Miami were ripped apart in New York’s Red Bull Arena by former Inter Milan star Lewis Morgan, who scored a fantastic hat-trick.
Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino lambasted his star-studded team’s mentality on Saturday following a 4-0 defeat by the New York Red Bulls. Miami, minus the injured Lionel Messi, were thrashed at New York’s Red Bull Arena by former Inter Milan midfielder Lewis Morgan, who scored a spectacular hat trick.
While Martino acknowledged some of the blame for the defeat, the veteran coach blamed his players, including high-profile additions Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.
“There is not much to say, except that we were outmatched from start to finish,” Martino said following the drubbing. “Red Bulls had the desire to win and we had no desire to compete.
“When a team enters a game without the desire to win, without spirit, without competing, and the other side just want to win the game, they are going to win it.”
Martino meanwhile refused to blame the absence of Messi for the loss, noting that the team had produced a 3-1 victory at D.C. United last week without the Argentina superstar.
“The absence of the best player in the world is important for everyone — but last week with D.C. Leo didn’t play either,” Martino said.
Morgan, a former Miami player, had previously dominated Martino’s team with an outstanding man-of-the-match performance.
Morgan, a Scotland international who joined Major League Soccer four years ago following stints with Celtic, St. Mirren, and Sunderland, gave New York the lead after three minutes.
Miami, on the other hand, created only one chance in the first 45 minutes, with a curling Suarez shot that sailed wide after 27 minutes being their most dangerous attempt.
Morgan extended New York’s lead six minutes into the second half, capitalizing on a brilliant feed from Dante Vanzeir to make it 2-0.
On 66 minutes, the Scottish forward had a key role in New York’s third goal, showing excellent tenacity to keep the ball in play wide on the left before squaring into the box.
Vanzeir assisted on the cross, and Venezuelan attacker Wikelman Carmona scored.
Morgan completed his hat-trick four minutes later, capping a sweeping New York counter-attack that included more superb work from Vanzeir.
Vanzeir was involved once more, brushing off Noah Allen’s poor challenge down the right flank before laying an inviting low cross into the path of Morgan, who made no mistake.
The wins tied New York at 10 points with the Columbus Crew and Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference. Columbus leads on goal differential, followed by Miami.
In other early MLS games on Saturday, the New England Revolution earned their first point of the season, drawing 1-1 with the Chicago Fire.
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