Miami FC's underwhelming start to 2025 raises questions
Miami FC's rotten start continued with a 3-1 loss to Indy Eleven on Saturday Night at Pitbull Stadium
Hope springs eternal and with a completely revamped roster boosted by some big names, Miami FC began the 2025 USL Championship campaign looking to use four successive home games to jump out to a quick start. Instead, the squad has looked arguably worse than the team that finished with a league low 11 points last season.
Opening the season at home versus Detroit City FC last week, new big-name signing Sebastián Blanco had an opportunity to open his Miami FC account a minute into the match but failed to convert this chance - it would in fact be one of only two clear-cut scoring opportunities on the night for MFC. After that chance, Detroit City slowly asserted itself - Le Rouge suffered major personnel losses this offseason but as the first half wore on, they appeared increasingly comfortable against a slow Miami FC side whose ball-movement and shape looked frayed from about minute 15 onward.
Bouts of poor discipline mixed with late challenges and ill-temper began to seep into the Miami FC side around minute 20. During this spell, Detroit City scored a set-piece goal in minute 32 by Michael Bryant on a wonderful delivery by Jeciel Cedano.
Le Rouge should have doubled the lead in minute 40 but Alex Villanueva got too cute with his left foot after being served up a deliciously perfect cross by Rhys Williams. However, Detroit’s misery didn’t last long as Francisco Bonfiglio picked up a second yellow card minutes after his first (the two bookings were sandwiched by a bad foil in-between which could have also been bookable) and Miami was reduced to ten men.
In the second half, the standout player for Miami was Brandon Bent, a former Inter Miami academy product who is now in Miami FC’s academy. He was inserted in minute 60 replacing Blanco.
MFC’s shape looked better after this change, but despite some very solid defending by returnees Alejandro Mitrano and Daltyn Knutson, attacking opportunities were limited. Le Rouge finished the match off for all intents and purposes with a second goal in minute 87, coming courtesy of Connor Rutz.
Tonight against Indy Eleven, without Captain Sebastián Blanco, Miami FC was even more easily overrun.
Much like last week’s defeat to Detroit City, Miami’s midfield looked slow and indecisive. Of particular note was the effective play of new Indy Eleven signings Edward Kizza, Maalique Foster and Cuban Bruno Rendon the last which would have seemed a very natural fit for this MFC squad. Former Miami FC defender Aeden Stanley rampaged up and down the flank for Indy Eleven at times virtually unmarked. The 3-1 defeat if anything yielded a flattering scoreline for a Miami FC team that was totally overwhelmed.
Last season, Miami FC had the worst season in the USL Championship since 2013. Yet that side tended to fight and claw in matches for 35-45 minutes before wilting due to a lack of composure in front of goal or an unforced goalkeeper or defensive error. In Miami’s first two matches of 2025, the side has looked completely overwhelmed and outclassed in the first half of games. Perhaps the only saving is in both matches Miami FC has looked better after halftime.
Why does Miami FC look so bad despite the big signings?
There are two clear reasons:
1- A shortish preseason where the entire squad was never available. This combined with a weak schedule which basically only featured local colleges as opposition did not prepare the side. Conversely, last season Miami FC prepared well and despite getting few results early in the season, looked super competitive and fit against the likes of Sacramento, Charleston and Louisville City in the early stages of the campaign.
2- Not signing enough players with USL experience. Picking up an assortment of players with MLS and South American experience looks good on paper but does not prepare a squad for the grind and style of the USL Championship. This MFC squad to this point looks poorly constructed and quite frankly not up for the fight in this division. However, as the squad finds its legs and becomes more comfortable this could change.