CF Montreal 2-1 Inter Miami: Analysis, Notes, and Observations
Taking a closer look at the South Florida side's late loss to CF Montreal in Friday's friendly
(photo by Andrea Yanez)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Inter Miami is four games into the 2022 preseason, and trends are starting to emerge with regards to the team’s tactics.
CF Montreal came from behind to defeat Inter Miami, 2-1, in a friendly on Friday evening, but the result was largely secondary to the performance put forth. The South Florida side delivered another mixed bag of an outing, defending well for large stretches while also struggling to get going in the attack.
That, however, may be exactly what Inter Miami looks to do this upcoming campaign. For all the talk of possession-based soccer that has been spouted in recent weeks, the Herons continue to showcase a more counterattacking style that is centered around defensive solidity and hitting with speed on the flanks in transition.
Here are some observations, notes, and analysis from Inter Miami’s defeat to CF Montreal:
The 5-2-3 continues
For the third straight game, Inter Miami came out in a 5-2-3 formation that transformed into a 3-4-3 when in possession. Head coach Phil Neville seemed to introduce a new tactical wrinkle, though, by having a winger drop into the midfield at times to help with numbers in that part of the field while Gonzalo Higuain and Ariel Lassiter stayed in higher positions.
Hard to break down
With so many numbers in the middle of the park in addition to the wingbacks and three central defenders, Inter Miami did not give up a whole a lot. CF Montreal chances came at a premium despite the Canadian side’s lion share of possession during the opening 20-25 minutes.
The centerback trio of Ian Fray, the debuting Damion Lowe, and Christopher McVey all held up well in terms of their defensive assignments, clogging up the spaces at the back while also preventing anyone from running in behind them to really test goalkeeper Clement Diop.
If Neville is looking to prioritize defensive solidity to keep a zero at the back — which it very much seems judging from the system he continues to trot out this preseason — then this half of soccer was probably gold to him.
Not much possession until late in first half
This was not sexy soccer, but it was effective and quite possibly the blueprint for what is to come this year.
While Inter Miami struggled to do much with the ball when in possession for the opening half-hour, the team competed by putting in a lot of work off the ball to keep CF Montreal from creating many scoring opportunities. There was a lot of effort, commitment, and tactical discipline.
That eventually allowed Inter Miami to find the game, and the final 15 minutes of the first half were much better for the South Florida side. The Herons were able to take some possession off of a frustrated CF Montreal team, started dictating the tempo, and advanced the ball forward better while still not penetrating the final third all too much.
Nonetheless, Inter Miami made the most of it. Higuain scored a composed opener in the 40th minute after receiving a pass from fellow frontman Lassiter in what was the team’s first real dangerous chance, and just like that the hosts had the lead. Out in front, Neville’s men were able to keep the game on their terms until halftime.
While Inter Miami has preached wanting to be a possession-based side this year, it is starting to look like the team might be anything but. Yes, there were better spells with the ball during the final 15 minutes, but by and large Inter Miami defended well with numbers while trying to hit quickly on the counter and on set pieces with their numerous large aerial targets.
Wheels came undone after wholesale changes, Callender errors
Inter Miami lost control of the match and the lead after substituting in practically a whole new team around the 58th-minute mark. The reserves — which included many Fort Lauderdale CF players — could not find the game and had serious issues when trying to build out.
One such error from substitute goalkeeper Drake Callander in trying to progress the ball on the ground from the back ended in a poor turnover and Ivy Brisma’s equalizer in the 66th.
CF Montreal was back on top in terms of the run of play from there, overrunning the young Inter Miami side and creating a number of chances that Callender thwarted. The Inter Miami netminder, however, made two big mistakes in the dying seconds in a sequence that was sure to drive Neville mad. Callender helped give the ball up with a poor low pass before conceding an avoidable and cheap winner, spilling a savable shot from Brisma that Callender had gotten his hands to.
Other Notes:
Gregore, Nick Marsman, Kieran Gibbs, Leonardo Campana, Emerson Rodriguez, Bryce Duke all did not feature once again for Inter Miami.
Robbie Robinson and Mo Adams were surprise omissions from the group of players that saw the field, playing neither with the starters or substitutes.
DeAndre Yedlin, who will be formally presented on Saturday, did not earn any minutes either.
Jamaican international Damion Lowe made his first appearance of the preseason, starting as the sweeper in the back five.
Ian Fray continued to impress with a solid all-around showing in which he, among other things, once again penetrated the final third on one play with a smooth and confident dribble forward.
First-round draft pick Ryan Sailor was seen doing fitness laps around a field out on the periphery prior to the match.
Rookie selection Tyler Bagley entered in the second half, but was not overly influential or impressive.