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Three Up, Three Down: Inter Miami manages 1-1 draw at Orlando, moves to within four points of last playoff spot

After each match, site co-expert Matthew Clark and I pick three players we felt most impacted the game for the Herons — and which three didn’t.

ByKen Garner, Matthew Clark|
Orlando City SC supporters display the colors before Sunday’s 1-1 draw against short-handed Inter Miami, who played without Messi, Alba and Busquets.
Orlando City SC supporters display the colors before Sunday’s 1-1 draw against short-handed Inter Miami, who played without Messi, Alba and Busquets. | Cory Knowlton-USA TODAY Sports
5 of 5

Three Down

Robert Taylor, D

Is it just me, or did Taylor disappear last night? Was Orlando marking him particularly well, did we lack a playmaker to get him the ball in space? Maybe, but it seemed to me the effort wasn’t there. After scoring two brilliant goals against Toronto, including the Goal of the Matchday, Taylor’s impact was minimal.

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing, Ken. It's as if Taylor -- who had a solid game against Toronto -- was taking the night off to go to Disney World or something. Inter Miami needed more from the Finland international to get three points, but they didn't get it. Very disappointing effort from a player who could have been a gamechanger.

Tomas Aviles, D

Last night, the supremely promising 19-year-old played his age, trying to resolve mistakes in positioning with a little extra push or kick; it very nearly got him sent off; the referee issued a yellow card and two verbal warnings that coulda maybe shoulda been yellow. I was a little surprised Tata kept him on the pitch until halftime.

In a match where mistakes needed to be at a minimum, Aviles didn't shine. He was immature on defense and it nearly cost Inter Miami much-needed points in the end. I know he's young, but this is the big time and you have to show up like it's the big time... every time.

Noah Allen, C

I like Allen, a generally solid defender and sometimes creative winger but, like Taylor, I felt he was anonymous in this match. Maybe that’s because he spent a lot of time dropping back to act as a third center back rather than running the wing as we’re used to seeing. Not a poor showing, necessarily, just unremarkable (so of course I’m remarking).

Allen is another of those players who has flashes of potential coupled with more lackluster performances. Against Orlando City, it was lackluster... at best. I mentioned defense was at a premium against a rival, but that has to balance with some kind of attack which is where Allen could have come into play... but he didn't.

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