MATCH PREVIEW: Inter Miami CF to Visit New York Red Bulls on Wednesday

MATCH PREVIEW: @ NYRB Oct. 7, 2020

Inter Miami CF heads north to face the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena. 


Regional fans will be able to watch the game live on MyTV33, the free Inter Miami App, and the Univision 23 App, as well as listen on Spanish radio via Univision Miami’s WQBA 1140 AM and the Uforia App. Fans worldwide can also tune in to live commentary on the Club’s App. Download and Register your Profile here: https://www.intermiamicf.com/en/club/app.


“We’re preparing with a lot of enthusiasm, with energy, with an urge to turn things around, with ambition and knowing that a bright future is near,” said manager Diego Alonso. “We have to push to see the light. We’ve had good matches, done some things really well, but we’re also doing some things that haven’t allowed us to win. We have to keep pushing, loving and supporting each other to get through this difficult moment.”


Inter Miami is coming off of a 2-3 defeat against New York City FC in a tight contest at home. The match saw Scottish winger Lewis Morgan bag a brace to bring his tally to four goals and become the team’s leading scorer so far this season, while Rodolfo Pizarro recorded his fifth assist and remains the team’s top provider of assists. Morgan’s second goal was nominated for the AT&T Goal of the Week. Fans can vote HERE. Morgan's impressive performance also awarded him a spot on the MLS Team of Week presented by Audi.


Additionally, defender A.J. DeLaGarza made his first outing in Inter Miami colors by slotting in at the right back position in the starting XI and playing 67 minutes in the game, while the team’s latest additions, Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuaín and French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, recorded their first assists and Victor Ulloa registered his third assist of the campaign.  


Goalkeepers John McCarthy and Drake Callender could make their Inter Miami debut in the team’s second matchup against the Red Bulls as captain Luis Robles is unavailable for the match after suffering a fracture to his left arm.  


McCarthy previously played for the Philadelphia Union, where he made 21 MLS appearances in four seasons from 2015 to 2018. He also made 26 appearances for the club’s USL affiliate, Bethlehem Steel FC, during that time and kept 10 clean sheets. Before his stint with the Union, McCarthy had played for the Rochester Rhinos in the USL Championship in 2014, where he was named USL Rookie of the Year, USL Goalkeeper of the Year and was selected for the USL All-League First Team that season. Most recently prior to joining Inter Miami, McCarthy played for Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship. In 2019, his lone season with the team, he made 29 regular season appearances and kept 10 clean sheets. In McCarthy’s last MLS match, he recorded a shutout in goal for the Philadelphia Union in a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City in Sept. 2018.


Meanwhile, rookie goalkeeper Callender could make his professional debut if he is selected. The 22-year-old goalkeeper is a former NCAA Division I soccer player at the University of California, Berkeley. He played at the school for four years, making 54 appearances and keeping 16 clean sheets. Callender was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA All-Far West Region First Team and the All-Pac-12 First Team for the 2017 season. For the 2018 season, he was named to the preseason MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and earned United Soccer Coaches NCAA All-Far West Region Third Team and All-Pac-12 Second Team honors. 


A reunion may be on the cards during the match as well for a member of Inter Miami’s inaugural roster, as rookie right back Dylan Nealis could face his older brother Sean Nealis, who was a 2019 SuperDraft pick by the Red Bulls. Sean Nealis is a defender who has appeared in four matches for the Red Bulls this season, registering a total of 356 minutes played. The Nealis could become the fifth set of brothers who have faced each other in MLS. 


Wednesday’s matchup will be the second of the regular season for Inter Miami against the Red Bulls, as the sides previously met at Inter Miami CF Stadium on Sept. 23 in a match in which New York won 1-4. 


The New York Red Bulls will come into the midweek game following a 3-1 defeat on the road against Orlando City SC. The New York-based side currently sits seventh in the Eastern Conference table, having put together a record of 6 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses to date this season. The team has been led by winger Daniel Royer, who has registered four goals and two assists so far this season, and midfielder Kaku, who has tallied two goals and four assists.