New look Miami FC appear to be a fun and energetic side
2-0 victory over Colorado Springs looked different than any Miami FC performance last season...even those impressive wins
Last season’s Miami FC team left a bad taste in the mouths of so many - a side with a expensively-assembled roster of talent underachieved and were rife with divisions. This season, only three players return - a remarkable turnover for a club that’s been more consistent than other at the lower division level in terms of keeping talent.
The recalibration with younger, hungrier players under new Head Coach Antonio Nocerino was on full display last night in a 2-0 win over Colorado Springs. Even when Miami FC defeated the likes Louisville last season, the efforts seemed labored and quite honestly one-offs. Last night’s victory felt like something else. It matched the energy of a young side with the tactical nous from the players on the pitch of the better teams, I have been around in the past, including Miami FC’s 2017-2019 teams.
Photo courtesy of Andrea Yanez/Deporte Total USA
Colorado Springs entered the season with high expectations and are among the teams favored to compete in the Western Conference. But after the first 15 minutes where the Switchbacks looked the better side, Miami FC controlled the tempo and feel of the match.
Miami FC who return only three players from last season’s side have recalibrated with a lot of young players. New Miami FC Head Coach Antonio Nocerino has worked with his team the last two months on implementing a more an open style of play.
Andrew Booth, one of the few experienced USL players in the squad was a difference maker. Booth came over from Charleston where he had spent two productive seasons this offseason but has a South Florida pedigree having started his journey toward stardom with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers B team that competed in NPSL (full disclosure: I was the press officer for the Strikers at the time) as well as playing college soccer for FIU and West Palm Beach based- South Florida Surf where one of his teammates was future Miami FC & Forward Madison star Jeff Michaud.
As noted above, Colorado Springs looked comfortable for the first 15 minutes but after Booth scored in minute 16 the match took on a familiar complexion for the Switchbacks. Last year, I often observed despite having one of the better center back tandems in the USL Championship, Colorado Springs would be too open, especially against teams with good counter-attacking instincts.
Yesterday after conceding early, the Switchbacks pushed forward with numbers, creating numerous half chances but always seemed very susceptible to leaking a second or third.
Miami FC’s second goal came from the spot by way of Manuel Botha but that was after the home side had struck woodwork twice and threatened several other times.
The most impressive aspect of Miami FC’s victory was how comprehensive it felt AFTER minute 60. There were times last year, Miami FC despite having a stocked roster looked tired, unfit or just jaded late in matches. This team, with its young core, and competition for spots looked and felt different.
That difference starts at the top with Antonio Nocerino, who has worked his way up to coaching at this level. Nocerino’s experience with youth players, honed at Orlando City has already reaped dividends for Miami FC.
An additional difference was the understanding between players on the pitch even when things went wrong and the lack of frustrated body language you’d see from players. I don’t want to relitigate Miami FC’s 2023 season, we spilled plenty of ink about it on this site, but as someone who has been around this club for years and been around other clubs where their were challenges, everything about last night felt different and refreshing.
A young core of players often have to ease into a season, but with Sacramento, Charleston and Tampa Bay all on the docket in the next 31 days, this group is going to grow with a trial by fire. Whether they win, lose or draw matches they are a fun side to watch and will almost certainly improve as the season wears on.