they weren’t. Klich played a lazy ball that was stolen for the 3rd and dagger goal. Santos picked up a foul and straight red for DOGSO. Bartlett lost Suarez on the game winning goal. When you suffer momentary lapses like DC United did, Inter Miami will punish you. While this will hardly deflate the team, it is a reminder of just how far this team has to go before they can be remotely competitive against a top tier opponent like Miami.
- Refereeing continues to be a discussion point. VAR should have called a penalty kick after Dajome was clearly held up. I am not sure what VAR was looking for how they are judging a clear and obvious error. If Dajome isn’t held up he very likely generates a chance. Then there was handling call on the edge of the box that turns directly into an Inter Miami counter. The referee in me says that call is ok. The defender is falling down and because of that his arm is in a natural position. IFAB has been pretty clear on that not being handling. Unfortunate for DC, and it doesn’t excuse the way they switched off the other direction. Santos’ red card was rough. I am not sure all the elements were there, but again nothing VAR can really do to overturn.
- The Turning Point: Luis Suarez checking into the game. Yes, he is 37 and has no speed, but he is still probably the best forward in the league. He ghosted in between the backline for the second goal. Yes there was a handling shout the other direction, but DC needs to do better getting back in transition. They almost seemed to lose focus after being denied a penalty kick. That goal pulled Miami ahead, and then it was an audacious chip from Suarez that sealed it.
- Player Spotlight: Yes, his mistake lead to the 3rd goal, but for nearly every moment up until that, Klich was the best player for DC United. A lot has been made of whether he should be the #10 instead of Pirani. In my opinion, his deep lying role is exactly what makes him so effective. He is able to break lines with long and accurate passes. The goal by Stroud is a perfect example of how he can turn a deep line pass into a real chance for DC United. He was 85% in passing accuracy and of course played an inch perfect ball to Stroud on the goal. Benteke is the focus right now, but Klich is a close second.
- Looking Ahead: The good news? Troy seems to think Ted Ku-Dipeitro will be back. He was sorely missed for the team in the past couple games. His runs, dribbling and improving vision are needed if DC wants goals other than wing back crosses from Herrera and Santos. Dajome was active, but he wasn’t nearly as efficient in the attack as we know Ku can be. The bad news? The suspension to Santos could not come at a worse time. Aaron Herrera will be gone on international duty next week, and that leaves DC United with just one natural wing back on their roster, Conner Antley. They will also be without Kristen Fletcher, Matai Akinboni, and Matti Peltola due to international call-ups. St. Louis will also probably be missing some players, but Lesesne will need to do some serious thinking about how they want to approach a tough road game with some key starters and depth missing.
Final Thoughts: Despite the result and final 30 minutes, I think there are some positives to take from this game. The press worked very well against a good team in the first 25 minutes. When they adjusted in the second half they did show they could be dangerous with slow controlled passing and build up. This game also shows how much more this rebuild will need. This team is still in a good spot and Lesesne has built an effective style that the players have shown they can execute. Right now it is about the journey rather than the result. Take the lessons learned and move on quickly.