Inter Miami 0-1 Dallas: David Beckham sees his team lose their fifth straight MLS game, as angry coach Phil Neville tells new striker Josef Martinez to ‘play better’ after sixth straight game without a goal
David Beckham’s presence wasn’t enough to break Inter Miami’s losing streak, as Phil Neville’s men were beaten for their fifth consecutive MLS game on Saturday night.
American striker Jesus Ferreira put Dallas ahead in the 27th minute, taking advantage of Miami’s terrible defense to convert from close range.
Miami enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half, but struggled to unlock an organized Dallas defense. Miami also had a criminal case dismissed in the eighth and final minute of extra time, despite the referee using VAR to check his decision.
It summed up what was an overall disappointing showing for Beckham and Miami, now 11th in the Eastern Conference.
Neville said in his post-game remarks that he was unhappy with striker Josef Martinez, an offseason signing from Atlanta.
David Beckham was at Inter Miami’s game on Saturday, but they lost 1-0 to Dallas
Beckham shook hands with Phil Neville before kick-off, but the coach is under increasing pressure
“He needs to play better,” said Neville. “It’s the first time today that we’ve played with two strikers and I don’t think either of them had a shot on target in the first half. We need more from Josef and there is no question about that.
“In the team we have players who are comfortable and from now on they will not be comfortable.
We are working hard to strengthen the team. We hope for good news in the next 24 to 48 hours. I feel we are close to a winning run and goals.
“You deserve your own happiness and I have to take full responsibility for the losing run. This is my team and they didn’t start the game the way I wanted.
“We were really lucky going into the break with only 1-0. I said we were the happiest team in MLS, now let’s make them pay. But we didn’t find that quality. It’s not going our way at the moment.’
Martinez has gone six games without scoring for Miami. He missed one match for the international matches where he scored for Venezuela.
Ferreira got Dallas on the plate in the 27th minute with his fourth goal of the year, working into the goalmouth and waiting for a pass from Jesus Jimenez before beating Miami keeper Drake Callender with a left footed shot into the center of the net.
The scoring play started with a pass in the zone by Geovane Jesus that was pushed back to Jimenez by Ferreira. The latter battled the defense and pulled Callender off his line before handing the ball back to Ferreira for the easiest of goals and a 1-0 lead.
22-year-old Ferreira’s goal saw him become the youngest player in MLS history to score 40 goals in league games.
Dallas had the most scoring opportunities in the first half, producing four shots on target to one for the home side.
That continued after half time as Ferreira pushed for another goal in the 54th minute when his right foot shot from the right side of the 6-yard block was saved by Callender with a lunge to the bottom right corner.
Jean Mota’s shot from outside the box five minutes later almost tied the game, but was saved by Paes.
Dallas’ Paul Arriola and Alan Velasco were blocked by Callender in the 60th and 91st minutes respectively, allowing Miami (2-5-0, six points) to stay in the game.
Miami looked like it might have a chance to tie the game when a penalty was called in the area seven minutes into second half stoppage time on Dallas’ Jose Antonio Martinez, but the penalty was reversed by VAR review and Dallas was able to run the last minute of the clock.