Leagues Cup 2024: 3 Observations from Inter Miami’s Round of 16 Tussle with the Columbus Crew
On to MLS play!
photo credit: Inter Miami CF
Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup title defense ends with a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Crew.
Though the scoreboard showed a poor result, the Herons played well for large stretches of the match and held their own.
The two-goal contributions from Diego Gomez will, perhaps, be the biggest talking point from the match.
Gomez showed his quality once more, orchestrating the first goal, and finishing off Miami’s second.
It took just a couple of lapses in concentration for Miami to lose the plot. The Crew struck in the final third at the right time to turn the game around.
Although it’s not ideal to lose, Miami will have the opportunity to switch gears and focus on MLS play and the Supporters Shield race.
The Herons are in pole position in the East and are overwhelming favorites to make the MLS Cup final.
Losing in Leagues Cup won’t feel great for the fan base. Looking at the bigger picture, however, Miami will surely look to bounce back from this loss at home on August 24th.
Here are three takeaways from Miami’s Leagues Cup loss to Columbus
1.) Diego Gomez Will Be Missed
Diego Gomez is the quintessential example of why fans should give players time to settle in before making snap judgments.
Initially, the Paraguayan was largely lamented by La Familia, on the end of most of their ire and frustration.
After the 2023 winter break, Gomez returned as a changed player. His production in the final third increased and his positional awareness was magnified.
Against Columbus, Gomez displayed why it’s imperative to ‘trust the process’ when it comes to players under 25.
Miami is fortunate to have the youngster until the end of the year, and it’ll be a bittersweet moment to watch him go.
2.) Time For MLS
photo credit: Inter Miami CF
Now that Miami has been knocked out of Leagues Cup, it’s time to focus their undivided attention on MLS and the Supporters Shield race.
I’ve written in previous columns/articles that while the club and players would take the Leagues Cup seriously (as they should), Miami’s position in the league meant that they wouldn’t want to risk unnecessary injury in a tournament they’ve already won.
The Herons should be even extra motivated to close out the rest of the season on a high note. The squad is capable of winning games without its best player, and they’ll get even better once Messi returns to full fitness.
Of course, losses are never good, but Miami has shown that they’re a resilient team.
A bounce-back is inevitable.
3.) More Yannick Bright Praise? It’s a Day Ending in ‘Y’!
Despite the loss, Yannick Bright is a player that I don’t think Miami can play without. His boundless energy and defensively rabid performances make it difficult to argue his exclusion from the starting eleven.
As Miami heads into the rest of the season, their best lineup will likely be with the Italian at the base of the midfield three, or deployed as a central midfielder.
How’d you all feel about Miami’s match tonight? Let me know in the comments!