Touchline Talk

Neville, Campana Praise Team’s Resilience Following Road Draw

Screen Shot 2022-07-05 at 12.22.36 AM

Touchline Talk presented by Al-Flex

Inter Miami CF earned a point on the road against FC Dallas on Monday, July 4 at Toyota Stadium as Leonardo Campana came off the bench to score the equalizing goal in the 88th minute. Campana increased his goal tally to eight in the 2022 MLS regular season in the 1-1 draw.

Head coach Phil Neville praised the team’s resolve to continue fighting for a positive result after conceding a goal off a set piece in the 27th minute. 

“I’m super pleased with everyone. I think the passing in the second half dictated the game for us. [Victor] Ulloa and [Jean] Mota grew into the game, and Robert Taylor was sensational for the goal,” Neville said. “I thought we kept going, we gambled to win, we took a risk to win, we played a system that allowed us to be aggressive in our press, and I’m super proud of every single one of them.”

Neville also commended the stalwart defense that prevented FC Dallas from scoring any goals from open play. 

“We’ve got defenders that can go man for man. They’ve got speed, they’ve got agility, and I thought that we matched them really well. I never thought for one minute that we were going to lose this game.”

Leo Campana, goalscorer on the night and team talisman, noted the importance of having reinforcements enter the game with the right attitude to buoy the starters. 

“In this league, the games are very competitive and very difficult. Getting points away is important. I think in the second half we had fresh legs, and a fresh mentality. We went onto the pitch with that winning mentality. We couldn’t get the win but, one point is important.”

Neville also commented on that winning mentality that the substitutes brought into the game, and its significance in future games. 

“Before the game we spoke about how in six games, we could name five substitutes that won us the game. And you could say that the substitutes tonight won us the game. It’s the seventh time that’s happened. We’re really pleased with the point. We move on and we recover, and we go again on Saturday against Orlando, which I think is going to be an absolutely brilliant game.”

Inter Miami CF faces Orlando City in its next fixture on Saturday, July 9 at Exploria Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 8 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live on My33, UniMás and the Inter Miami App.