FC Dallas Stomp Inter Miami, 4-3, on the Road
While not pretty, FC Dallas grabs a huge road win in Miami after going down at one point 3-1. What a fun one.
(Credit to the FC Dallas social media crew for the graphic.)
On a gorgeous Sunday afternoon in Miami, FC Dallas grabbed their next three points… on the road… coming from behind. Yes, you read that right.
What a wild and entertaining match.
Yes, this Inter Miami squad was heavily rotated after losing in Vancouver with many tired legs in the locker room, but the roster may be the deepest in the league. There was talent out there. The home side showed it by going up 3-1 over FC Dallas at one point and commanding the pitch, outclassing their opponents from Frisco.
FC Dallas, despite scoring the opener of the match, struggled to find rhythm throughout, going into the locker room hoping to turn things around.
But then Quill, sensing that something needed to happen and his squad were struggling, passed a big test by making the right decisions. He subbed off Nolan Norris, who was not having his greatest game, and midfielder Show, who was struggling to link up with the other two midfielders. He brought on energy - in veteran defender Lalas Abubakar and youngster Pedrinho - essentially shifting the formation into three CBs and two wing backs. Both immediately impacted the match, winning tackles and interceptions, possessing the ball, and springing attacks. Those attacks got Dallas right back into it.
Maybe the biggest energy moment of the match was Osaze Urhoghide, going toe to toe with Miami’s Falco, a near WWE spectacle throughout, finally faced him down and slotted in a bouncing ball on a set piece for a goal that woke the rest of his teammates.
Pedrinho’s skillful presence, with so much attention on Lucho Acosta, had the time to hit the streaking Anderson Julio on a run past Miami’s defenders for a professional goal to tie the whole damn thing up.
And then, well, Pedrinho, who Quill praised as being his Man of the Match, finished Miami off after launching an attacking sequence into Logan Farrington, who, though well-defended, was able to toe poke the pass back across the six to the young No. 10 who scored the go ahead goal.
What a match. What a moment. So satisfying.
From 3-1 down to 4-3 up.
This game, in truth, was unpredictable. It’s one of those matches, because of the circumstances, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez sipping mate on the sidelines, that may not be a predictor for the fate of either team. But it does give Dallas a boost in confidence going forward.
“This is a quality Miami team even missing those pieces,” Quill told media after the match. “We wanted to have the right start. I just hope that this propels us into believing that we can go toe to toe with anyone.”
It’s hard to say what lessons the team will learn, but maybe Quill needs to keep tinkering with different formations on the back line to get the most out of his guys. He praised Anderson Julio at wing back, both for his defensive performance and offensive performance. Shaq Moore, despite the opening goal, struggled a bit in this one until the formation changed. But - was this success in a particular situation or a clue for how to unlock this team’s best performance at home? That is the question Quill will sit with the rest of the week.
The team will head back home tonight then prepare for a trip to the other side of the coast to visit San Diego for the first time. Afterburn Soccer will be in the house for that one.