Inter Miami beats Charleston 1-0 in preseason match, Ariel Lassiter scores game-winner
Inter Miami’s injury list had grown with just 11 days before the season opener against the Chicago Fire, so rather than risk more bumps and bruises, coach Phil Neville rested several expected starters Tuesday night for a preseason road game against USL club Charleston Battery.
The patchwork Miami lineup, made up largely of young players, remained scoreless through 76 minutes before speedy newcomer Ariel (son of Roy) Lassiter scored the game-winner. Harvey Neville, 19-year-old son of the Miami coach, calmly sent a low cross from the left to Lassiter, who fired a low ball to the far post to make it 1-0.
Miami’s two best scoring chances in the first half also involved Lassiter. He twice fed perfect crosses from the left flank to Leo Campana, but the Ecuadorean forward’s shots sailed wide. Lassiter scored Miami’s lone goal in a 1-1 tie against the Columbus Crew on Saturday and has emerged as a standout player.
“Lassiter is a real threat, he’s giving us real dimension in terms of his speed in behind and it was good to get him the full 90 minutes,” Neville said.
Shaan Singh Hundal, one of a half-dozen Fort Lauderdale USL players Inter Miami called up to camp in Charleston, had a good chance in the 70th minute that went just wide.
Among the Miami players who sat out were Gonzalo Higuain, Jean Mota, Damion Lowe, Christopher McVey, and Brek Shea. Also missing were several injured players, including Robbie Robinson (hip), Bryce Duke (quad), Kieran Gibbs (hamstring), Nick Marsman (knee), Victor Ulloa (leg), Mo Adams (hamstring) and Edison Azcona with an undisclosed injury.
“I think tonight was a real brilliant exercise for the rotation of the squad,” said coach Neville. “Now we’re really thinking about Chicago and getting everyone the right amount of minutes and rest.”
He added that it was a good chance for newly signed players and young players to play “real men’s football in tough conditions on a pitch that was uneven.”
Inter Miami assistant coach Jason Kreis said last week that the coaching staff was concerned about the number of injuries on a revamped squad that hasn’t had much time to gel.
Tuesday’s starting lineup featured only one player from last year’s squad – captain Gregore, who is working his way into form after hernia surgery. New signees Campana, Lassiter, and U.S. national team right back DeAndre Yedlin started as did five players who were on the club’s Fort Lauderdale USL team last season – Neville, Drake Callender, Noah Allen, Aime Mabika, Modesto Mendez. Allen and George Acosta stood out in the first half.
Fort Lauderdale midfielder Romeo Beckham, son of team co-owner David Beckham, came in as a sub with 30 minutes to go.
Inter Miami plays its final preseason game on Saturday against Charlotte FC in the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston.
“I think we’ve probably got 12 to 13 players that are just where we want them, another eight that are playing a little bit of catch-up, late coming in or knocks and bruises,” Neville said. “We’re going through a little bit of bumpy waters, but we’ve got so many players so close to coming back I’m hoping by Chicago we’ll have near-full strength squad back, give or take one or two.”