Indianapolis, Ind. (Saturday, July 2) – The Miami Football Club snapped a five game win-less streak, defeating Indy Eleven 1-0 at Carrol Stadium on Saturday night. Salvadoran forward Josh Pérez scored the game-winning goal in the second half to send Miami back to South Florida with three points.
Starting XI vs. Indy Eleven
Head coach Anthony Pulis deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation against the Eleven. The gaffer made two changes to the starting lineup, summoning midfielder Bolu Akinyode and winger Lamar Walker.
First Half Breakdown
The Orange and Blue got off to an electric start, producing three close chances in the opening 25 minutes of the match.
Striker Kyle Murphy was responsible for two of the attacking efforts. The first unfolded ten minutes in to the match, where he tried surprising goalkeeper Tim Trilk from distance. However, the strike glided wide but close to the upright. The second came in the 23rd minute, this time getting on the end of a cross delivered by winger Joaquín Rivas. Similarly, the shot attempt went just wide of the goal.
Goalkeeper Connor Sparrow and captain Paco Craig proved to be on their toes defensively, dealing with back-to-back chances in the 30th and 31st minutes.
Pérez was denied by the goalpost with help from the opposition’s goalkeeper. The Salvadoran chested down a long ball, cut into his favorite left foot and unleashed a venomous low-driven shot to Trilk’s second post. Nonetheless, the keeper deflected the ball just enough for it to hit the post and come back into play.
Secon Half Breakdown
Like the first half, MFC kicked off the second half on the frontfoot. On the 49th minute, right-back Mark Segbers played a cut-back pass to Reggae Boy Devon “Speedy” Williams, who struck the ball wide.
Miami had a scare just a minute later. Winger Solomon Asante served a cross from the right side of the pitch to the back post and Segbers attempted to clear it with an overhead kick. However, the ball crashed against forward Manuel Arteaga’s chest and struck the crossbar. The ball remained in play, but Craig headed it out from danger.
Left-back Aedan Stanley got involved offensively in the 54th minute, delivering a cross across the box toward Rivas. Unfortunately, the Salvadoran was unable to strike the ball right, going over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, Miami FC found the goal that separated them from the home side. Stanley received a pass in a wide position and dished out a first-time pass behind the defense for Walker to chase. The Jamaican looked up at the top of the box and picked out Pérez, who happened to be striding toward the penalty spot. As a result, the Salvadoran tucked the ball into the back of the net.
Ten minutes down the line, Sparrow made a save that kept Miami’s lead alive. The 28-year-old reacted to a powerful header from former Miami FC forward Stefano Pinho and pushed it away from his goal.
Sparrow produced a couple of more saves as Miami worked hard defensively to secure the win. Miami’s goalkeeper leads the league in clean sheets (7) alongside Louisville’s Kyle Morton and El Paso Locomotive’s Evan Newton.
The victory is Miami’s sixth of the season, bringing its record to 6-6-6. Now, the Orange and Blue sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 25 points.
Up Next for Miami FC
Miami FC returns to South Florida only to train for a few days before heading north again. This time, Miami faces Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, July 9.
