Inter Miami back in action Sunday at Nashville SC. Here’s what you need to know

Michelle Kaufman
·4 min read
Inter Miami midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro (10), forward Julian Carranza (21) and midfielder Victor Ulloa (13) celebrate on the field after Carranza scores a goal in the first half as the Inter Miami CF hosts Orlando City at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, August 22, 2020.

After a one-game player walkout Wednesday to protest police brutality and racial inequality, Inter Miami is scheduled to return to action Sunday night on the road against Nashville SC.

It will be the first matchup between the league’s newest expansion teams.

The atmosphere at the 8:30 p.m. game will be a far cry from Nashville’s last game at Nissan Stadium, which was its MLS debut on Feb. 29 in front of 59,069 fans. Due to COVID-19, this game will be played with no fans in attendance. It will be televised locally on My33 and UniMas.

“It’s hard to believe that six months ago, on Feb. 29, we welcomed 60,000 fans at our inaugural match in Major League Soccer, and even harder to realize the change our lives have endured since then,” said Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “As we prepare to return to playing games back at Nissan Stadium on August 30, we will miss the support from those 60,000 fans.”

MLS rules during the pandemic also require visiting teams to take charter flights the day of the game and fly back immediately after, so Inter Miami will fly up Sunday morning and return after the match.

The team will try to refocus on the season after an emotional few days following the Wednesday night protest. That game against Atlanta has been rescheduled for Sept. 9 in Fort Lauderdale.

“As a group, as a club, we made an overwhelming message about the community and society and we are proud of being able to work together, all of us in MLS, to have a better future and we will continue to work with our club and the league to take those steps,” Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso said. “Our job now is to get focused again on sports while simultaneously working on the other issues.”

MLS released a joint statement late Friday with the Black Players for Change:

“On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Major League Soccer players stood in solidarity with athletes across North America, as MLS matches were postponed in recognition of the struggle for racial equality and human rights. The league, its clubs, owners and staff supported this effort and the goal of bringing recognition to these important issues.

“Following a period of reflection and conversation with the Black Players for Change (BPC), the league’s players, and the MLS Players Association (MLSPA), matches will resume [Friday night] with the Montreal Impact hosting Toronto FC. The Black Players for Change are scheduled to meet with MLS owners, as the players and the league continue working together to create long-term change both inside and outside of MLS.”

Inter Miami coaches and players are eager to build on the momentum from their historic first victory — 3-2 over Orlando City on Aug. 22. They had lost their first five games, so that win was a huge weight off their shoulders. Miami got two goals from 20-year-old Argentine forward Julian Carranza and a goal and assist from Mexican playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro.

Nashville, meanwhile, lost its first two games 2-1 to Atlanta and 1-0 to Portland before the season was suspended due to the pandemic. Nashville was sent home from the MLS is Back Tournament before playing any matches due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the team. Over the past few weeks, Nashville beat FC Dallas 1-0 for its first victory, tied FC Dallas 0-0, lost 2-0 to Atlanta and lost 3-1 to Orlando City on Wednesday, the only MLS game played before the walkout.

Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso is expected to stick with the same lineup from the victory over Orlando: Luis Robles, Nico Figal, Andres Reyes, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Ben Sweat, Wil Trapp, Victor Ulloa, Lewis Morgan, Matias Pellegrini, Rodolfo Pizarro, Julian Carranza.

Rookie forward Robbie Robinson, the No. 1 MLS draft pick, is back on the active roster after taking a personal leave of absence six weeks ago.

“We are very motivated,” said Alonso. “We were left with some desire after not playing Wednesday’s game, but now we have an opportunity. We know it’s an opponent that is very compact, disciplined, and they defend very well.”

French World Cup-winning midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who signed with Inter Miami from Juventus a few weeks ago, is still finalizing papers and will not be with the team. Matuidi Tweeted “Allez les Pink @IntermiamiCF” before Wednesday’s scheduled game.