Inter Miami is home against Atlanta United on Wednesday. Here is what you should know
Inter Miami did not have much time to celebrate Saturday’s historic first victory and home debut because the team has another home game Wednesday night against Atlanta United.
Though Atlanta has fallen since its days as the 2018 MLS Cup champions, it has a talented roster and is eager to get back on track after a coaching change in late July.
Both teams are coming off confidence-boosting wins last weekend. Atlanta got out of a funk and won its first game under new coach Stephen Glass with a 2-0 victory over Nashville.
Miami, meanwhile, broke a five-match losing streak with Saturday’s 3-2 win over Orlando City. The three goals matched the total number of goals Inter Miami had scored in the first five games. Julian Carranza, the 20-year-old Argentine, scored twice, and Mexican playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro had a goal and assist.
Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso tweaked his tactics for the Orlando game, pressuring less up high, which Pizarro said gave players more space and freedom on the attack. Although newly signed French World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi is still not available to play as he finalizes paperwork, the team will have an extra weapon in its attack as No. 1 draft pick Robbie Robinson returns to the active roster after a month-long personal leave.
“We finally got that first win, and it was a big weight off our shoulders,” said defender Ben Sweat, who assisted on Carranza’s second goal. “The vibe is good, everyone’s in good spirits and the confidence will continue to rise. But we need to win another match. One game is not good enough at the end of the day. We’re still 1-5 so we need to continue that winning mentality going into this next match.”
Sweat said it has been difficult to deal with the normal challenges of an expansion team coupled with the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s been a weird year to play two games, go on a three-and-a-half-month break, then play three games and go an another four-week break,” Sweat said. “Our team suffered a lot. Now, we have a chance to get in a rhythm of consistent games and to start it off with a good win vs Orlando, that’s what we needed and wanted and what the fans and owners needed and wanted. We were all anxious for that first one. We got that out of the way and can now focus on playing good, quality football.”
Pizarro, the energetic and creative midfielder, is looking forward to playing against fellow Mexicans Jurgen Damm and Erick “El Cubo” Torres. He said they speak often and were planning a friendly wager before the game.
“We are very happy after our first win, and we are very motivated to keep going,” Pizarro said. “The hardest part is winning that first game, so now we can build upon it.”
Miami will have its hands full with Pity Martinez, the Argentine 2018 South American Footballer of the Year, who recorded his first multi-goal MLS game against Atlanta. Glass called Martinez’s performance “brilliant” and said his work-rate from start to finish was “phenomenal.”
Martinez, 27, played at River Plate in Argentina from 2015-19 and is a member of the Argentine national team.
Wednesday’s game is at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on My 33 and the Univision 23 app.