Miami FC 1-1 Lexington; Hamid and Blanco injuries and late concessions overshadow a good performance

More dropped points at home; MFC able winless in four

A second half stoppage time equalizer by Cory Burke cost Miami FC all three points tonight at Pitbull Stadium against Lexington SC. For Lexington it was their fourth successive match unbeaten in league play.

The draw meant Miami FC has now failed to win in each of its last four matches in all competitions.

The home side were superior throughout most of the match but failed to take advantage of several good chances. Francisco Bonfiglio’s 24th minute goal came after MFC had several gilt-edged chances between minutes 8 and 21 which did not result in a breakthrough.

Bill Hamid’s injury which resulted in him being subbed off at halftime did not have any immediate consequences for Miami FC. In fact, the side looked fairly organized and lively between minutes 46 and 60.

But Miami FC’s wastefulness in the first half began to show signs it would be costly around minute 60. And from the moment Sebastian Blanco went off injured in minute 75, Miami FC looked like they probably would not hang on.

This brings us back to the issue of Miami FC either not playing well when Blacno is not on the pitch or struggling when he struggles. Despite the depth of the squad which is about 30-deep (perhaps the deepest squad in the USL Championship) and a bonafide number 9 in Bonfiglio (who now has 12 goals this season), it’s very obvious the side lacks structure and belief without Blanco.

It’s been a recurring theme since early April, when Blanco after a poor start to the campaign, found the form that made him one of the top players in MLS between 2016 and 2021.

With difficult trips to Charleston and Pittsburgh looming in the next few weeks, Miami FC needs to figure things out quickly, or risk falling out of the Eastern Conference playoff race - Tampa Bay and Hartford both look much improved and given Birmingham Legion’s personnel and coaching changes, I’d expect them to improve as well in the very near future.