MIAMI – Charlotte FC versus Inter Miami started as a dream but ended in a nightmare for CLTFC as they gave up a 2 – 0 lead to lose 2 – 3 against the Herons.
Charlotte couldn’t have asked for a better start when a bad giveaway from Miami led to a Yordy Reyna goal just 26 seconds into the game. Striker Karol Świderski picked up the assist as he played Reyna through for the opening goal.
But conceding the early goal ignited a fire in Miami. Normally a team who doesn’t press high, they were on the night. They were relentless in their pursuit of the ball and did to CLTFC what CLTFC had done to their opponents in the last two matches.
CLTFC had to do whatever it took to weather the storm. They resorted to sitting back and defending as Miami threw wave after wave of attacks. Heroic defending and goalkeeping kept CLTFC in the game until they were able to double their lead against the run of play in the 42nd minute. Reyna scored from a wonderful curler of a ball into the upper ninety to get his brace.
The second half was more of the same, but this time Miami were able to capitalize. Miami’s Robert Taylor danced through the defense to mount the comeback. A little over 10 minutes later, Gonzalo Higuain showed his class with an excellent finish to equalize for the Herons.
With just two minutes go in the match, it was looking like Charlotte would at least leave with a point but Miami’s Emerson Rodríguez had a different idea. With a bit of luck he managed to score Miami’s third goal of the half completing the collapse from Charlotte.
Stay Hungry
Whether CLTFC deserved it or not they went into halftime up by two goals. At the start of the second half Charlotte FC’s color commentator, Lloyd Sam, said it best when he mentioned the team needed to “stay hungry” to defend their lead.
But instead of coming out into the second half fired up to hold to their lead or even add to it, the team looked complacent. They lost the 50/50s, were late to second balls, and the desire wasn’t there.
Against Nashville SC the previous week, Charlotte were cut throat and put the game away. They have yet to reach that same level when playing away and this match will be a tough lesson to take.
However, staying hungry doesn’t only apply to just one match. It’s a mentality that the team will need to apply in every match from here on out in order to stay in the playoff race. CLTFC will certainly be hungrier than ever to redeem themselves and they have a chance to do so against Toronto FC next week.
