Miami FC Suffers Massive Injury in Loss to Rhode Island FC
Khalid Balogun's injury makes disappointing season ten times worse.
Miami FC fell to Rhode Island FC 3-2 on Saturday in the first ever meeting between both clubs. The home side dominated opportunities and controlled most of the possession, but their woeful finishing let them down.
Poor Finishing
Miami was on the front foot as soon as things got underway. Junior Palacios sent a long ball from the back which Khalid Balogun flicked up. López got to the ball and earned a foul at the corner flag.
Gabriel Cabral showed his playmaking ability early on in the third minute. He sent a nice ball to find Balogun into space, but the 6’4” forward was not fast enough to get there.
Cabral also sent in a dangerous cross two minutes later after picking up a foul. Center back Daniel Barbir sent his midfielder a hospital pass which could only end with the Brazilian picking up the foul. He bravely reached for the ball and created the opportunity for his side.
Although Cabral has a great playmaking mind, he drifts out wide way too much during the build up play. When the Brazilian receives the ball, he is able to pick out the right pass and create an opportunity. But when he is marked, there is a huge gap in the midfield which stunts the growth of the attack.
Poor set piece discipline would cause Miami FC to concede in the 12’ minute. Rhode Island’s keeper Koke Vegas took a free kick deep in his own half. Defender Jordan Ayimbila went to clear the ball, but he went over his opponent conceding a foul in a dangerous area. A beautiful outswinging cross by Marc Ybarra connected perfectly with Frank Nodarse’s head to give Rhode Island the 1-0 lead.
Miami nearly had an immediate response in the 13’ minute when López sent in a ball into the heart of the Rhode Island defense. Jojea Kwizera made a poor clearance near the corner flag that fell right back to López. The Cuban forward dribbled into the area with pace and sent a low driven cross into the danger area. Cabral got to it, but Koke Vegas made a great save on his near post to keep his team ahead.
Although Miami conceded first, the home side was by far the better team in the first half. MFC was great at breaking down the defense by picking out passes and also found success when electing to go route 1 and send the ball up the pitch.
Rhode Island FC had what Miami lacked, finishing. Miami was woeful on both sides of the ball on set pieces. Countless corners and free kicks for the home side, but nothing to show from it.
Things went from bad to worse for Miami FC when Khalid Balogun was forced to come off in the 30’ minute. The Lexington loanee went in for a 50-50 ball, but hurt himself in the process while also fouling his opponent.
Balogun was a threat creating chances for Miami running in behind the oppositions defense and being an aerial target for set pieces and crosses. Antonio Nocerino was forced to change his teams shape bringing on midfielder Allen Gavilanes to be López’s partner up top.
The biggest chance for the home side came in the 38’ minute when Mujeeb Murano found López with a beautiful ball over the top. With a defender on his trail, the forward shielded the ball and took a wayward shot. The opportunity was wasted due to a lack of finishing ability yet again.
Right before the end of the first half, Albert Dikwa scored to make it 2-0. Goalie Felipe Rodriguez came off his line and grabbed the ball from Rhode Island’s cross. Unfortunately, the youngster was run into by his own teammate and dropped the ball. An unmarked Dikwa salivated at the opportunity and passed it into the open net to make it 2-0.
Miami squandered too many opportunities in the first half. The forwards would get into great positions, but dribble themselves into a tight angle from goal. Shots would all go to the near post, which Koke Vegas comfortably saved.
Too Little Too Late
It wouldn’t take long for the visitors to score their third. After halftime, Rhode Island had a free kick just inside Miami’s half. Left back Jojea Kwizera played his midfielder, then drifted wide. He was played down the line and sent a cross inside the box. Dikwa was open and headed it into the back of the net to make it 3-0 in the 48’ minute.
A play that could have changed the game was in the 50’ minute. López was through on goal, but was fouled just outside the penalty box. Defender Clay Holstad only received a yellow card after stopping a clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity. There were defenders behind him, but they did not have a chance to stop the attacker.
Antonio Nocerino had to make some wholesale changes in order to try and salvage something from the match. He brought in three substitutes in the 52’ minute. Alejandro Mitrano for Rocco Genzano, Roberto Molina for Jordan Ayimbila and Luisinho for Daniel Barbir.
Due to having fresh legs on the pitch, Miami was able to pressure Rhode Island and win the ball in the midfield. López was played in and took a shot from outside of the box. It deflected off of the leg of his marker and went over the keeper into the back of the net to make it 3-1 in the 62’ minute.
The comeback was on when Roberto Molino scored his first goal as a Miami FC player in the 78’ minute. Captain Daltyn Knutson made a fantastic pass over the top finding Gavilanes’ run. He brought it down with his head and sent in a low driven cross to Molino who hit it home.
After conceding two goals in 16 minutes, the visitors decided to sit back and stay in shape the remainder of the game. Miami could not break them down the rest of the match.
After five minutes of added time, MFC’s players fell to the ground after the final whistle. They gave it their all, but a lack of finishing gifted the away side the three points.
Up Next
It’s a short week for Miami FC as the squad travels to South Carolina to take on second place Charleston Battery on Friday. It will take a perfect performance from the South Florida side to bring home anything from that match.
Thanks for the write up! Three items, though:
1. Rhode Island Keeper was Koke Vargas (captain)
2. Miami FC doesn't seem to have a supporters' section? The Miami matches always seem to be quiet, consequently....
3. How bad and what is the nature of Balogun's injury?