The Herons continue strong play with 1-0 win over Columbus

Inter Miami defeated the Columbus Crew 1-0 in a close affair on Saturday, September 11 at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

This game was the first meeting between Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew and it just so happened to have serious implications in the standings. Entering this matchup Columbus was ahead of Miami by a point for the ninth seed in the East, so I was expecting an exciting matchup between these two clubs.

Inter Miami came out very strong in the early portions of this game. From the kickoff, the Herons were playing with a certain intensity on defense that I haven’t seen from them before. No matter where the ball was for Columbus, there was one or even two Miami players contesting every pass. This would force the Crew into a few mistakes, and would eventually lead to the first goal of the game.

Star striker Gonzalo Higuain has been very solid leading the team with eight goals and four assists so far this season, but what had gone underrated thus far is his willingness to apply pressure high up the pitch. It’s a big reason why he was in the right place at the right time when he intercepted a poor back pass from defender Josh Williams and he chipped it over the Columbus keeper for his ninth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead in the 16’.

Things would continue throughout the first half with Columbus controlling the majority of possession. There were a few moments when it felt like the Crew were going to find an equalizer before the end of the half. However, the five man back line of Leandro Gonzalez-Perez, Nicolas Figal, Christian Makoun, Brek Shea and Lewis Morgan were up to the task with a lot of help from Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman, who deserves heavy consideration for man of the match after his performance.

So Inter Miami we’re able to hold on to their 1-0 lead going into the half and while the Crew definitely controlled the possession, it’s safe to say Miami looked like the better team and had better scoring opportunities. That’s definitely one of the biggest differences I’ve seen in this team. The willingness to push the ball down the field and create opportunities throughout the game. It has allowed them to gain confidence as the game progresses and stay competitive in each of the last nine games.

The second half was very similar to the first, however this time it was Columbus that were applying the pressure on Miami. They were pushed back to their final third numerous times and had to rely on the composure of Marsman’s playmaking, which was a huge factor in slowing down any momentum the Crew would try to manifest.

The attacking trio of Higuain, Rodolfo Pizarro and Robbie Robinson weren’t their usual effective selves today. Aside from Higuain's goal in the opening minutes, they weren’t able to connect on any open looks throughout the second half, which was a bit concerning considering Columbus were close to an equalizer on multiple occasions. You just never felt the presence of Pizarro or Robinson in this game, and it’s a a big reason why they were the first two subbed off in this one.

The midfield of Blaise Matuidi and Gregore was solid for the most part, and were a big part of this win for Miami. The additions of Victor Ulloa and Jay Chapman off the bench assured a more defensive approach to the closing moments of this game.

Luckily, with some heroics from Marsman in the box down the stretch Inter Miami were able to hold on for the three points with a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew. This marks the fifth straight win at home for the Herons as they continue to improve and are eyeing one of those final playoff spots.

With this win Inter Miami are just three points behind the fifth seeded Philadelphia Union with a game in hand. A great outlook considering the Herons will now face Toronto FC on the road Tuesday, September 14th at 7:30 PM before facing off against the NY Red Bulls at home. Both teams have struggled this season and could be a great opportunity for Inter Miami to gain some real traction in the standings.