By Alex Toledo/Staff Writer
After having already clinched the spring season against the Deltas in a 7-0 win last weekend, Miami FC left the rain and thunder down south and headed to the west coast, where they defeated San Francisco again.
In a battle in which the newest teams NASL teams also own the two best records in the league, Miami FC came out of the match, and the spring season, comfortably on top, as the Deltas were not able to come back from a 3-1 deficit.
With this win, Miami FC ends the 2017 NASL Spring Season with 11 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, tallying 36 total points, ten points ahead of the next-closest, the Deltas, (7-5-4, 26 points).
Miami’s US Open Cup quarterfinals match with FC Cincinnati, originally set for July 12th, was postponed for Wednesday, August 2nd after many delays due to the severe thunderstorms at the time of the match.
Although Miami FC had possession of the ball for about 70 percent of the game, the Deltas still managed to finish with nine shots, four more than Miami FC was able to let off. Just another game where Miami controls the pace and finishes hitting on the majority of their shot attempts, even if it’s less than the opponent.
After missing at the goal about 10 minutes earlier, Miami FC midfielder Vincenzo Rennella bounced back and scored the first goal of the game at the 26’39 mark after a goalie save.
Then, just before they knew it, the Deltas were down two players after San Francisco forward Pablo Dyego began “stomping on midfielder Richie Ryan’s ankle”, per the Miami FC media release recap. Afterwards, San Francisco midfielder Kyle Bekker berated one of the officials, who responded by giving red cards to both Dyego and Bekker.
Miami FC shined early in the second half after Rennella, trying to capitalize off a Hunter Freeman pass, was tackled while driving to the box in the 49th minute. Rennella was awarded with a penalty shot, which he nailed, his league-leading tenth goal of the season. His teammate Stefano Pinho is the next closest with eight goals on the season while Dylan Mares’ 5 goals put him at eighth-most.
Shortly thereafter, Kwadwo Poku jumped up and nailed the timing on a header from another remarkable Hunter Freeman pass in the 55th minute, putting the final touch on the match. The goal was Miami FC’s 33rd of the season, another league best.
In the 70th minute, San Francisco was finally able to deliver after forward Thomas Heinemann scored on his sixth shot attempt of the match.
Miami FC came back for the start of the Fall 2017 season on Saturday July 29th, when they face the New York Cosmos (3rd best spring record) on the road.
Then, they face FC Cincinnati in the US Open Cup quarterfinal match on Wednesday, August 2nd, with the winner set to face off against the MLS’ New York Red Bulls in the semifinals.
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