Inter Miami 4-0 Universitario: Analysis, Notes, and Observations
Taking a closer look at the Herons' thrilling rout of La U in Wednesday night's friendly
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Well, that sure is one way to introduce yourself to the local fans.
Inter Miami’s younger and overhauled side showcased itself to supporters for the first time on Wednesday, and did so with a riveting 4-0 mauling of Peruvian heavyweight Universitario de Deportes.
The lopsided victory at Drv Pnk Stadium left the South Florida side and its pink-clad faithful with plenty of smiles, but also with plenty of takeaways to chew on and dissect as preseason continues to roll along ahead of the start of the 2022 MLS campaign next month.
Here are some observations, notes, and analysis from Inter Miami’s rout of La U:
Positive Signs in Mixed First-Half Performance
Let’s start with the formation head coach Phil Neville trotted out: He used a 5-2-3 formation that morphed into a 3-4-3 when in possession, and Inter Miami looked much more lively and energetic in that system than it did last season with a very different roster.
Still, the performance in the first half was pretty mixed and the balance of play even. While Inter Miami kept its defensive shape well for much of the opening 45 minutes, the team did not generate much danger going forward. The opener came off a Brek Shea cross to no man’s land that was needlessly botched by Nelson Bonillas’ bumbling play on the ball, and Ian Fray added a goal moments before halftime off a great solo effort that came just as the Herons were under the most amount of pressure they faced all game.
It is certainly a positive sign that Inter Miami went into halftime up 2-0 despite not being great with the ball while also giving up a pair of quality looks that could have pulled Universitario level. Last year’s Herons would not have scored and might even have trailed in such a scenario. Still, as Neville rightly pointed out, there is plenty to improve.
“On Monday morning we met and we said … we have got a sh--load of work to do,” said Neville, using a rare expletive in his post-game press conference. “This result tonight does not change that. We have got a hell of a lot of work to do. We have got a hell of coaching to do. We have got a hell of a lot of connection to do.”
Fray impresses in starting stint
Speaking of Fray…
He looked the part in this one. Not just because he scored an individual goal with a tidy run-and-finish that was as cool as the recent South Florida mornings, but also because he was the most sound of Inter Miami’s three starting centerbacks. Fray avoided the type of mistakes that Aime Mabika and Christopher McVey had at different points that nearly led to goals, looked comfortable on the ball when in possession, and covered well for right wingback Harvey Neville.
It is one game, and a friendly at that, but Fray is off to an encouraging start this preseason and has two goals to his 19-year-old name to show for it.
“We have high hopes for the kid,” said Phil. “He has got the tools that you want as a defender: the reading of the game, the composure, and the speed, but he has had a big injury and this is his first real taste of first-team football.
“They say, from a medical point of view, that the time you have had out it will take the same amount of time to get back to your best, so we have just got to be patient.”
Teenage Neville on track to sign MLS contract
When the initial lineups were announced, one name that really stood out was that of Harvey Neville. Not only was the teenager the lone starter for Inter Miami who was not signed to an MLS deal, but also, of course, he is the coach’s son.
Harvey showed, however, that he has something to offer. The 19-year-old defender started on the right of the back five and held up okay there before moving to the left side after halftime. He did not play a whole lot on that flank before being substituted, but still scored an enjoyable, albeit lucky, golazo with a left-footed cross that ended up as a shot.
There have been signs since last year that Harvey is destined for an MLS deal, and Wednesday night, for many reasons, made that as clear as it has ever been.
“We are waiting for the green card process,” said Phil after the match. “To get green card status to become a U.S. citizen is important. It is a long process at the moment, but like with all the young players he is going to get opportunities this preseason.”
Preseason Trendsetters?
Has Inter Miami just changed the way some MLS teams view the scheduling of their preseason games? Quite possibly.
MLS is a league known for parity, and Inter Miami just showed how much of an event a preseason friendly can be if you open it up to fans and bring over an international team that is both relevant to your market and has a loyal following.
Yes, the test on the field matters, but so too can the revenue created and atmosphere provided. Wednesday night depicted this perfectly, as La U’s supporters impressively turned out in numbers on five days’ notice to help provide as electric an atmosphere as you might find in any MLS preseason match.
Of course, you cannot make every tune-up like that and some unique circumstances allowed Universitario to be available to play this game in the first place. Still, if you can find an opponent for an exhibition that can offer all of this then why not?
Other Notes:
Gonzalo Higuain was deployed at striker, but he dropped on occasion to play a sort of False 9 role that allowed him to try and pick out the wingers’ runs into space. One such play sprung Ariel Lassiter and should have resulted in a goal, but Lassiter’s ensuing square ball to Robbie Robinson was played too far behind.
Lassiter provided some notable speed and energy on the right wing while Robinson struggled to really make an impact on the left.
Leonardo Campana, Emerson Rodriguez, and Bryce Duke were all out with what the team simply called “injuries.”
Inter Miami sorely missed a ball-winner like the rangy Gregore in the first half.
Edison Azcona and George Acosta were particularly good at using the half spaces at times in the second stanza, occupying the areas in between La U’s fullbacks and centerbacks to provide passing options in the pockets while the Inter Miami wingbacks marauded forward to provide attacking width.
Universitario interim coach Edgardo Adinolfi stated postgame that he was told before the match that only six substitutions could be made, leading to his surprise when Inter Miami made wholesale changes to start the second half. He added, while repeating it was not an excuse, that the discrepancy in fresh legs led to the one-sided closing stanza.