David Beckham couldn’t have asked for a better start to Inter Miami’s new MLS campaign after Phil Neville’s side stunned the Philadelphia Union – last season’s runner up – 2-0, as Robert Taylor scored a stunning volley to extend The Herons’ two-game unbeaten start.
Taylor, who represents Finland but whose father Paul is English, doubled Inter’s lead in the 77th minute with a potential goal of the season, just two matchdays into the new campaign. French striker Corentin Jean, 27, who moved to the U.S. this summer from French and Ligue 1 side RC Lens, opened his MLS account for Miami at DRV PNK Stadium when he scored from distance in the 32nd minute.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who can also be deployed at wing-back, played a give-and-go with Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota, before controlling the ball in the air with his chest and striking it from outside the Union’s box.
Philadelphia’s leading scorer from last season, Daniel Gazdag, came closest to scoring for the Union, who entered Saturday without a regulation loss in their last five games (including playoffs).
Miami, who’ve been linked with signing World Cup winner Lionel Messi and his ex-Barcelona teammate Sergio Busquets, now sits top of the Eastern Conference. The Herons have collected a maximum amount of points from their first two games in contrast to last season, when the Florida-based club struggled to reach the MLS playoffs with a 14-14-6 overall record.
The Union’s latest regulation setback also came on the road against one of the league’s newer teams, as Philadelphia fell 4-0 to 2022 expansion side Charlotte FC early last October.
Mota struck the crossbar in the 67th minute for Miami and Julian Carranza made Callendar make a strong save from a tight angle in the 69th minute before Taylor sealed the points for the hosts.
The Union’s best chance of the first half came only three minutes after going behind, but Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callendar denied Gazdag with a sprawling save after his giveaway led to the chance.
The Union, who are led by last year’s MLS Coach of the Year Jim Curtin, sit in 7th, just two spots above the last playoff seed in contrast to last seasons standings, when the club finished two points above of CF Montreal, as the East’s first seed going into the postseason. Saturday’s win was also Miami’s second in seven all-time meetings against Philadelphia (1-1-0, three points) since joining MLS in 2020, and the first at home.
