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Inter Miami gained more ground in the Eastern Convention playoff race following a 1-1 draw with Orlando City SC on Sunday. It was once a match in which the Herons were expected to struggle, for the reason that Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were away because of fatigue, with the U.S. Open Cup scheduled for Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo. The 19-year-old, David Ruiz, scored Miami’s only goal, which was once later canceled out by Duncan Maguire’s finish. Alternatively, with the teams around them struggling in the Eastern Convention, one goal proved to be all that the Herons needed on the street to move even closer to a playoff spot.
Playing their third match without Messi, Miami managed to create several chances against a hard Orlando City defense. Despite Leonardo Campana finding space, the Herons lacked explosiveness in their attacking play. A part of this may also be attributed to rotation, as Facundo Farias also started on the bench because of squad rotation for the U.S. Open Cup. This has been a recurring issue for Miami in matches without Messi.
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The Argentine superstar has been the point of interest of the attack, with Sergio Busquets serving as a safety valve when needed. Without either of them, Miami struggled to collapse the opposition’s defense. Robert Taylor and Campana combined to create four chances, but the remainder of the team managed only four chances all over the match. Farias plays a key role as the creative force for the team, and whether Messi’s injury turns out to be more than just fatigue, it is usually a cause for concern for the Herons.
Between Farias and Campana, there is enough of an attacking force to push the team forward but margins are thin all the way through the commerce end of the season.
Miami currently take a seat only five points in the back of New York City FC in ninth place, with five matches remaining in the season. They have got the luxury of having two games in hand over lots of the league because of rescheduled matches from their Leagues Cup triumph. As injuries pile up inside the club, Martino’s tactics develop into more and more the most important down the stretch.
Martino, a manager who has up to now won the MLS Cup with Atlanta United, understands the demands of the MLS season, which is why the Herons are still in contention for the playoffs at this stage. While securing another trophy would boost their momentum in pursuit of ninth place, it’s lucid that having Messi and Alba is what they will want to actually contend.