Inter Miami CF (5W-11L-0D, 15pts.) got on the pitch for pre-game warm-ups with new drills under the interim coach Javier Morales.

Debuted his first game on Saturday night for the team since officials parted ways with now-former head coach Phil Neville, Inter Miami succumbed to D.C. United 1-2 at the DRV PNK Stadium, freefalling at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table.

Early on after the game started in the 7th minute, Miami went down 10 men when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled a red card to defender 31, Kamal Miller that sent him off. The coaching staff didn’t waste time making adjustments by changing tactics and subbed in Ryan Sailor for Nicolas Stefanelli to focus more on defense.

D.C. United took control of the game and possessed the ball at 68.9% against Miami. Inter Miami CF spent a lot of energy on defense denying D.C. of finding the goal as they multiplied their attacks trying to score by taking 23 shots to only Miami's 4.

Miami was not only suffering from down 10 men but also injuries that came to play forcing a few game delays from the captain Yedlin, the Goalkeeper Callender, and one in which Sailor who came in for Stefanelli in the 10th minute, had to leave the pitch for Christopher McVey in the 55th minute.

The interim coach kept making adjustments during the game by bringing Leonardo Campana in to start the second half. Ian Fray for Dixon Arroyo in the 50th minute, and Ryan Taylor also for Corentin Jean in the 55th minute due to injuries.

The team put on a spirited fight through 75 minutes of the game before the D.C. United from a corner kicked and a header by Steven Birnbaum to the defender 23, Donovan Pines who forced the ball to cross the goal line in a scramble play with Callender giving D.C. a 1-0 lead.

D.C. added a second goal in the 90th minute with Christian Benteke on a foot-race out of the midfield from a through ball by Victor Pálsson and got off a left foot shot from the 10-yard behind penalty mark to his right post.

Down 0-2 with the 8-minute added time, fans started to leave for the exit, but Inter Miami quickly responded with an attack on the right wing with a low-crossed from Taylor to the 20-year-old, Fray with the one-touch just outside the penalty arc and struck the ball past the goalkeeper for his first professional goal to bring the score to 1-2.

Despite the effort and six minutes to go in extra time, Inter Miami CF was unable to find the lucky bounce to even the score and succumbed 1-2 to D.C. United.

Interim Coach Morales seemed pleased with the result knowing that it could have been worse down 10 men from the early start of the game but instead fought hard.

“One of the values that we spoke about was not making any excuses. So this is what it is. This is what I had to face today. We had a red card, we had injuries, we had late substitutions, and that’s football. But I’m leaving happy because if I had to pick a match to make my coaching debut, this would be it because the players left it all on the pitch and left their lives for this club. And I’m really proud of this group. “If we continue and to compete in this way I think we’re going to get points,” said coach Javier.

Inter Miami CF will play New England in the MLS on June 10, 2023, at 7:30 pm at the Gillette Stadium.

Sports Action Rundown, Inter Miami CF, Drake Callender, Dixon Arroyo, Corentin Jean, Ryan Sailor, Robert Taylor, Leonardo Campana, Nicolás Stefanelli, Ian Fray, Kamal Miller, Phil Neville, Steven Birnbaum, Donovan Pines, Christian Benteke, D.C. United, MLS, Sports, Gasner Delvarin Jr.