Match Report: Philadelphia Union 2-2 Inter Miami CF

Photo Philadelphia Union Communications

The Philadelphia Union hosted Inter Miami for a midweek contest at Subaru Park on Wednesday evening. The Union scored first through Indiana Vassilev, but quickly went down 2-1 after goals from Miami’s Daniel Pinter and Lionel Messi.

In the second half, Neil Pierre leapt to pull the Union level. What would have been a hard-fought draw for Philadelphia against a top team in the East was tarnished in the end by a straight red card to the Union’s Cavan Sullivan and Miami’s Yannick Bright for getting into a fight in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time.

The Union remains undefeated in MLS play in the Ryan Richter interim era.

Defensive midfielder Jovan Lukic was suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation, bringing Jesus Bueno into the starting eleven after his stellar performance against New York City FC three days prior. Ryan Richter put out a full-strength lineup against second-place Inter Miami.

For the visitors, coming off a 4-1 defeat at Nashville SC 4 days prior, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Casemiro all started. The key change in their lineup was the inclusion of Dayne St. Clair at goalkeeper over Rocco Rios-Novo, who earned himself the starting role in the second half of the season but struggled in the Leagues Cup.

First Half

Philadelphia opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Indiana Vassilev, who was left unmarked on the back post. Bruno Damiani intelligently left the ball to his teammate in a better position. In the build-up, Cavan Sullivan played it forward to Frankie Westfield on the wing, who whipped it into the box for the assist.

Minutes later, Philadelphia earned a free kick in the attacking half and, after Kai Wagner’s delivery, nearly scored a second goal, but it was cleared off the line by Miami.

Cavan Sullivan received a heavy challenge in the 18th minute, but referee Filip Dujic did not blow his whistle. The young Sullivan had been getting physical with the Inter Miami players in his right channel from kick off.

Bruno Damiani had a breakaway chance to double the lead in the 20th minute, but was denied by the leg of Miami keeper Dayne St. Clair as defender Ian Fray began to catch up to the play.

Daniel Pinter equalized for Inter Miami in the following run of play after Lionel Messi found Luis Suarez unmarked on the far side of the pitch, who crossed it for the teenager to head in past Andre Blake.

Messi scored to put Miami ahead in the 26th minute after referee Filip Dujic, rather unconfidently, awarded Miami a free kick outside the area for a foul. When the Miami player went down, the Union defenders hesitated for a split second, allowing Messi to cut inside and take his shot.

Philadelphia almost leveled it on a 32nd-minute corner, but Neil Pierre’s shot was saved right on the line by St. Clair.

Miami were content to sit back and let Philadelphia possess for the most part once they went ahead, which, as always, proved difficult for the Boys in Blue to get into attacking spaces.

Kai Wagner earned a yellow card for a foul on Messi right outside of the box in the 43rd minute. It looked shoulder to shoulder, but Dujic awarded the free kick and went to the pocket regardless. Messi stood alone over the ball on the set piece and put it right into the wall at knee-level.

Philadelphia went into the break trailing by one.

Second Half

Miami’s Yannick Bright started off the second half by unnecessarily making contact with Andre Blake in the box, who went down holding his knee. Bright was not carded, and Blake was fit to continue without treatment.

In the 50th minute, Cavan Sullivan made an impressive dribble to beat a man at midfield and ultimately ended up surrounded by three Miami players and was fouled by Sergio Reguilón, who was cautioned. Milan Iloski rolled the free kick for Kai Wagner to take direct, and the left back narrowly missed the net.

Sullivan had another technical dribble moments later, and a cross into the box that caused a chaotic scene where multiple Union players went down. Play was held momentarily for a VAR review, but the review led to nothing in the Union’s favor.

Kai Wagner was then fouled right on the edge of the box on the left side. Ian Fray was booked for the challenge, but no penalty was awarded. Instead, Milan Iloski stood over an awkwardly positioned free kick and played it in for Neil Pierre to deflect into the net. Miami protested that the whistle was not blown before Iloski hit the ball, but the goal was awarded anyway.

Almost immediately after the restart, Philadelphia got the ball upfield again and got the ball to the head of leaping Neil Pierre, whose initial shot was saved by St. Clair, before Milan Iloski on the back post headed it at the bar, and it bounced in. Luiz Suarez was cautioned after the goal. The restart was held to check for offside, and it was quickly taken away because Pierre was offside for his header.

Philadelphia continued to attack with force and quickly earned a corner. Wagner’s delivery found Pierre on the back post again, but the center back’s header went right to the keeper.

Quinn Sullivan entered for Indiana Vassilev in the 68th minute.

Miami’s Daniel Pinter received a well-timed through ball to put him one-on-one with Blake in the 69th minute, but the Union keeper made a clinical block to deny him.

Back the other way, St. Clair had another save to deny Milan Iloski, and Bruno Damiani’s two attempts to take advantage of the rebound were blocked by Miami defenders.

Miami made two changes in the 73rd minute.

Kai Wagner was called for another foul outside the box on Lionel Messi, but it did not look like Wagner actually made contact with the player. Messi hit the wall on a second-straight free kick.

Ezekiel Alladoh and Alejandro Bedoya entered for Bruno Damiani and Jesus Bueno in the 82nd minute.

Lionel Messi found himself with the ball and Andre Blake off his line in the 83rd minute, but Nathan Harriel came all the way back to hold him up in time for the assistant referee to raise his flag and call Messi offside.

Milan Iloski saw mustard in the 86th minute for a foul on Miami center back Maxi Falcon.

Daniel Pinter retaliated with a foul on Cavan Sullivan, giving the hosts another set-piece opportunity that amounted to nothing of value.

Play was interrupted in the 90th minute for Neil Pierre to receive treatment for a head injury. During the pause in play, the fourth official indicated a minimum of 9 minutes of added time.

Ezekiel Alladoh received a yellow card for a foul on Maxi Falcon in the 5th minute of added time.

Miami made a change in stoppage time after an injury to Daniel Pinter.

A ruckus broke out between both teams in the 11th minute of added time, and Cavan Sullivan received a straight red card for his involvement in it. Quinn Sullivan received a yellow.

Three Points:

1: Neil Pierre has now scored 3 goals in his last 5 games.
2: Nathan Harriel was an imposing presence at center back and commanded his line well.
3: Ryan Richter has shown his ability to inspire this team at halftime once again.

Lineups

Philadelphia (4-2-2-2)

Andre Blake; Kai Wagner, Nathan Harriel, Neil Pierre, Francis Westfield, Danley Jean Jacques, Jesus Bueno (Alejandro Bedoya— 82′), Cavan Sullivan, Indiana Vassilev (Quinn Sullivan— 68′), Milan Iloski, Bruno Damiani (Ezekiel Alladoh— 82′).

Unused subs: Andrew Rick; Ben Bender, Japhet Sery Larsen, Jeremy Rafanello, Malik Jakupovic, Agustin Anello.

Miami (4-3-3)

Dayne St. Clair; Gonzalo Lujan, Sergio Reguilon (Noah Allen— 73′), Ian Fray, Maxi Falcon, Casemiro, Telasco Segovia (David Ayala— 73′), Yannick Bright, Luis Suarez, Daniel Pinter (David Ruiz— 90+8′), Lionel Messi.

Unused Subs: Rocco Rios-Novo; Facundo Mura, Fricio Caicedo, Lovend’s Delinois, Preston Plambeck, Alex Shaw.