After a six-year wait to play a competitive match, Inter Miami finally took the field against LAFC. Here are three things we learned from the 1-0 defeat.
When Inter Miami took to the pitch against Los Angeles FC on Sunday, it saw six years of hard work finally come to an end. From local politics slowing down the club’s plan for a downtown stadium deal to the controversy of not having a ‘true star’ on the field, all of the white noise surrounding the team was put to rest when La Rosa Negra kicked off their MLS regular season campaign against LAFC.
It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but Inter Miami showed the potential to grow into Diego Alonso’s tactics. We saw MLS debuts from players like Nicolas Figal and Lewis Morgan, and some world-class saves from veteran goalkeeper Luis Robles. LAFC ultimately ran out 1-0 victors thanks to Carlos Vela’s devastating chip, but there were plenty of positives for Inter Miami.
Here are three things we learned.
3. Luis Robles aging like fine wine
At 35 years young, Luis Robles is showing that age is only a number.
The former New York Red Bulls man showed his class by making multiple saves during the game that included an early stop against Diego Rossi that could’ve seen LAFC take an early 1-0 lead. He ended the match with eight saves, most of them preventing the score from getting too out of hand.
Robles’ veteran presence will prove to be important as the season progresses. He could very well be the difference between a win or a loss in future games. His experience in the locker room is invaluable, and his performances on the pitch are not too bad either.