In their first ever MLS game in Cleveland, Ohio, fans came hoping to witness Lionel Messi`s magic against the Columbus Crew. However, it was a local player and a draft pick who propelled Inter Miami to a 1-0 victory over their Eastern Conference rivals. A diving header from 20-year-old Benjamin Cremaschi secured the win, placing Miami back at the top of the Eastern Conference alongside the Crew.
This marks the first defeat of the season for Wilfried Nancy`s Columbus Crew, leaving Inter Miami as the sole undefeated team in Major League Soccer. The match, held at Huntington Bank Field, typically home to the Cleveland Browns, attracted NFL stars like Jerry Jeudy and a record crowd of 60,614. Despite this support, the Crew couldn`t secure a win. Given both teams` strong seasons and the Crew`s previous Leagues Cup victory over Inter Miami, this game carried significant weight, even early in the regular season.
Even without Cucho Hernandez, who moved to Real Betis, the Crew have been winning, thanks to players like Diego Rossi and Daniel Gazdag, who made his full debut. However, Columbus missed numerous scoring opportunities in this match. When they did manage shots on target, Inter Miami`s 38-year-old Argentine goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari, was there to make crucial saves, relieving pressure on his defense.
Miami needed this defensive solidity to secure the win. In a 4-4-2 formation, their attack wasn`t particularly potent, but Yannick Bright and Cremaschi proved vital. Cremaschi connected with Marcelo Weigandt on the right side, scoring the decisive goal that Miami held onto.
Defensively, Bright was dynamic in midfield, allowing Sergio Busquets to control the deeper areas and advance strategically. His energetic play was essential as the Crew applied pressure throughout the second half. Drafted in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Bright has exceeded expectations, becoming a key player for Miami, regardless of team changes.
MLS offers various paths to success, and Inter Miami`s diverse roster exemplifies this, featuring a converted left-back, numerous Argentine players, homegrown talents, draft picks, and former Barcelona stars. Miami`s success isn`t solely based on big signings; effective roster construction and value acquisitions are crucial to support their stars.
Miami’s performance wasn`t perfect, as the Crew created more scoring opportunities (3.01 expected goals to Miami`s 0.61). However, top teams win even when not at their best. The Crew, under Nancy, are expected to bounce back, especially as Gazdag integrates further. Miami has consistently demonstrated that opponents must perform flawlessly to defeat them.
Any lapse in concentration is punished by Miami, as the Crew experienced. While Luis Suarez has become more of a playmaker this season, with Messi and Tadeo Allende leading the attack, other Miami players have stepped up when needed. If this trend continues, Inter Miami has a strong chance to contend for more silverware this season, aiming to improve on their early MLS Cup playoff exit last year against Atlanta United.
