Back in 2017 we had a nice little run going here at Magic City Soccer of nailing score-lines of Miami FC matches. If you look back at the preview, we hit the match right on it’s head. It took Miami quite a while, for their standards, to get their first goal of the match. It just took one to open the floodgates and secure three points in Winter Park.
Orange & Blue Continue to Dominate Central Florida
Paul Dalglish loaded his side into a 4-3-3 with first choice centrebacks John Neeskens and Brenton Griffiths anchoring the backline. After a game of musical chairs at fullback, Marco Franco and Brian James got the start on the flanks. Just ahead of them Ariel Martinez was back in the starting line up along with midfielders Tomas Granitto and Lance Rozeboom. Up front the trio of Dario Suarez, Mohamed Thiaw, and Miguel Gonzalez caused fits for the newcomers of the sunshine conference.
The orange and blue came close many a times in the early moments of the first half but were denied by decent saves by the Central Florida goalkeeper and the assistant referee. The wingers struck first after Suarez’ nifty step-over and feed to Gonzalez allowed him to tap in from point blank range for the first of the night. Four minutes later the duo would swap roles and it would be Suarez with the tap-in to double Miami’s lead.
Central Florida did well to enter the half down just two. Paul Dalglish would make wholesale changes in the 62nd minute bringing on his entire bench including captain Dylan Mares. Mares would open his account in the 67th minute and then double it in the 71st. Suarez and Gonzalez would be deployed for the full ninety and link up again in the 80th minute, with Gonzalez notching his second of the evening. In the dying moments of the match local product Shawn Chin got his first in a Miami FC kit bringing Miami’s total to six against Central Florida.
The Road Ahead For Miami FC
It’s without question that the loss to Miami United on the road and the loss to the Florida Soccer Soldiers have put this side in gear. Over the previous three matches, all on the road, Miami has won by a combined score-line of 23-0. Assuring their place on the 2nd tie-breaker over Miami United, FC still need Naples United to drop a result. Unfortunately for the Sunshine Conference, the NPSL uses points per game as their first tie-breaker. Therefore, Miami FC needs to some chaos to unfold around the country to have full control of their destiny.
