The Miami Football Club vs. New York Red Bulls II
FIU Stadium – Saturday, March 12
Kickoff: 7:06 p.m. ET.
Watch: ESPN+
Tickets: CLICK HERE
Miami FC ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season
Miami FC enters its seventh season overall and third competing in the USL Championship. After reaching the playoffs in 2021, the club is now looking to bring silverware back to Miami this time around.
MFC made some personnel changes in the offseason, hoping to bring back successes the club lived during its years competing in NASL, NPSL and NISA. New head coach Anthony Pulis joined Miami FC in November 2021 and is the centerpiece of Miami’s project to go all the way in 2022. The club made several transfer moves during the offseason, bringing in ten newcomers. The new players joined 14 returners, who welcomed them with open arms.
Miami FC Notable Acquisitions
Kyle Murphy – Striker Kyle Murphy took the 2021 USL Championship season by a storm, scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances for Memphis 901. Now, the Red Hook, N.Y., native will look to replicate or even top his achievements from last season. The 29-year-old is a direct replacement of Haitian forward Christiano Francois, who led Miami in goals last season – 11 – and now plays for El Paso Locomotive FC.
Florian Valot – Former USL Championship winner Florian Valot arrived at Miami in January 2022 after four seasons in Major League Soccer. The 29-year-old is another veteran who will offer Miami something special to Miami’s attack. Valot is a true No. 10 who can change games with his ability on the ball. Whether it be him stringing passes between defenders or taking shots from mid-range, the Frenchman brings constant danger to the opponent’s defensive third.
Miami FC Notable Returners
Paco Craig – Center-back Paco Craig is no stranger to USL Championship fans. The 29-year-old won the USL Cup twice with Louisville City FC in 2017 and 2018, earning USL All-League First Team honors both years. The English national was vital in Miami FC’s run for playoffs in the 2021 season, being the only player in the roster to receive a USL All-League First Team mention. However, Craig is not the player to celebrate personal achievements and is hungry for USL glory in 2022.
Lamar Walker – Winger Lamar Walker was named one of the top ten young players to watch in the 2022 season by the USL Championship. The Reggae Boy scored six goals for Miami in the 2022 regular season. As for assists, the 21-year-old failed to register one despite posting the highest expected assists of any player in the league who ended the season without assisting a teammate – 3.98. Pulis aims to get the best out of one of the most electric talents in the USL.
Miami FC Preseason Breakdown
Miami FC arrives on opening day after a month of preparations, including friendly games against MLS clubs CF Montreal and Orlando City SC.
Miami’s preseason opponent was Club de Foot Montreal, who at the time were days away from a crucial CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 away game at Santos Laguna. Montreal defeated MFC 2-1 at Inter Miami Training Facility on Feb. 11. Canadian forward Adonijah Reid scored Miami’s first goal of preseason.
On Feb. 15, Miami FC drove northward to begin its 2022 preseason trip in Melbourne, Fla. The team traveled the next day to face their second preseason adversary, Orlando City. The match ended in a goalless draw at Osceola Heritage Park. Goalkeepers Connor Sparrow and Jake McGuire shared the clean sheet, each playing 45 minutes.
Miami ended their preseason trip with two matches against Orlando City B and Montverde Academy Soccer Institute (SIMA) at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne. Miami defeated OCB 5-2 in a 90-minute game and drew 0-0 against SIMA after a 60-minute encounter. Reid added two more goals to his preseason tally, Walker bagged a brace and winger Josh Perez curved a long-range attempt around the keeper in the win against OCB.
The preseason ended with three games against Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale CF and Florida International University. Reid and Walker scored against, this time in a 4-3 win against Nova – the two other goals were scored by trialists – on Feb. 26. Miami also defeated Fort Lauderdale CF 2-1 at DRV PNK Stadium on Feb. 27, with Murphy picking up a goal from the spot and a trialist scoring another. MFC closed their preseason with a 1-0 win against the FIU Panthers on March 5.
About New York Red Bulls II
Based in Montclair, New Jersey, New York Red Bulls II is the reserve team of Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls. The team consists of young prospects who are looking to make a name for themselves in USL Championship play.
NYRB II arrives to the 2022 USL Championship season after a poor 2021 season, which saw them finish 14th in the East. The club appointed Englishman Gary Lewis as its head coach on Feb. 7, 2022. New York Red Bulls II hopes that Lewis continues developing players like the club has in the past, as well as improving results.
Up next for Miami FC
Miami FC will face Louisville City FC on the road on Saturday, March 19. Last time out, Louisville knocked out Miami at Lynn Family Stadium in the first round of playoffs in 2021. MFC will look for revenge on the same pitch they last stepped on last year.
