Match Recap: Huntsville City FC blitz Inter Miami CF II, win 4-0
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, Huntsville City FC took to Wicks Family Field at Joe Davis Stadium on a mission. The first team had set the bar high with a 7-2 destruction of Chicago Fire the night before, and Huntsville took that challenge to heart, picking up a 4-0 win over Inter Miami CF II.
Let’s dive in.
Lineup
A whole lot of Nashville in this lineup, perhaps with the US Open Cup on the mind. In goal, it was a fourth goalkeeper in as many matches as Brian Schwake got the nod.
Ahead of him in the back four was captain Blake Bowen, Wyatt Meyer, Taylor Washington, and Chris Applewhite who was appearing for the second time in successive days after a cameo with the first team Saturday.
In midfield, it was Pep Casas and Matthew Corcoran supporting a front four of Christian Koffi, Jonathan Pérez (also appearing in back to back days), Alan Carleton and Gunnar Studenhofft.
Between the Whistles
This might as well be a simple description of Huntsville’s four goals. Miami was never in this game, and never really looked much a threat either.
In the 21st minute, as has been Huntsville’s trademark at this point, a corner broke the deadlock. The ball, played in by Jonathan Pérez, found the head of the captain, Blake Bowen, who scored to give the hosts the lead.
Eight minutes later in the 29th, Christian Koffi laid off to Ethan O’Brien who smashed home the Rocket Men’s second of the evening. Going into the break, Huntsville held a commanding 2-0 lead.
They weren’t satisfied with it however. In the 47th minute, a failed clearance led to a shot by Pérez which was spilled right into the onlooking Gunnar Studenhofft’s feet, who tapped home his side’s third.
Things calmed down mostly, from here, but substitute Jordan Knight wanted to leave his impact on the game, and did so following an impressive turn and shot after receiving an excellent (seriously great) pinged pass from Matthew Corcoran to make it four.
The final whistle was blown, and Huntsville elevated to a three-way tie for second in the Eastern Conference on 13 points, four behind leaders Chattanooga.
The Numbers
Huntsville City FC
Shots: 21
Shots on Target: 12
Possession: 59%
Corners: 8
Yellow Cards: None
Inter Miami CF II
Shots: 5
Shots on Target: 2
Possession: 41%
Corners: 2
Yellow Cards: 1 (Ricardo Montenegro)
Analysis
This team is seriously good. Sure, there was a whole lot of first team involvement, and the quality jump was very clear to see, but even the Huntsville regulars looked the part.
Koffi, Studenhofft, Bowen, Knight, Casas and others visually looked like they belonged with a Corcoran, Pérez and Washington. That’s the best you can hope out of a second team, really.
The job the coaches in this organization have done and continue to do, from the Callaghan staff, to the O’Neal staff, on down to the academy level has been seriously impressive, and fans should feel super optimistic about the future.
Games keep coming, Huntsville keeps winning, there’s not really much else to say. Next up for the Rocket Men, it’s Star Wars Night as tenth place Atlanta United 2 comes to Joe Davis Stadium on May 3rd.
We’ll talk more about that later in the week, until then, thanks for sticking with us!
Any attendance here too?