Robbie Robinson scores lone goal as Inter Miami beats Seattle Sounders 1-0 on the road
Two weeks ago, Inter Miami was mired in a five-game winless streak and most observers figured two more losses were coming with back-to-back games against the New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders, two of the premier teams in the league.
They figured wrong.
Playing with a tenacious spirit, renewed confidence and without its highest-priced player, Inter Miami built on last weekend’s win over the Revolution and beat the favored Sounders 1-0 on their home turf Saturday night in front of 32,000 fans on a chilly rainy night.
It was the first Inter Miami win outside the Eastern time zone in club history and the team’s first shutout since the opening game of the season. It was Seattle’s first loss in the past eight games.
Robbie Robinson scored Miami’s lone goal – and his first of the season – in the 41st minute off a cross from fullback DeAndre Yedlin, the Seattle native and former Sounder who was playing in his hometown for the first time in seven years. The goal began with a heads-up long pass to Yedlin from forward Leo Campana, starting for the second game in row in place of Gonzalo Higuain, who stayed home with a slight knee injury.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer made 10 lineup changes and started the game with a reserve team to rest his starters after a mid-week CONCACAF Champions League game that clinched a spot in the tournament final.
Down 1-0 at the half, Schmetzer called upon supersubs Cristian and Alex Roldan to start the second half, and brought in regular starters Raul Ruidiaz and Albert Rusnak in the 70th minute and Nico Lodeiro in the 84th minute.
The Sounders swarmed the Miami box, and peppered Miami’s defense with 20 shots, but only three were on frame and the visitors withstood the constant pressure and chaos.
“I’ve played enough games to know when you’re up one-nil, and not much time left, you know there’s going to be tons of shots (from the opponent) and chaos in the box, so I was really proud of how of how the team fought defensively,” Yedlin said. “Before, probably at the beginning of the season we would have given up a late goal there but we had 11 guys fighting together and it showed.”
Miami goalkeeper Nick Marsman made four saves, including a spectacular one that prevented his teammate Damion Lowe from scoring an own goal after attempting to clear a shot with his head in the 79th minute.
“I’m really happy and proud of our players to come to a place like Seattle with great history and such a tough place to come, and grind out an away performance,” said Miami coach Phil Neville. “Two wins on the bounce now against the Eastern Conference champions and probably the best team in the West. So, that should give us confidence.”
Neville singled out the play of Campana, defenders Aime Mabika and Damion Lowe, and midfielders Bryce Duke and Mo Adams, who were second-half subs. The coach also said he was pleased with Robinson, whom he feels has a high ceiling that he has yet to reach.
“(Neville’s) a great coach, he expects a lot from from me, which I really like, and he sees a lot of potential in me, so I want to repay his trust in me and perform and play my hardest every single game and keep getting three points,” Robinson said.
Robinson also pointed out that a partnership is developing up top between himself, Campana and Ari Lassiter.
Asked how Higuain will fit in the lineup now that the team has won back-to-back games without him, Neville said: “He’s got to get fit, get back to training. We will need him without a shadow of a doubt. It’s a long season. This is going to be a long week and we will need him. I heard him on FaceTime to (Jean) Mota, Gregore to Campana before the game, wishing them the best, cheering them on on the coach on the way to the game.
“I know he’s desperate to get back with the team. He wants to finish the season on a high. The motivation and challenge is probably greater than he’s ever had since he came to Inter Miami because he’s now got competition for places and he now sees a team playing a type of football and behavior that is non-negotiable and he’s got to fit in.”
Inter Miami (2-4-1) will fly back to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday afternoon. The next game is Tuesday at FIU Stadium against USL team Miami FC in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup and then at home Sunday against Atlanta FC.
This story was originally published April 17, 2022 at 2:54 AM.