By Alex Toledo/Staff Writer
Thanks to midfielder Kwadwo Poku and his late-game heroics, Miami FC beat the MLS’ Atlanta United FC 3-2 and will advance to the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup.
With a crowd of over 9000 watching and both teams battling it out during the final minutes of regulation and all of stoppage time, Poku recovered the ball and nailed the timing on a gentle breakaway kick, which resulted in a match-clinching score for Miami.
“It’s a play that Coach always tell us, when the ball gets open, attack the back line,” said Poku.
Poku, who Nesta was about to substitute at the time of the goal, was red-carded in their previous game against the New York Cosmos and will be suspended for the next NASL match, (at North Carolina FC on the 4th of July), allowing him to participate in this US Open Cup match.
“We know, if we get a chance, if we get an opportunity, we are going to make something happen, and that’s what we were looking for,” said Poku. “It was just about time for us to believe and defend well as a team, not concede another goal, but we knew for sure we were going to get there and get the third point.”
The two teams seemed to be very evenly matched throughout the game, with both teams taking the majority of their shot attempts around the same times, splitting duals equally and being able to get good looks consistently as both finished with 16 total shots.
“For us, it’s important,” said Nesta. “It doesn’t matter if they play in the MLS, we say NASL. We have to give every time the same importance to the game.”
Both teams also began the game with six different shot attempts before finally scoring. For Atlanta, that came when forward Brandon Vasquez scored in the 34th minute before Miami FC countered with a goal from forward Stefano Pinho in the 36th minute, as the game score remained at 1-1 for the rest of the half as Miami and Atlanta combined for five more shot attempts.
Miami FC was then able to score quickly on the first shot attempt of the half when defender Rhett Bernstein capitalized off a pass from defender Hunter Freeman in the 51st minute.
Miami was able to hold the lead for about 23 minutes, during which there were five combined shot attempts from both teams, before Atlanta midfielder Julian Gressel drilled the penalty equalizer in the 74th minute of the game.
Although Atlanta had a distinctly higher possession rate than Miami for the game, Miami FC was able to control the pace at the end of the game, rattling off three shot attempts to Atlanta’s one before Poku scored at 92 minutes and 57 seconds.
“This is the true testament to the US Open Cup,” said midfielder Michael Lahoud. “I’m extremely proud of my guys. We never quit.”
“For us, it’s important. For the coaching staff, for the players, because they deserve this night,” said Nesta regarding their crunch-time effort. “After I talked to the guys, they were saying, ‘It’s a dream for us.”
Poku, meanwhile, is getting called up by Ghana, his home country, to play against the United States.
“For me, it’s a big opportunity to play in a game like that,” said Poku. “It’s a big game and for me it’s a big chance to wear your national team’s jersey and play for your country.”
“This is good. This is futbol,” said Head Coach Alessandro Nesta regarding the increasing attendance and intense atmosphere. “If you see an actor work in a theatre without people, it doesn’t make sense. We are in the same position.”
Atlanta United was able to control the ball more than Miami FC was, however, with a 56.2 percent possession rate. The difference, ultimately, was Poku willing the ball past the stark Atlanta defense for the match.
“After it was 2-2, the game could have gone anywhere,” said Poku. “But as I said, we believe, we always believe.”
@TheMiamiFC wins 3-2 against Atlanta United (MLS) after goal in stoppage time by Kwadwo Poku pic.twitter.com/DOYEoo32zY
— alex toledo (@tropicalblanket) June 29, 2017
About Post Author
