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A few miles east of the city that never sleeps, it was a sluggish Inter Miami backline that was caught napping as Lewis Morgan’s three-goal masterclass inspired the New York Red Bulls to a 4-0 win over his former employers.
On a soaking, soggy day in Harrison, New Jersey, it only took three minutes for Morgan, who spent two seasons in Miami before heading here, to come back to haunt his old team following a delightful link-up with strike partner Dante Vanzeir.
When Dylan Nealis sent a long ball forward early on, a clever flick-on from Vanzeir released the Scot on the edge of the area. Sergii Kryvtsov quickly tried to close down the danger, but after taking one touch out of his feet Morgan was able to send a right-footed effort trickling into the bottom-left corner.Â
As torrential rain continued to fall at Red Bull Arena, the quality of play throughout the first half was very much reflective of the wet and slippery conditions which made life even more difficult for two depleted teams. Both sides were missing a host of first-team starters amid injury problems and the March international break.
Lewis Morgan was on hand with three goals in a 4-0 win for the New York Red Bulls over his former employers Inter Miami
Both teams were depleted of players, with Miami’s Lionel Messi the most notable absentee
And those that did line up on Saturday were forced to do so in torrential rain throughout
Morgan needed just three minutes to open the scoring at a wet and soggy Red Bull ArenaÂ
It was a miserable afternoon at the office for Luis Suarez and Co without Messi alongside them
Miami’s most notable absentee was none other than Lionel Messi – deemed unfit to travel across the States and play for his native Argentina this week.Â
Red Bulls, meanwhile, were without star player and captain Emil Forsberg, away on international duty with Sweden. In a sloppy opening period, particularly from the visitors, far too many passes were scuffed astray. Far too many crosses went high and wayward. Far too few shots were on target.Â
Even the great Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez could not work their usual magic on the most sodden of fields. In the 16th minute, Busquets twisted and turned in the middle of the park exquisitely before firing a pass meant for Jordi Alba straight out of play.Â
Shortly after, some neat interplay between Busquets and Alba again eventually brought the ball to Suarez on the edge of the box, yet when he couldn’t get it out of his feet an encouraging attack fell by the wayside.
It was seconds later that Miami were presented with their finest chance of the afternoon. Unfortunately for head coach Tata Martino, that chance fell to Alba; a defender hardly renowned for his goalscoring prowess.
After a looping pass over the top found Suarez, a brief game of pinball ensued before the ball worked its way to the former Spain left back in acres of space on the left. Yet Alba, guilty of leaning back while pulling the trigger, instead saw his effort sail over the crossbar. A golden opportunity to level proceedings had passed him by.
Miami began to up the ante at the halfway stage of the first half, and it was around that time that an animated Suarez, in true fashion, also went into the book for dissent. They do say a leopard never changes its spots…
Though while Uruguay’s master of the dark arts may well have been up to his old tricks, the same could not be said for his once-legendary finishing ability when he squandered another decent opening for the visitors.Â
Suarez was up to his old tricks after the fiery Uruguayan was booked for dissentÂ
Sergio Busquets was also unable to work his usual magic in the middle of the park for Miami
Robbie Taylor first dispossessed Kyle Duncan inside the box before the ball deflected to Suarez, who teed himself up on his weaker left foot and sent the resulting effort well past the post.
Just as it seemed Miami were growing into this game, however, Red Bulls regained a foothold on proceedings and soon came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage with two huge chances, both of which fell to Vanzeir.
A piece of attacking play which mirrored the opening goal this time saw Morgan flick the ball into the path of Vanzeir at a tight angle in the box, yet after failing to properly connect his weak attempt at goal did not trouble Dos Santos.
The second saw the Belgian, a constant threat in the final third today despite his own woes in front of goal, latch onto a long ball forward and out-strengthen Miami youngster Noah Allen, only to roll another shot wide after not squaring to teammate Dennis Gjengaar, who had the goal gaping.
Red Bulls boss Sandro Schwarz would have been lamenting his team’s inability to give themselves some breathing space at the close of the first half. Luckily for the German, Morgan was there to sting his old team once again at the start of the second.
When 19-year-old Miami defender Tomas Aviles gave the ball away cheaply, the brilliant Frankie Amaya picked it up in midfield and found Vanzier, who teed up the ex-Miami man to lash it past Dos Santos and into the back of the net once more.
Amid relentless rainfall, the floodgates then truly opened for New York as Vanzeir’s third assist of the game put them out of sight. Nevertheless, yet again it was the devastating Morgan, so dangerous and effective here against his old team, who made the most vital contribution.Â
After just about keeping the ball in play, the 27-year-old brilliantly weaved his way past Kryvtsov down the left and picked out his fellow frontman. Vanzier then laid it on a plate for the young Wiki Carmona, 21, to stroke home and make it 3-0.
When it rained for Miami in New Jersey this afternoon, in more ways than one, it poured. Because Morgan, Vanzeir and a rampant Red Bulls outfit were not done.Â
Morgan went on to add his third in a four-goal rout over his old employers in New Jersey
20 minutes from time, the boy from Iverclyde, Scotland, put the icing on the cake after Vanzeir took a long ball out of the gods in his stride, breezed past Allen and squared it to his partner in crime. Morgan, clinical as ever, tucked the ball past Dos Santos for his third and New York’s fourth.
It was a joyous day all round for the Red Bulls, who were even able to give one of their young academy talents a rare outing off the bench. 15-year-old Julian Hall has been denied a place in Schwarz’s squad this season by New Jersey’s child labor laws, which prevents under-18s from working beyond 7pm.Â
Today’s 2pm kickoff time meant was Hall eligible to make his first appearance of the season, allowing Schwarz to hand the teenager a 10-minute runout with the victory already in the bag.
Two minutes before his introduction, Allen thought he had pulled one back for the crestfallen visitors when he slipped the ball past Ryan Meara from the tightest of angles. To his frustration, VAR replays then deemed Suarez had committed a foul in the build-up and the goal was ruled out, summing up a miserable day at the office for Tata Martino’s men.Â
And as the seconds ticked away in stoppage time, Suarez, well below his typical standards this afternoon, saw a tame effort from inside the box creep wide.
Miami were off the pace for all but a brief period in the first half, which was quite the contrast from Morgan, the lively British forward they offloaded to New York two year ago.
Three minutes from time he received a standing ovation when he was substituted by Schwarz, much deserved after a sensational display in less than ideal conditions.
Miami’s Champions League winning trio of Suarez, Busquets and Alba may not have been able to get to grips with a drenched turf in New Jersey, but the showers didn’t rain on Morgan and the Red Bulls’ parade.
