Three Up, Three Down: Kamal Miller shines in otherwise lackluster Inter Miami team effort against Nashville

The budding Inter Miami-Nashville rivalry is becoming must-watch TV with coaches Tata Martino and Gary Smith the stars. Smith “won” Wednesday, holding La Rosanegra scoreless at DRV PNK Stadium.

Inter Miami defender Kamal Miller (31) slide tackles the ball away from Nashville’s Fafa Picault in the team’s 0-0 draw Wednesday.
Inter Miami defender Kamal Miller (31) slide tackles the ball away from Nashville’s Fafa Picault in the team’s 0-0 draw Wednesday. | Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
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Miami and Nashville played to a 0-0 draw, the first time in the Messi Era that the Herons weren’t ultimately victorious (their penalty-shootout wins technically are considered draws). It deprived them of two precious points in their quest to catch a playoff spot. And it offered the rest of the league a blueprint for how to play Inter Miami going forward.

"They sat back with nine or 10 guys at a time, pretty frustrating, but we have to get used to it... That’s probably what most teams are going to do against us now and try to hit us on the counter. "
Kamal Miller, IMCF defender

Center back Kamal Miller — spoiler alert, Matt, he’s my man of the match — had this to say (from the Miami Herald):

“They sat back with nine or 10 guys at a time, pretty frustrating, but we have to get used to it. It’s the first time a team did that to us so blatantly.... That’s probably what most teams are going to do against us now and try to hit us on the counter. We have to come up with more ways as a team to break the opponent down when they’re sitting on the low block and move the ball faster and not just depend on Leo.”

Wisdom from the big guy. (Doesn’t he look like Mark Curry from the ‘90s sitcom “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper”?)

Anyway, after each match, we share our first-blush takes on which three Inter Miami players were the most — and least — impactful.