Neville: Inter Miami’s 2-2 tie at Montreal was “a miracle” after “inhumane” schedule
Battling weary legs and one of the best teams in MLS, Inter Miami came back twice to earn a 2-2 tie against CF Montreal on the road Saturday night at Saputo Stadium.
It was the second game in four days for Miami, which traveled 6,000 miles, crisscrossing two countries from South Florida to San Jose, California, to Montreal, and then faced a 1,600-mile trip back home.
“The players performed a miracle in terms of their effort, spirit, and togetherness,” said coach Phil Neville. “For them to get through 95 minutes after what you’d say is inhumane what we had to go through this week, and I make no mistake about saying that. It was absolutely inhumane what these players have had to put up with in terms of the scheduling. In a professional league, a schedule like that is inhumane.”
Despite the hardship, Miami got four points from the road trip – three for a 1-0 win at San Jose and one for the tie against third-place Montreal on Saturday. They remain in the hunt for one of seven playoffs spots in the East. Miami is in ninth place with 10 games to go, even on points with three other teams.
The Inter Miami players’ legs were getting so heavy that Neville took off four of the team’s top attackers – Gonzalo Higuain, Alejandro Pozuelo, Robert Taylor and Jean Mota – during the second half. The substitutes rose to the occasion.
The tying goal came from Emerson, who entered the game in the 70th minute. The speedy young Colombian was extra motivated after missing several scoring chances in a 1-0 win against San Jose and redeemed himself in a hurry. He streaked up the left side, took a shot, which was knocked out by Pantemis, tried again, and then, after falling down, leaped up, pounced on the rebound and slipped it in to make it 2-2 in the 79th minute.
“I saw a few people have a cheap shot at Emerson after the last game, the boy is going to be a really, really good player,” Neville said. “It was massive (for Emerson to score). Everything up until that final bit he’s very special, it’s the final bit he needs to work on. The other night he faced criticism, but he kept sprinting forward, getting in those positions, getting past players, the final bit will come with hard work, discipline, and practice.”
The night started badly for Miami, which conceded a goal by Romell Quioto in the fifth minute. The Honduran striker got free of Miami defender Christopher McVey and left footed the ball from close range after receiving a long cross from Samuel Piette. But Montreal’s lead was short lived.
Unlike Miami teams of the past, which would have sulked after giving up an early goal, the men in pink stayed energized and knotted the game in the sixth minute. Bryce Duke nutmegged a defender and got the ball to Pozuelo, who sent a perfectly paced through ball to Higuian, who made a clinical finish to make it 1-1.
It was Higuain’s sixth goal in six games and brought his season total to eight, tied with Leo Campana for the team lead. Campana did not travel to Montreal. The Ecuadorean forward flew home to have a left quad injury examined after Wednesday’s 1-0 win at San Jose. Neville said Campana has a thigh strain and could be out four to five weeks.
Montreal regained the lead in the 21st minute on a Quioto penalty kick after McVey was called for a foul in the box for an outstretched arm while he defended a cross. Quioto hit the PK low and to the right, past a diving Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Miami had a chance to tie it again later in the first half with Higuain and Gregore 2v1 against Montreal goalkeeper James Pantemis in the box, but Gregore misfired his pass to Higuain in front of the net.
Neville made changes early in the second half, replacing Mota with Indiana Vassilev and Taylor with Joevin Jones. Desperate for another goal or two, he put in speedsters Ariel Lassiter and Emerson in the 70th minute and took out Higuain and Pozuelo.
One player who lasted 90 minutes was Duke, the 21-year-old midfielder who has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Duke was voted Man of the Match.
“I said six days ago that Bryce is a starter, even though he didn’t start the past two games, and what he showed (Saturday) is he’s gone in there and said, `You can’t leave me out,’’’ Neville said, smiling. “He’s produced a performance that says, `Boss, you have to play me the next game.’ His performance has done his talking. The boy takes the ball, has courage and can produce moments of real good.”
He said the combination of Duke, Higuain, Pozuelo, and Mota gives the team great ability on the ball, which tires the opposition and keeps Miami in games.
“It’s going to hard for anyone traveling across the country and then traveling back across the country, but we stuck it out, got four points, three in San Jose, one in Montreal, so that just kind of tells you what kind of team we are,” Duke said. “We don’t give up no matter what the circumstance is.”
MLS now enters a brief midweek break for All-Star Week action, including the 2022 MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. that will feature Inter Miami defender DeAndre Yedlin, who made a goal-saving play against Montreal.
Inter Miami returns home for back-to-back games at DRV PNK Stadium – Aug. 13 vs. New York City FC and Aug. 20 against Toronto.
“We have something very special, the spirit of the team, and that can take you a long way,” Neville said. “I am immensely proud of every single player.”
Individual match tickets for remaining regular season home matches are available by visiting https://www.intermiamicf.com/tickets/single . Fans can also call 305-428-0611 to learn more.
