New York Red Bulls 4-0 Inter Miami: Lewis Morgan comes back to haunt his former club as ex-Miami forward nets stunning hat-trick to condemn Lionel Messi-less visitors to second defeat of the season

A few miles east of the city that never sleeps, it was a sluggish Inter Miami backline who were caught napping as Lewis Morgan’s three-goal masterclass inspired the New York Red Bulls to a 4-0 win over his former employers.

On a soaking, soggy day in Harrison, New Jersey, it took just three minutes for Morgan, who spent two seasons in Miami before coming here, to return to haunt his old team after a delightful partnership with attacking partner Dante Vanzeir.

When Dylan Nealis sent a long ball forward early on, a clever strike from Vanzeir freed the Scot on the edge of the penalty area. Sergii Kryvtsov tried to close the danger quickly, but one touch from his feet allowed Morgan to trick a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

Miami’s young backup goalie CJ Dos Santos, who replaces Drake Callender with the team’s usual No. 1 on international duty with the USMNT, will certainly feel like he could have done better.

As heavy rain continued to fall on the Red Bull Arena, the quality of play throughout the first half largely reflected the wet and slippery conditions that made life even more difficult for two exhausted teams. Both sides were missing a host of first-team starters due to injury problems and the March international break.

Miami’s most notable absentee was none other than Lionel Messi, who this week was deemed unfit to tour the United States and play for his native Argentina.

Red Bulls, meanwhile, were without star player and captain Emil Forsberg, on international duty with Sweden. In a sloppy opening period, especially from the visitors, far too many passes were misdirected. Far too many crosses went high and wayward. There were far too few shots on target.

Even the great Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez couldn’t work their usual magic on the most rain-soaked pitches. In the 16th minute, Busquets twisted and turned beautifully in the center of the park before firing a pass intended for Jordi Alba straight out of play.

Shortly afterwards, some nice interplay between Busquets and Alba finally brought the ball back to Suarez on the edge of the penalty area, but when he couldn’t get it out of his feet, an encouraging attack fell by the wayside.

Seconds later, Miami had their best chance of the afternoon. Unfortunately for head coach Tata Martino, that opportunity fell to Alba; a defender hardly known for his goal-scoring ability.

After Suarez was found via a looping pass over the top, a brief pinball game ensued before the ball made its way to the former Spain left-back in acres of space on the left. Yet Alba, guilty of leaning back as he pulled the trigger, saw his effort sail over the bar instead. A golden opportunity to initiate a procedure had passed him by.

Miami started upping the ante midway through the first half, and it was around that time that an animated Suarez, true to form, also went into the book for dissent. They say that a leopard never changes places…

While Uruguay’s master of the dark arts may have been up to his old tricks, the same cannot be said for his once legendary finishing ability as he once again squandered a decent opening for the visitors.

Robbie Taylor first dispossessed Kyle Duncan in the penalty area before the ball deflected to Suarez, who planted himself on his weaker left foot and sent the resulting effort well past the post.

But just as Miami looked to be growing in this match, Red Bulls regained their footing and soon came agonizingly close to doubling their lead with two huge chances, both of which fell to Vanzeir.

An attacking play that this time mirrored the opening goal saw Morgan fire the ball into the path of Vanzeir from a tight angle in the penalty area, but after failing to connect properly, his weak goal attempt presented Dos Santos no problems on.

The second saw the Belgian, a constant threat in the final third today despite his own woes in front of goal, latch onto a long ball and outmuscle Miami youngster Noah Allen, only to roll another shot wide after he was not squared on teammate Dennis. Gjengar, who had the goal gaping.

Red Bulls boss Sandro Schwarz is said to have complained about his team’s inability to give themselves some breathing space at the end of the first half. Luckily for the German, Morgan was there at the start of the second to sting his old team again.

When 19-year-old Miami defender Tomas Aviles gave the ball away cheaply, the brilliant Frankie Amaya picked it up in midfield and found Vanzier, who held the ex-Miami man to send it past Dos Santos and into the back of the net. to beat. again.

Amid relentless rain, the floodgates truly opened for New York when Vanzeir’s third assist of the game put them out of sight. Nevertheless, it was once again the devastating Morgan, so dangerous and effective here against his old team, who made the most crucial contribution.

Having only just kept the ball in play, the 27-year-old brilliantly weaved his way past Kryvtsov down the left and picked out his fellow frontman. Vanzier then plated it for young Wiki Carmona, 21, to tap in and make it 3-0.

When it rained in Miami, New Jersey this afternoon, it was pouring in more ways than one. Because Morgan, Vanzeir and a rampant Red Bulls outfit weren’t done yet.

Twenty minutes from time, the boy from Iverclyde, Scotland, put the icing on the cake after Vanzeir took a long ball from the gods in his stride, flew past Allen and aimed it straight at his partner in crime. Morgan, clinical as ever, tucked the ball past Dos Santos for his third and New York’s fourth.

It was a joyful day overall for the Red Bulls, who even managed to give one of their young academy prospects a rare appearance off the bench. 15-year-old Julian Hall has been denied a spot on Schwarz’s roster this season due to New Jersey’s child labor laws, which prohibit those under the age of 18 from working after 7 p.m.

Today’s 2pm kick-off meant Hall was in line for his first appearance of the season, allowing Schwarz to set the teenager up for a 10-minute runout with the win already in the bag.

Two minutes before his introduction, Allen thought he had pulled one back for the dejected visitors when he slipped the ball past Ryan Meara from the tightest of angles. To his frustration, the VAR replays deemed Suarez to have committed a foul in the build-up and the goal was disallowed, summing up a miserable day at the office for Tata Martino’s men.

And as the seconds ticked away in stoppage time, Suarez, well below his typical standards this afternoon, saw a tame effort from inside the penalty area curl wide.

Miami was only off the pace for a brief period in the first half, which was quite a contrast from Morgan, the lively British forward they brought to New York two years ago.

Three minutes before the end he received a standing ovation when he was substituted by Schwarz, a deserved reward after a sensational performance in less than ideal circumstances.

Miami’s Champions League-winning trio of Suarez, Busquets and Alba may have failed to gain traction on a sodden New Jersey turf, but the showers didn’t rain on Morgan and the Red Bulls’ parade.