This could very well be it! The final game against the San Francisco Deltas has been rescheduled and it is going to be played. The Miami FC and the Deltas will face off for the final time in the regular season tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Bay Area. Despite Miami having a 2-1-1 advantage during the year, this game will essentially decide the fall campaign in the NASL.
When you look at the combined table, this matchup doesn’t have the “tale of two seasons” written all over it. Sure, Miami won the first two meetings at the end of the spring by a combined score of 10-1. Sure, San Francisco has gotten the better of the two matches played in the fall campaign (4-1, 4 pts). However, both teams are still battling for the right to be called the fall champions of the NASL.
No team could expect repeat performances of 7-0 or 3-1 victories on a whim. Marc Dos Santos and the Deltas figured out a way to take points from Miami. In tactics used against the club over the season, Miami has difficulty unlocking play in the midfield when teams consistently press and shorten the pitch on them. This was on display during the last match as the Deltas looked comfortable in a 3-0 win. Prior to that both teams looked equally lethargic in a 1-1 draw in a game that was hampered with torrential rain.
Miami got back to their winning ways after ending Indy Eleven’s season on Saturday. With goals from usual suspects Jaime Chavez and Stefano Pinho, don’t be surprised to see these two link up again. Notably absent from the score sheet recently has been Kwadwo Poku. With the playoffs around the corner, don’t be surprised to find his name all over the scoresheet as this would create the perfect boost in momentum as Miami closes out the season over the next 11 days. The questions on the backline have been answered as Miami has gone out of their way to pick up stalwart defenders in Lambrughi and Palmer to allow recovery time for players such as Blake Smith, Mason Trafford, and Rhett Bernstein.
The truth of the matter is, this Miami FC squad has consistently won games under pressure. With title implications on the line, Alessandro Nesta will have all the weapons at his disposal. We truly believe we still see the standard eleven on the field and if this game doesn’t break Miami’s way early, expect attacking substitutions to be made at the half.
Score: San Francisco Deltas 0 – 2 Miami FC
