Inter Miami aims to shake off MLS struggles in U.S. Open Cup vs. Birmingham Legion
Inter Miami is in last place and on a five-game losing streak in league play, but it is two victories from reaching the first cup final in franchise history.
Such is Inter Miami’s paradox heading into Wednesday night.
The slumping South Florida side is currently taking its attention from MLS action to focus on the midweek U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals match against Birmingham Legion. Inter Miami travels to Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the second-division team in a win-or-go-home match, and coach Javier Morales has a team that is hurting.
Not only is Inter Miami amid a bad run of form that just cost previous head coach Phil Neville his job, but two regular contributors have been ruled out. Sources have told the Miami Herald that defensive midfielder Dixon Arroyo and centerback Ryan Sailor are out for the tournament tussle with the injuries sustained in this past weekend’s home loss to D.C. United, adding the duo to a list of walking wounded that includes usual captain Gregore and Jean Mota.
Another player who will not be with Inter Miami on Wednesday is reserve right back Harvey Neville, Phil’s son. Sources say the younger Neville is expected to be in uniform with Inter Miami II on Thursday after sitting out this past Saturday’s 2-1 defeat due to a “coach’s decision.”
Rodolfo Pizarro is expected to be back in the gameday roster after being sidelined since late April through injury, according to sources, but it seems unlikely that the Mexican midfielder starts given that he is not in game shape following his spell of inactivity. Venezuelan striker Josef Martinez is also set to be available despite leaving the last match with some hamstring tightness.
Regardless of whom Morales deploys in the first XI against the USL Championship team, Inter Miami is hoping to continue its run towards historic with a better overall display. The Herons were reduced to 10 men after just seven minutes in Morales’ coaching debut vs. D.C. United, leaving the team to have to battle ferociously more so than attempt to play an attractive brand of soccer.
“A hundred percent that one of the things (we will try to do) is to have the same commitment and the same effort that we had last game at home,” Morales said. “Also, we need to try to play a little bit more. We need to try to keep 11 players on the field and try to play football.
“I believe in this group, and it can play much better.”
Putting the ball in the back of the net after scoring just once in the last three league games will be just as important if Inter Miami wishes to avoid an upset vs. a motivated Birmingham Legion side that will be pushed on by the local fans in the biggest game of that organization’s five-year history.
Birmingham, which sits in sixth place in the USL Championship, also possesses plenty of first-division experience. The hosts not only have a former MLS coach in Tom Soehn leading the charge, but players like former Inter Miami forward Juan Agudelo and midfielder Mikey Lopez help make up part of the roster that has been assembled by another MLS veteran in president/general manager Jay Heaps.
This is not your usual USL Championship David vs. Major League Soccer Goliath type of tournament match, especially not with the current situation that Inter Miami finds itself in after changing coaches less than a week ago.
“It is a cup game, and we know when you go and play those games it is do or die,” Morales said. “We are going to go over there to try and win the game and advance to the next stage.”
If Inter Miami can accomplish that, a semifinals date in late August will await against the winner of the quarterfinals tilt between FC Cincinnati and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. That would present a ray of light to this otherwise dark and gloomy season, moving Inter Miami one step closer to a trophy and providing for some optimism during this trying time.
“We are all excited,” said defensive midfielder David Ruiz. “Only two wins away from the first final in club history, so we are all very prepared and ready to compete and give it our all.”