Miami, FL. (June 20th, 2023)
Saturday, Miami FC took on Monterey Bay FC on the road at Cardinale Stadium. The game started and both teams were displaying high energy, moving the ball up and down both sides of the field. Miami opened up on the attacking foot in the 23rd minute, with a set piece from Aedan Stanley that resulted in a header being cleared off the goal line.
Miami came close to taking the lead again in the 41st minute, when Kyle Murphy had a break away from midfield that the keeper saved with an outstretched foot. Despite plenty of action, both teams entered the tunnel at half goalless.
The second half started much like the first, with Miami FC immediately opening up the half with a shot on goal in the 46th minute. Things seemed to be going Miami FC’s way offensively until the 65th minute when a foul on Ben Mines resulted in a penalty kick for the away team. Kyle Murphy stepped up to take the penalty but feel short with the Monterey Bay keeper coming up with a big save. Following the save, Monterey quickly transitioned with a counter attack and successfully found the back of Miami’s net. The disappointment was visible, but the Miami squad kept fighting.
There was a last minute chance to draw when Christian Sorto found himself in front of net in the 86th minute, but a nice save from the Monterey keeper kept Miami scoreless. Minutes later, Miami nearly missed the net following a header from a corner kick.
The match ended 1-0 in favor of Monterey Bay, but interim head coach Lewis Neal was happy with the fight Miami put up, saying “I thought we played really well for the most part… Obviously disappointing to lose the game in the manner we did, but the message to the boys is to keep their heads up.”Miami FC will be back in action Saturday, July 1st, on the road against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC. With three points on the line and a week of training to prepare, this will not be a match to miss.
