After 15 minutes Saturday night, you would have thought Inter Miami CF and Atlanta United FC were in for a blazing shootout. Some 75 minutes later, it was a scratch-and-claw victory for the Herons, hanging on for a 2-1 victory and three more points from the Peach State.
Inter Miami CF, coming off a 1-0 loss to fellow expansion side Nashville SC, will look to win on the road for the first time tonight, at Atlanta United.
Tonight’s Inter Miami CF match against Atlanta United FC at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale has been postponed in response to player protests sweeping the country.
The postponement was the first in Major League Soccer. A match between Nashville SC and Orlando City SC scheduled for 7:30 p.m. kicked off as scheduled. The Inter match was scheduled for an 8 p.m. kickoff.
Tonight’s #InterMiamiCF game vs. @ATLUTD has been postponed.
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) August 27, 2020
“Black Players for Change asked us not to play, and I think at that point we respect them and we have to respect why we wear these [Black Lives Matter] shirts,” Inter Miami CF defender A.J. DeLaGarza told Inter Miami CF’s Kaylyn Kyle on the team’s broadcast after the match. “And that’s to make a change and to have our voices heard.”
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2020
The announcement was just the latest in a turbulent day in the world of sports, kicked off by the Milwaukee Bucks’ wildcat strike of its NBA Playoffs game against the Orlando Magic, originally scheduled for 4 p.m. The Bucks’ move was prompted by the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wis. police officer Rusten Sheskey in the back seven times.
“Athletes have a huge platform, and we have to use that right now,” DeLaGarza said.
AJ DeLaGarza on tonight’s CBS My33 broadcast:
“We have to respect them and we have to respect why we wear these shirts, and that’s to make a change…
“I think we had to make a very tough decision in front of our coaches minutes before walking out here.”#InterMiamiCF #MLS pic.twitter.com/5eE2KqrIU0
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) August 27, 2020
Stay with Magic City Soccer as this story updates.
Fútbol Miami MLS confirmed through its Twitter account Wednesday morning that Paul McDonough, formerly of Atlanta United, will be joining the team as Sporting Director.
“Paul shares our dream for making Miami the League’s Global Team,” co-owner Jorge Mas said through the team’s Twitter account. “And is uniquely positioned to recruit and develop the talent on and off the field to make this a reality.”
“Paul played a critical role in the building of our club and we are very appreciative of his hard work and dedication in making Atlanta United a success,” Atlanta United president Darren Eales said in a statement released by the club. “We wish him and his family all the best moving forward.”
Response
Reaction to the hire was generally positive.
Paul McDonough was an instrumental piece in Atlanta United’s success. He now joins David Beckham’s Miami MLS team as sporting director https://t.co/suFnPJcbP2 pic.twitter.com/mS0HStjynI
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) August 2, 2018
Soccer in Miami just scored big! Congrats to friend and new Sporting Director Paul McDonough…and welcome to my town!#MLSMiami @futbolmiamimls #MLS
— Gabriel Gabor (@MLSGabor) August 2, 2018
Paul McDonough loves him some expansion action. Good luck to the former Orlando City man (but it’s Miami, so not TOO good of luck). https://t.co/DCM9sBl2Cy
— The Mane Land (@TheManeLand) August 2, 2018
Soccer fans in South Florida have an interesting event to look forward to next week. The SPORTELSummit Miami Beach will bring a number of important figures in the sports world together to discuss the issues of the day. However, there are some notable absences that leave participants and followers asking: What happened?