Minnesota United Falls to Inter Miami CF 2-1

June 25, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Minnesota United FC News Release

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Both Minnesota United and Inter Miami CF came into this match hovering just below the playoff line and looking for a crucial win. With the shared need to gain momentum for the rest of the season, it was apparent that this game would be a dogfight. For a while it looked like Minnesota come away with the victory, but two late goals by Miami substitution Indiana Vassilev changed the tides and Miami secured the 2-1 win.

Much of the first half was a continuation of back and forth action on both sides with chances falling flat, but ultimately the net eluded both sides of the pitch. The score at half would remain 0-0.

The second half kicked off with just as much tenacity as the first, but this time Minnesota didn’t need a warm-up period. The 49th minute showed a promising attack by Minnesota when a dangerous cross was sent into the box and Emanuel Reynoso made a dummy run to let the ball slip by into better positioning in front of Luis Amarilla. Amarilla got a solid shot off but the ball hit a Miami defender and was cleared away.

Minnesota continued to create opportunities but continued to run just shy of them. In the 55-57th minutes, there were a few great passes and ricocheted shot attempts that went right across the 6-yard box. However, they fell just out of striking reach.

Miami had a very similarly dangerous play in the 57th minute, where a shot attempt rolled out near the six, but the Herons couldn’t get a foot on the rebound. Rebound’s win games, and while that normally applies to basketball it was absolutely the case in today’s match.

In the 65th minute, Minnesota opened the scoring. Reynoso crossed the ball to Franco Fragapane who scissor-kicked the ball in. This time, Amarilla was there to bury it in the net. Things were looking great for MNUFC for a while, and it seemed as if the road-game curse was finally lifted. That is until Indiana Vassilev subbed in for Miami.

Vassilev was the ingredient that Miami was missing. Securing two late-game goals for the Herons, he pushed Miami forward and added to the road-match struggle of Minnesota. In the 86th minute, Vassilev received a through ball around the penalty spot from Bryce Duke and tied the game.

In the 89th minute, a free kick was awarded to Miami. The ball bounced around in the Minnesota box until it found Vassilev’s feet, who threaded a solid strike into the net.

There were five minutes of injury…