Inter Miami Player Ratings: 3-2 Win vs. Sporting Kansas City
Leonardo Campana continued to make his case for a starting role while Sergio Busquets, Facundo Farias, and Kamal Miller also impressed
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — With or without Lionel Messi, this version of Inter Miami has erased losing from its memory.
Inter Miami continued its red-hot run of form this past Saturday, posting a 3-2 home victory over Sporting Kansas City despite being without Messi and several other key players. The win that marked a 12th straight unbeaten match across all competitions moved the South Florida side a step closer to making the playoffs, and was thanks to several strong individual showings in an acceptable but not overly convincing display.
Leonardo Campana stepped up for Inter Miami with a pair of clinical goals while Sergio Busquets and Facundo Farias made their marks as well. Kamal Miller also enjoyed another good game, but players like Drake Callender, DeAndre Yedlin and Nicolas Stefanelli did not enjoy their best nights in a triumph that was more about moments than quality team play.
INTER MIAMI PLAYER RATINGS
Drake Callender (4) — Began his night with an ugly error that cost Inter Miami a goal, and looked shakier than usual before settling some in the second half.
DeAndre Yedlin (4.5) — His moment of magic on the ball allowed him to deliver a delightful cross to Campana, but that assist could not mask a rough outing in which he struggled with his concentration and touches from the start. He was partially to blame on the sloppy opener by not being in line with the defense.
Tomas Aviles (6.5) — Largely held up with a number of good interventions while also having his hands full in a few 1-on-1 battles. He opted for long balls more than normal.
Kamal Miller (8) — Another stellar display in which he repeatedly broke things up, including with his deflection of one late shot that could have led to a 3-3 equalizer.
Jordi Alba (5.5) — Quiet in the first half but better and more dangerous in the second, moving forward to greater effect and passing with a renewed purpose.
Dixon Arroyo (6) — Put out several fires with strong defending and moved the ball quickly, though he had the turnover under duress that resulted in the opening goal.
Sergio Busquets (7) — Showed his experience with that astute assist on the winner, and was overall crisp with his passing despite not getting as many touches as usual.
Nicolas Stefanelli (4) — Finally made his first appearance under Gerardo Martino, but was largely a non-factor on the right side of the attack in another subpar shift.
Facundo Farias (7) — Assertive and aggressive from the start, scoring for the second straight game with a clinical finish that will add to his case for more minutes.
Robbie Robinson (5) — Had moments on the dribble when spaces opened up at 3-1, but was unnecessarily and frustratingly selfish on an otherwise brilliant play that should have led to an easy Campana goal that would have put the game out of reach.
Leonardo Campana (8) — Stepped up with clinical finishing, good first touches and turns, and a diagonal run that earned the equalizing penalty in a strong performance that will only add fuel to the argument that he should be the team’s starting striker.
Lawson Sunderland (6) — Sharp 14-minute cameo in which he was both focused and energetic as the team saw things through.
Noah Allen (N/A) — Add another late stint off the bench to help close a game out to his season resume.
Victor Ulloa (N/A) — Entered in the dying minutes to break up and destroy plays in the center of the park.
Gerardo Martino (6.5) — Did not have his full complement of players, and yet he still managed to get three points with an acceptable collective display that was centered more around moments and clinical finishing. The ultra-defensive mindset adopted late on showed he is not afraid to adjust his tactics to fit what the situation calls for.