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Loudoun out possessed and out shot their opponent but couldn’t convert their chances and had a few too many mistakes in the back leading to a 1-4 loss to Miami FC on Sunday.
Missing multiple usual starters to D.C. United’s Capital Cup match against Alajuelense (also on Sunday), Loudoun United couldn’t come back from a 3 goal deficit against an in-form Miami FC side. Miami are now 3-0-1 in their last 4 while Loudoun have failed to capitalize on the momentum from their most recent win against Pittsburgh and have lost their last two, consecutively.
United started strong, pressing, and creating chances from the first whistle until around the 20th minute when Miami pushed forward and had a series of crosses that tested Loudoun’s defense and goalkeeper Jermaine Fordah. A resulting corner kick fell to Miami’s Bolu Akinyode who slotted the ball inside the near post for the game’s opener.
Loudoun had a chance to put one back in the 35th minute when Darluis Paz was fouled just inside of the box after dribbling through a handful of Miami’s defenders from the wing. Paz stepped up for the kick and smacked the ball against the crossbar, keeping the score at 0-1 Miami.
Most of Loudoun’s chances came from Paz and/or D.C. United loanee Kimarni Smith with either solo or combined efforts to break down Miami’s backline. However, they fell short on each opportunity and ended the half still down 0-1.
Much like the first half, Loudoun came out storming the gates and came up with a fantastic chance for Robby Dambrot in the 49th minute. The ball was played into the box from a Loudoun freekick in the midfield and found Dambrot at the top of the 6-yard box who made contact, but put his shot directly at Connor Sparrow, Miami’s goalkeeper, who made the save to keep the clean sheet alive.
United captain Timmy Mehl left the game injured in the 50th minute which may have opened the flood gates for Miami as 20 minutes later they found the back of the net twice in 3 minutes. Once in the 70th minute from a run down the side of the 18-yard box that was smashed home by Christiano Francois and another in the 73rd that came from a bad give away in the midfield leading to a 2v1 against Fordah. A simple square pass from Francois allowed Ariel Martinez to push the ball into the back of the net.
A few minutes later, however, Loudoun put one back off a corner that found Owen Walz at the back post for a one touch shot past Sparrow. The goal was well-deserved but not enough to put Loudoun back in the game.
Finally, Miami put the game to rest in the 90+3’ when Martinez dribbled through Loudoun’s defense from the top of the box and passed across the six to Billy Forbes for a tap in.
Loudoun’s struggles continue as they remain in last place in the Atlantic Division with 6 points from 11 games. Miami FC, however, move up to 3rd place in the division for a playoff spot.
Lineups:
Loudoun United: Jermaine Fordah; Owen Walz, Timmy Mehl (Gomez 51’), Robby Dambrot, Di Rosa (Yohannes 74’); N. Downs, T. Ku-Dipietro, K. Smith, M. Ferrin (Aboukoura 63’),D. Paz; Montesdeoca (Gabarra 51’)
Miami FC: Connor Sparrow; J. Lobe, P. Craig, C. Chapman-Page, R Ballard; B. Akinyode, J. Palacios, O. Bah (Baggio Kcira 74’), P Da Silva (Martinez 72’), C Francois; A Reid (Anglin 46’)
Yellow Cards: Akinyode 18’, Ku Dipietro 29’, Da Silva 38’, Walz 41’, Gomez 59’, Anglin 61’