Inter Miami CF picked up its second victory and continued its unbeaten run at home through its first three matches with a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United. The match was marked by standout performances from Scottish winger Lewis Morgan, who bagged his first two goals for Inter Miami, and team captain Luis Robles, who was called upon to save a penalty kick, and then to step up and save another after the first was retaken.
For Morgan, the brace was cause for relief, but he was more impressed by the heroics of his goalkeeper teammate.
“Personally, it was a massive weight lifted off my shoulders. Obviously as attacking players we’re judged on goals and assists, and rightfully so,” said Morgan. “I was happy to get off the mark, but what I think was more important tonight was Luis’ two saves…Our defense has been coming on leaps and bounds and keeping clean sheets and it was up to us attacking players to start producing.”
Robles, meanwhile, was excited by the growth he sees the team making. He expressed his excitement at the team’s continued improvement and its prospects for the future.
“We felt like the bounces were starting to go our way and for Lewis to get the goal right off the bat, for us to concede right away, and then to come back, really shows how our mindset is developing. It’s really progressing in the right direction. And then of course when the PK is called, for me personally it was a really big moment because our team just got back into the game and was in the lead. If I could do my part to keep us there, I just felt like we were going to win the game,” said Robles. “When you consider our run of form coming back from Orlando, we’re 2-1-2...We’ve got a great group of guys here. For us to be able to put it together, to be able to suffer together for 90 minutes, it’s very vindicating for us to get all three points.”
“I know that it’s been a long 10 games so far, but it does feel like our best days are ahead of us. As the bounces go our way and guys step up to the moment, I feel like this team is capable of some big stuff,” he added.
While Robles and Morgan will celebrate the victory, they’re not complacent as they look to replicate the success they had tonight.
“I feel like as a group we’re getting stronger. We’re coming into our own and we have an understanding of one another,” said Robles. “The thing I want to point to more than anything is the spirit in this locker room. We’ve got a great group of guys… We worked for one another, we were willing to switch off, willing to do whatever was necessary to get the three points.”
“I’m just so happy that all the hard work we’ve been putting in since the start of the season is starting to culminate in positive results. We’re unbeaten in three [at Inter Miami CF Stadium] now and we really want to make this place a fortress,” added Morgan.
Morgan’s goals also served as a birthday gift to his father, making it an extra special occasion for him to get off the mark.
“I promised him I’d score so that was another good touch,” said Morgan. “My family back home are big supporters and they actually stay up and watch all the games so I’m sure when I get back to the dressing room I’ll pick my phone up and have a few nice messages.”
Manager Diego Alonso, meanwhile, was also pleased with the performances of the stars of the night.
“Luis was fantastic with the two penalty saves. He kept us in the lead and gave us an important emotional boost,” he said. “Lewis is a player that we have a lot of confidence and belief in. He’s played all of our matches because we believe in his capabilities, and we know that he has to believe in them himself; in his quality and his performances because in reality they’ve been good. He has to have that belief and take the role as a protagonist that we think he needs to take.”
