USOC Final Miami V Houston
A party atmosphere in no, not Miami but Ft. Lauderdale, but minus Messi how will the home team fare, with a spanking new coach, how will the Ben Olson lead visitors fare? THIS is why they play the games. The pregame video featured John Lignos out of Freeport, a great friend of 40+ years, heading one on goal complete with broken wrist in a cast. What a joy, Ray Hudson calling the game, please listen to him well, many gems sure to be uttered in the next 90. The pregame crowd is cleared but the smoke has not. No black and yellow here as Houston is in the dark as Miami is in their Art Deco pink, same as ever since the arrival of Messi & Co. Both coaches with highly limited time with their teams and many games in little time both have endured until this.
Houston begins holding it well and moving it, then a lead pass taken then taken back. Into the area a short pass, not finding its mark. Escobar in the area but the lead pass again off and Callender is off his line and grabs it without issue. Miami takes advantage to a quick restart, too many passes and no shot, the ball is lost. A long pass into a pink shirt for Houston and Camapagna has it, the visitors get it back just as they lost it. Cresmachi, after his first game for the USMNT leaves it and the ball is too long into the area. Mas is identified then after a pause so too is the head of FIFA, wonder if the commentator knew or had it not exactly whispered into his ear? Too many touches for Houston it falls to their feet a shot is then blocked, that rebound shot wide and high. Garber and Cordiero in the building… Yedlin with an errant pass after a bit of a run, he recovers it. Miami with a run, Taylor beats the first of two then it is gone. Quinones blocked by the splayed out Miler to stop a great shot off a marvelous pass. Baird gets the centering ball off, but again Miller leaves his feet conceding the corner. Farias clears the ball off the corner and an early yellow to Escobar at 12’. His cleat caught the inside thigh of Cremaschi as he was airborne. Miami takes a yellow at 16’. Baird with a header that goes wide. Allen cautioned at 19. Callender with a great save or 2! Dorsey puts Houston up at 25’ from a tough angle, he buries it. At 31’ a PK is called with no delay. VAR is of course checking it, I expect to be upheld. Bassi converts and Harden celebrates.
Martinez is in, as is Orroyo, Miami did not look so confident or determined in this first half let’s hope the 2nd is more competitive. 14 seconds in, Houston gets a corner. Orroyo first on the ball and it is partially cleared back in and Miami draws a foul. 6 touches get it to Martinez in the area, he makes contact for 7 and a shot. Yedlin plays one in, off Escobar for a corner. On the bottom of the circle as Miami holds the ball. Martinez, runs from the ball rather than coming back to it and it is taken away near the goal. Yedlin with a hard foul and the away fans calling for a card. Great movement for Houston leads to a ball in the area played out for a corner. It gets to Bassi he does not send it goal ward, goes left, the ball is crossed again and off Miami for a throw. Quinones fouls Yedlin as both are diving for a ball. Cremaschi was not passed to by Martinez and lets him know of it. Off the head of Martinez, that would have reenergized the crowd. Miami recovers the goal kick and send it in by Yedlin, blocked out for a throw at 15 yards. Martinez is sprung but slips in the area, it bounces around nothing going for the pink side. At the hour mark, it is the same score as at the half, but a different game. Cremaschi for Yedlin and his ball wins a corner. Yedlin again with a ball in, Campagna nods it on and is played out, again a corner. Cremaschi for Yeeldin, the defender shields it well, even plays it out, but to a pink player. Yedlin looked for again, Quinones is giving him all he can handle and then some. Martinez with a great flash through and goes wide with it from Cremaschi. Looking for Campagna, headed away, with no corners in the opening stanza, they have a handful already this half. Now corner #4 for the home team. Great ball movement in their offensive third and area, the Dynamo go for a looping ball just beyond the GK and the attacker. 20’ left Houston has yet to sub and Miami have yet to score, the Dynamo now play a game of not upsetting the apple cart or getting fresh legs in there. Play on, it falls to Busquets, his long distance blast blocked just in the area. Quinones from Bassi and its 3-0 with just over 15 to go, that may have been the game. Harden is once again happy. Outside, outside, then into the net. VAR is now in play. Offside by a kneecap and they call it back. Yedlin out, the past trainer of Red Bulls gets some camera time. Quinones down, is out Smith is in also out, Bassi. Miami with 10 to go is not giving up the ship. Dynamo have laid anchor and parked the bus, all players in their defensive 3rd. Busquets for Cremaschi can’t get it to Martinez getting forward. Farias from 25 or so is right at the GK. Sviachenko fouls Farias as Stefanelli comes on at 83’, Caciedo in along with Ibrahim for Dynamo. From 30 Miami is way off on the shot. A long lead ball saved off the line by Miami, pulled back and another run, Ruiz runs through the defender is a GK. Dynamo with almost one last dagger at 87’. These last ten minutes, it seems as if Miami has hit a wall and now it is just a matter of time with less than 2’ to go in regular time. 6’ extra time. Matinez puts one in at a minute into extra time, did I type too soon? Lead ball from Farias, and Josef goes opposite post of the sliding GK. The crowd just got loud. Whatever happens here it is without the Messi Effect in full effect, such a great pass to free Martinez. Is anyone in their seat at the halfway mark of extra time? Campanga redirects a ball off his head, it’s lofted a bit and from afar but, the GK with a small leap has it. 90 seconds to go. Farias wins a corner we are just over 6’. Callender in for the corner in the area. Houston takes the CUP!