Oscar Ustari became the latest Inter Miami CF player to be sent off in MLS this season.
Tadeo Allende scored the winning goal for the Herons as they picked up their second win in a row inon Matchday 2. However, with another red card, this time to goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, each game has brought its extra bit of drama.
As Miami move to seven points on the season and second in the Eastern Conference after three weeks, here are three takeaways from the recent victory over Charlotte.March 9, 2025 Inter Miami may be off to a near perfect start to the season results-wise, but the success in 2025 has been a far cry from the composed, professional and record-breaking campaign the club enjoyed in 2024. Under the tutelage of veteran head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino, Miami set an all-time regular-season points record, hitting 74 in their Supporters’ Shield-winning season. On the journey to that 22-4-8 record, they stayed committed to an identity and let their results speak for themselves. Throughout that campaign, they received 88 yellow cards and four red cards. While that still ranked them among the top four MLS sides in total cards, they’ve been significantly more reckless in 2025. They appear frustrated and have to dig themselves out of holes under rookie head coach Javier Mascherano. JOIN SI SOCCER'S INTER MIAMI WHATSAPP COMMUNITY - GET ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND ANALYSIS STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE Match officials have awarded Miami a red card in each MLS game this season, and although Ian Fray’s was eventually rescinded, the players have often appeared agitated in their play. Even the superstars Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez have been hit with MLS disciplinary action in 2025, both being fined for altercations. Many other MLS supporters see Inter Miami as the villain. The best Herons can do is keep winning, as they’ve done, but that’s much easier with a full allotment of players on the pitch.While Lionel Messi has not been available for Inter Miami in recent games, Suárez and Tadeo Allende have more than compensated by filling the void. For Allende, his introduction to MLS and Miami could not be going much better. Against Charlotte, he scored the winning goal, extended his scoring streak to four games in all competitions, and helped keep the defensive structure with 10 men. With all his contributions, he’s putting himself in the conversation for the MLS Newcomer of the Year award after just three matches.Yet, he’s doing it all in his prime at 26 years old. One of his attacking partners, Suárez, has even exceeded him in production, putting up four assists and three goals in all competitions in his last six games at 38 years old. Inter Miami’s identity lies in its free-flowing and productive attack, and with Allende and Suárez, it has just that, even without the GOAT in the lineup.Rocco Rios Novo could face his former MLS club, Atlanta United, next week, despite being Miami's third goalkeeper. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Despite a formative offseason on the soccer operations, Inter Miami did not shore up their goalkeeping situation ahead of 2025. With No. 1 choice and USMNT goaltender Drake Callender unavailable due to injury, the club has had to gamble with veteran Oscar Ustari, who was given a red card for a risky challenge against Charlotte. At the same time, the club lost young American goalkeeping prospect CJ Dos Santos to expansion side San Diego FC, where he has assumed the starter's role and showed well this season. It leaves Mascherano with little choice going into next weekend’s clash with Atlanta United, relying on Rocco Rios Novo, who had not played an MLS match since 2022, before coming in as relief for the red-carded Ustari against Charlotte.Ben Steiner is an American-Canadian journalist who brings in-depth experience, having covered the North American national teams, MLS, CPL, NWSL, NSL and Liga MX for prominent outlets, including MLSsoccer.com, CBC Sports, and OneSoccer.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inter Miami Concludes Latin American Preseason with Olimpia ClashInter Miami CF travels to Honduras to face Club Olimpia Deportivo in their final preseason match before returning to the US. The match serves as a final tune-up before the Concacaf Champions Cup and the MLS season kickoff.
Read more »
Who Are the 13 New MLS Managers? Javier Mascherano at Inter Miami and MoreInter Miami FC and 12 other clubs have new head coaches in MLS in 2025.
Read more »
Inter Miami Midfielder Claims Herons Could Top Premier League, PSG in MLSInter Miami midfielder Federico Redondo boldly stated that the Herons could succeed in the Premier League and even finish ahead of Paris Saint-Germain in MLS. Redondo believes Inter Miami's success in the 2024 MLS season, where they earned a record 74 points, could translate to the English top-flight. He envisions Lionel Messi leading the charge with a Ballon d'Or-caliber season to propel Inter Miami into the Premier League's top half.
Read more »
Inter Miami Draw with Orlando City in Final Preseason GameInter Miami CF played to a draw against Orlando City SC in their final preseason match of 2025. Despite a threatening performance from their front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Tadeo Allende, Inter Miami conceded two goals in the first and second halves. Fafa Picault secured a late equalizer for the Herons, ensuring a third draw in preseason.
Read more »
Inter Miami vs. Sporting Kansas City Concacaf Champions Cup Opener Postponed Due to WeatherInter Miami's first match in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Sporting Kansas City has been moved to Wednesday, February 19th due to expected snow in Kansas City. The match was originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 18th.
Read more »
Messi Leads Inter Miami Against Sporting KC in Concacaf Champions Cup OpenerInter Miami CF, led by star forward Lionel Messi, takes on Sporting KC in the first match of the Concacaf Champions Cup. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. CT on FS2 and can be streamed for free using free trials. Messi, who led Inter Miami with 21 goals and 17 assists last season, will be looking to make an impact against Sporting KC's forward William Agada, who scored a team-high 10 goals last year.
Read more »