Union outshoot Inter Miami, but fall 2-1 on second half Messi strike

The Philadelphia Union outshot Inter Miami 20-6 and made things interesting up until the end but ultimately weren’t able to overcome the Messi effect in the star’s return to the pitch, which he marked with the game-winning goal two minutes after entering the match on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale.

The Union were in search of their third road victory of the season and nearly found their way back from a 2-0 deficit in an early marquee match-up between teams that entered the night at or near the top of both the Eastern Conference and Supporters’ Shield tables.

Playing through the vaunted Union high press with quick passes and pace on the ball, the hosts were able to rattle the Union defense early with chances from Fafa Picault, who nearly set up an opener with a strong run and cross and clanged a header off the post before Robert Taylor was able to grab the lead in 23rd minute with a finish on some intricate combination play in the final third.

After giving way the early chances and the goal, the Union defense – with Frankie Westfield filling in for the injured Kai Wagner at left back – started to settle in and the offense began finding more of the moments that have been commonplace in the early going for one of the league’s most prolific attacks. Unlike their multi-goal road outings at Orlando City and New England, however, the slew of chances led to frustrating shake-your-head moments instead. Wagner’s absence should not be downplayed, of course, and was perhaps most notable on dead balls and in transition moments after winning the ball back in dangerous spots. Still, the attack did more than enough to create the chances they needed to spoil Inter Miami’s night.

From Mikael Uhre not getting enough of a ball slid to him in the D by Gazdag to Tai Baribo heading a chance right at the keeper to Chris Donovan getting a would-be equalizer on a high percentage shot blocked, the points were certainly there for the taking. Statistically, the Union would finish the night with a 2.5 xG to Miami’s 1.9 and outshoot the hosts 20-6 overall (6-3 on target) but if not for the connection of Quinn Sullivan to Daniel Gazdag, who took a great first touch to set up his goal-scoring shot in the 80th minute, the game would’ve felt significantly worse than a two-goal defeat.

Andre Blake playing sweeper keeper to deny Picault  in the open field and Luis Suarez making a meal of a chance served up by Messi were just two examples of how Miami could’ve blown the game open. There were also some head scratching referee decisions and moments where the game was a series of whistles and players writhing on the ground in pain, nursing varying degrees of real or simulated injuries. There were also plenty of bright moments on either side of the ball and reason still to believe that the Union are closer to upper tier contender than mid-to low table pretender.

The Union return home to face Orlando City for the second time this season on Saturday night at Subaru Park.