Teenager Benjamin Cremaschi scored late in the second half, rallying Inter Miami to a 2-1 victory over Charlotte FC on Wednesday night. This win extends Inter Miami’s club-record unbeaten run on the road to eight games.
Inter Miami (14-3-5) maintained a two-point lead in the Supporters’ Shield race over FC Cincinnati with its fourth consecutive 2-1 victory, achieved despite the absence of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. Both players are participating in the Copa America for Argentina and Uruguay, respectively, and have each contributed 12 goals and 18 assists (with 13 assists by Messi) this season.
Inter Miami took a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute with a goal by Robert Taylor, assisted by defender Jordi Alba. Taylor’s fourth goal of the season was only the second goal allowed by Charlotte in the first 30 minutes of a match this season.
Charlotte (9-8-5) equalized in the 41st minute when Patrick Agyemang scored his sixth goal of the season, assisted by second-year defender Jere Uronen, who tallied his fifth assist of the season. Last season, Agyemang scored one goal in one start and 12 appearances, his first in the league.
The match remained tied until Cremaschi, 19, scored his third goal of the season in the 86th minute, assisted by defenders Julian Gressel and Jordi Alba. This was Gressel’s ninth assist of the season, following his 100th career goal contribution in a victory over Nashville SC. Alba has seven career assists, all this season in 15 starts and 18 appearances. He also has three goals this season, after scoring once in five starts and seven appearances last season.
Agyemang will miss Charlotte’s next match after receiving yellow cards during first- and second-half stoppage time.
Inter Miami’s goalkeeper Drake Callender made one save. Callender and Taylor are both one appearance away from becoming the first Inter Miami players to reach 100 appearances for the club.
Charlotte’s goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, who leads the league with nine shutouts this season, finished with two saves.
Charlotte, coming off back-to-back away matches, will not play another home game this month.
Inter Miami leads the series 3-2-1 and stays on the road to play FC Cincinnati on Saturday. Charlotte returns to action on July 13, also on the road against FC Cincinnati.
