Matt Miazga admitted that FC Cincinnati were out for revenge against Inter Miami as payback for their US Open Cup elimination.
Alvaro Barreal’s goal was enough to seal a 1-0 win over Miami on Sunday night, which ended the latter’s faint hopes of reaching the MLS playoffs.
Their league meeting came little over a month after Miami and a fully-fit Lionel Messi travelled to TQL Stadium for a US Open Cup semi-final clash – a game that had goals, last minute chaos and a penalty shootout as the Herons progressed to the final before losing to the red-hot Houston Dynamo.
Cincinnati were gunning for a domestic treble up until that point, and Miazga admitted after Sunday’s win that the previous defeat had inspired him and his teammates to get revenge against the most talked about team in MLS.
“We wanted to knock them out,” Miazga said. “They knocked us out of [US] Open Cup, we knocked them out of the playoffs. They’re a very, very good team. One of the best teams you played yet this year. But we stuck through the difficult conditions and we got through it with three points.”
The 1-0 scoreline didn’t do the game any justice, though. The two teams combined for 30 shots, while Cincinnati led on xG 2.14 to 0.93. Both teams also missed a pair of big chances that could’ve turned the tide for Miami’s postseason hopes.
Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan was nevertheless delighted with the result and consistency shown by his players.
“I like the outcome, how we got there was at times concerning,” Noonan said. “But what this group of players has consistently done is figure things out.
“I was pleased with the way the guys adjusted. But you know, there could have been, if we’re being honest, four or five goals from each team.” he added. “On the defensive side, we need to clean that up. But I still think we did a good job of creating chances and in the end, a good win.”
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