Inter Miami faces a tough challenge as they prepare to meet the San Jose Earthquakes this Wednesday night. Despite Lionel Messi’s goal in their recent game, Miami encountered a significant loss to Minnesota United, underlining their difficulties against stronger teams. Luis Suarez’s absence was notable, revealing weaknesses in their attack, allowing Minnesota to control the match entirely.
San Jose won’t pose the same defensive challenges, but they are aggressive offensively. They lead the league in goals scored (26) while having conceded 20, a contrast that reflects their high-scoring strategy, which has kept them in playoff contention this season under Bruce Arena.
Match Details:
- Date: Wednesday, May 14
- Time: 10:30 PM ET
- Location: PayPal Park, San Jose, California
- Live Stream: MLS Season Pass
- Odds: San Jose Earthquakes; Draw +270; Inter Miami +165
Last Meeting:
This is the second matchup between these two teams. Inter Miami won their only previous encounter in March 2022, which adds extra excitement to Messi’s first visit to San Jose.
Coach Remarks:
Expectations are sky-high for Inter Miami, particularly after the departure of coach Tata Martino. Javier Mascherano, now at the helm, has been under scrutiny due to Miami’s roster depth issues which have left the team vulnerable. “Every time we were attacking, unfortunately, we were very vulnerable on transitions after losing the ball. That’s what worries me the most,” Mascherano noted.
Anticipated Lineups:
San Jose Earthquakes: Daniel, Daniel Munie, David Romney, Rodrigues, Vitor Costa, Beau Leroux, Ian Harkes, DeJuan Jones, Ousseni Bouda, Cristian Arango, Christian Espinoza
Inter Miami: Oscar Ustari, Jordi Alba, Noah Allen, Tomas Aviles, Marcelo Weigandt, Tadeo Allende, Yannick Bright, Sergio Busquets, Fafa Picault, Lionel Messi, Allen Obando
Player to Watch:
Cristian Arango for San Jose is critical, leading the race for the MLS Golden Boot with eight goals and one assist. Matches like this against Inter Miami are vital for him to solidify his MVP candidacy.
Storyline to Monitor:
Can Inter Miami address their defensive woes? After allowing twelve goals in their last three matches, questions about their defense continue to arise. Without Luis Suarez, Miami needs another player to rise to the occasion, as they gear up for the Club World Cup.
Prediction:
Expect Inter Miami’s challenges to persist as San Jose capitalizes early in the match. Despite their offensive capabilities, Miami will likely struggle to achieve a desirable outcome. Prediction: San Jose Earthquakes 3, Inter Miami 2.
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