Tata Martino, Inter Miami’s new coach, watched from a video booth at DRV PNK Stadium Saturday night as his new team recorded its first tie of the season, 1-1 against Austin FC in front of a spirited near-sellout crowd of 17,053.
Martino got a firsthand look at the team he’ll be inheriting and the task that awaits him. With 15 games remaining, Miami is still in last place in the Eastern Conference, 10 points out of the playoffs.
He is taking over a group of energised, gritty players who created a lot of scoring chances but couldn’t convert them. Later this month’s additions of Argentine star Lionel Messi and former FC Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets should boost goal production, which has been severely lacking all season.
Miami attempted 18 shots, nine of which were on target, but only one was successful. Seven of their first-half shots came from inside the box, but only two were on goal and none were successful.
“Before, we were not creating chances, but now we are, and that is a positive step for us,” interim coach Javi Morales said.
“We now need to make some changes in the final third to finish those chances.” Success will come if we continue to play this way.”
Robbie Robinson showed his physicality, speed, and promise in his first start of the season after missing a full year due to leg injuries, but his refusal to shoot with his left foot cost Miami at least one goal.
Robinson, who was playing left winger, had four good chances in the first half but went to his right on two occasions when a left-footed shot appeared to be the better option.
He saw the Josef Martinez he coached with Atlanta United in 2018, the Martinez who won MLS MVP and led the team to the MLS Cup title.
Shortly after halftime, Martinez scored Miami’s lone goal of the night, a powerful right-footed high shot over three defenders off a cross from Benjamin Cremaschi, who delivered the ball to Martinez’s feet from near the end line.
Martinez became the first player in MLS history to score against 27 different teams with that goal. It was his fifth goal of the season and his 103rd career MLS goal, which places him ninth all-time in league scoring. Martinez, on the other hand, failed to score on two other close-range shots.
One of them looked like a sure goal just before halftime after receiving a perfectly paced through ball from Rodolfo Pizarro, but he hesitated to shoot, and his shot to the far post was saved by Austin custodian Brad Stuver.
“The circumstances happened to bring us back together, we had history, but that was a long time ago,” Martinez said when asked if he was extra motivated to play in front of his former coach. I’m obviously pleased with his arrival, but we’re all focused on turning around the team. We introduced ourselves but haven’t had any player-coach conversations yet.”
Source: Miami Herald
