CLUB INTERNACIONAL DE FUTBOL MIAMI v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders fly across the continent to play a free-spending Inter Miami club that we just recently embarrassed in the Leagues Cup Final via a 3:0 humbling of the Barcelona reunion tour based side. Sooooo, hornets nest whacked with cricket bat…check.

What: MLS league match, Club Internacional de Futbol Miami v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: 55th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

When: 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Tuesday 16 September 2025 CE.

At Stake: Points in the league. Sounders are currently in 12th place in the league table on 45 points with six matches left to play (maximum potential of 18 points), 12 points adrift of leaders Philadelphia. Although there is a mathematical chance to win the MLS league championship, the prospects are highly unlikely with the window rapidly closing. We would have to win out, and the top five clubs (PHI, SD, CIN, MIN, and CLT) would have to experience a shocking collapse for us to have any chance at all. Silver lining: We’re going to qualify for MLS Cup, barring calamity, and once we get through the nonsense of the stupid best-of-three second round is over, I’d say our chances are decent of making a fine run of it. As far as advancing our qualifying position, the maths go like this: Sounders can make a maximum of 63 points. San Diego, currently in the W1 slot are on 56 points with four matches to play. Minnesota United currently at W2 have 54 points with four matches to play. Vancouver Whitecaps currently at W3 have 52 points with six matches left to play.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV and Apple TV+.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.

Well. The Gaffer took a gamble on Sat and ran out our first-choice players to get the three points to hopefully advance our seeding for MLS Cup. This despite knowing we’d have to face Miami away three days after. So that’s a which players will play in which match knowing that it’s not prudent to play two matches so close together because of the biology and physics of muscle recovery, and the fact that most of our core is close to or over 30 years of age.

The gamble didna pay off, as we conceded a late equaliser to Yamane on 87 minutes. That cost us two points in the standings. Player fatigue will be ignored, of course, and I expect to see essentially the same selection, more or less (maybe Morris, Rusnak, and Nouhou will be in the team), as the one that lined up at Royal Brougham Park on Sat.

We’re about to find out how effective the cryo chamber and ice baths are in terms of aiding recovery. Is it settled science or hope and chicanery? Stay tuned.

Although the results of league matches aren’t critical at this stage, our form and execution need to be ramped up to cup football levels again. There are six matches to get that all fixed up on the training ground, so there’s no reason for alarm. That said, it is a bit disconcerting to knock the Barca reunion tour directly on their collective arses for a cup victory to be directly followed by struggling against a side with nearly half the team unavailable for selection. Don’t shoot the messenger…or anyone, don’t shoot anyone.

Sounders. Inter Miami. Who gets the points? If you’re headed to Florida to see this …Christ sakes, you’re braver than I. Be careful and look after yourselves. Tie your scarves proper, and be mindful that many of the locals are rather disturbingly well-armed and not necessarily inclined towards restraint. Then again, that describes parts of Washington state as well. Here in The Evergreen, we can only look on via the telly, and link up with our mates at the pub, flats, houses, and sometimes boats and ships.

Sounders football under the Tuesday night lights of Fort Lauderdale. Saints preserve us all. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

From this distance it seems so peaceful and serene.

The Good News

Still haven’t been defeated since 16 August. Current form is not peak, but is holding with Sounders unbeaten in their last five matches (3-2-0). In stark contrast, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for Miami who are 2-1-2 over the same stretch of time.

Morris got into the match as a late substitute and had a pretty decent impact. Rusnak played about the last half-hour, and it’s good to see he’s fit enough to be back on the pitch. So as a squad we’re getting healthier, which should help us get the best qualifying position for MLS Cup possible, and also be a hedge against potential injuries in the run-up to the Cup.

We’ve beaten this lot before. Why not again?

Musovski is really starting to look the part of a first-choice centre-forward. Not just his goal-scoring, but his passing skills and willingness to create space for runners was on display Saturday night.

The Bad News

Sounders away form has not been particularly good this season at a record of 6-4-7. We did win away at Avalon Boulevard when we defeated LA Galaxy in the Semi-Finals of Leagues Cup. Tuesday night’s match in Fort Lauderdale will be our first away match since then. In sharp contrast Inter Miami play extremely well at home, having lost only three times in 23 matches (14-6-3, including two matches in Club World Cup played at Miami Gardens).

We embarrassed this lot in the Leagues Cup Final. I’m certain they haven’t forgotten. I expect something less than a warm welcome when our Boys in Green run onto the pitch in Fort Lauderdale.

If Florida’s ICE contingent could have its awful way, they’d probably like to deport the bulk of our squad despite the legality of the visas issued granting them the right to live and work in America. But that couldn’t really happen. Could it? No one would dare to ignore the rule of law in this country…right? [sarcasm]

The Side I Would Select

For me no one would play who played 60 minutes or more on Saturday night, excepting the goalkeeper and younger players who can better withstand the strain of two matches so close together.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Kim

RCH    Bell

RB     Kossa-Rienzi

LDM    Leyva

RDM   Brunell

LF     Morris

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Minoungou

CF     De Rosario

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

I’d expect the same lot that ran out on Sat, minus maybe one or two players.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     Morris

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Ferreira

CF     Musovski

Intangibles

Officiating.

At present (7:39 p.m. PDT, 15 September) the PRO Referees website had not listed the Referee assignment for Tuesday night’s match in Fort Lauderdale.

Hostile environment?

We embarrassed some players that won a lot of high-level trophies in European football. I predict they will use extremely cynical tactics to give us a thrashing in kind. Miami will be highly motivated to give us a thorough kicking.

Inter made a shit tonne of money on transfers.

Miami made €21.56M in transfer fees on the players they sold this season.

We’re being outspent.

SEA 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid: €1.45M

MIA 2025 disclosed transfer fees paid: €9.43M

General notes on personnel

Miami transfers IN:

Picault (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) free

Allende (Celta Vigo) loan

Ustari (Audax Italiano) undisclosed

Lujan (San Lorenzo) €775,000

Rios Novo (Lanus) loan

Segovia (Casa Pia) €2.5M

Falcon (Colo Colo) €1.95M

Baltasar Rodriguez (Racing Club) loan

Obando (Barcelona SC) loan

Yarbrough (San Jose) free

De Paul (Atletico Madrid) loan

Silvetti (Newell’s Old Boys) €4.2M

Miami transfers OUT:

Freire (UNAM Pumas) end of loan

Jensen (Union Omaha) free

Kryvtsov - released

Negri (San Diego FC) expansion draft

Rojas (River Plate) free

Sunderland (Dordrecht) free

Valencia - released

Gomez (Brighton & Hove Albion) €13M

dos Santos (San Diego FC) €95,000

Campana (New England Revolution) €2.4M

Emerson Rodriguez (Ludogorets Razgrad) €1.11M

Farias (Estudiantes) €4.34M

Taylor (Austin FC) €615,000

Gressel (Minnesota United FC) free

Martinez (River Plate) end of loan

Afonso (Atlanta United FC) €190,000

Redondo (Elche) €2.15M

Callender (Charlotte FC) €645,000

Comparison against common opponents

MIA 1:0 CLT

CLT 3:0 MIA 

SEA 2:2 CLT

(against CLT: SEA 0-1-0 0, MIA 1-0-1 -2) even

LAFC 1:0 MIA CCC

MIA 3:1 LAFC CCC

SEA 5:2 LAFC

LAFC 4:0 SEA

(against LAFC: SEA 1-0-1 -1, MIA 1-0-1 +1) marginal edge MIA

HOU 1:4 MIA

SEA 0:0 HOU

HOU 1:3 SEA

(against HOU: SEA 1-1-0 +2, MIA 1-0-0 +3) even

SJ 3:3 MIA

SJ 1:1 SEA

SEA 3:2 SJ

(against SJ: SEA 1-1-0 +1, MIA 0-1-0 0) edge SEA

MIA 3:4 DAL

DAL 0:1 SEA

SEA 1:0 DAL

(against DAL: SEA 2-0-0 +2, MIA 0-0-1 -1) decisive edge SEA

MIA 2:1 NSH

SEA 3:0 NSH

(against NSH: SEA 1-0-0 +3, MIA 1-0-0 +1) marginal edge SEA

MIN 1:0 SEA

MIN 4:1 MIA

SEA 2:3 MIN

(against MIN: SEA 0-0-2 -2, MIA 0-0-1 -3) marginal edge SEA

VAN 2:0 MIA CCC

MIA 1:3 VAN CCC

VAN 3:0 SEA

(against VAN: SEA 0-0-1 -3, MIA 0-0-2 -4) marginal edge SEA

CLB 0:1 MIA

MIA 5:1 CLB

SEA 1:1 CLB

(against CLB: SEA 0-1-0 0, MIA 2-0-0 +5) decisive edge MIA

SKC 0:1 MIA CCC

MIA 3:1 SKC CCC

SKC 2:3 SEA

SEA 5:2 SKC

(against SKC: SEA 2-0-0 +4, MIA 2-0-0 +3) marginal edge SEA

ATL 1:2 MIA

ATL 2:2 SEA

(against ATL: SEA 0-1-0 0, MIA 1-0-0 +1) edge MIA

MIA 3:1 LAG

LAG 0:4 SEA

LAG 0:2 SEA CCC

(against LAG: SEA 2-0-0 +6, MIA 1-0-0 +2) decisive edge SEA

PSG 4:0 MIA CWC

SEA 0:2 PSG CWC

(against PSG: SEA 0-0-1 -2, MIA 0-0-1 -4) marginal edge SEA

Know Thine Enemy

Miami as they lined up in their 3:0 defeat at Charlotte, on 13 September at Graham Street.

GOALKEEPER

Oscar Ustari, 39

Argentina (2/0)

Notable Clubs: Independiente (63/1), Getafe (41/0), Boca Juniors (12/0), Newell’s Old Boys (36/0), Atlas (42/0), Liverpool Montevideo (18/0), Pachuca (124/0), Audax Italiano (13/0), Inter Miami CF (21/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €100,000

Notes: Developed by Rivadavia and Independiente. Won a Copa Argentina with Boca Juniors. Won a Liga MX title with Pachuca. Won an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF.

DEFENCE

Jordi Alba, 36

Catalonia (5/0) and Spain (93/9)

Notable Clubs: Cornella (15/3), Gimnastic (35/4), Valencia (74/5), Barcelona (313/17), Inter Miami CF (57/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Jordi Alba Ramos. Developed by Hospitalense, Barcelona, Cornella, and Valencia. Won 6x La Liga championships, 5x Copa del Rey, 4x Supercopa de Espana, a UEFA Champions League, and a FIFA World Club Cup with Barcelona. Won a MLS league championships and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF. Won a UEFA European Championship and UEFA Nations League with Spain. Named to UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 2012. Named to UEFA Champions League Team of the Season 2014-15. Named to MLS Best XI 2024.

Maximiliano Falcon, 28

Uruguay

Notable Clubs: Rentistas (32/3), Colo Colo (104/5), Inter Miami CF (18/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Maximiliano Joel Falcon Picart. Developed by Nacional. Won an Uruguayan 2nd division league championship with Rentistas. Won 2x Copa Chile, and 2x Supercopa de Chile with Colo Colo.

Tomas Aviles, 21

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Racing Club (15/0), Inter Miami CF (58/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €5M

Notes: Full name: Tomas Agustin “Toto” Aviles Mancilla. Developed by Boxing Club, CAI, and Racing Club. Won an MLS league championship and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF. Has played at youth levels for Chile (6/0) and Argentina (2/0).

Ian Fray, 23

United States

Notable Clubs: Inter Miami CF (39/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €500,000

Notes: Developed by Weston FC, Miramar United, and Inter Miami CF. Won a Leagues Cup and an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF.

MIDFIELD

Telasco Segovia, 22

Venezuela (13/2)

Notable Clubs: Deportivo Lara (58/6), Sampdoria (1/0), Casa Pia (31/2), Inter Miami CF (26/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Full name: Telasco Jose Segovia Perez. Developed by Deportivo Lara.

Sergio Busquets, 37

Catalonia (8/0) and Spain (143/2)

Notable Clubs: Barcelona (481/11), Inter Miami CF (66/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Full name: Sergio Busquets Burgos. Developed by Badia, Barbera Andalucia, Lleida, Jabac Terrassa, and Barcelona. Won 9x La Liga championships, 7x Copa del Rey, 7x Supercopa de Espana, 3x UEFA Champions League, 3x UEFA Super Cup, and 3x FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona. Won an MLS league championship and a Leagues Cup with Inter Miami CF. Won a FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship with Spain. Named La Liga’s Breakthrough Player 2009. Named to UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament 2012. Named to UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season 2014-15. Named to La Liga Team of the Season 2015-16. Named UEFA Nations League Finals Player of the Tournament 2021.

Yannick Bright, 24

Italy

Notable Clubs: Inter Miami CF (42/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.5M

Notes: Developed by Alcione, US Seguro, and Arconatese. Played his university football for New Hampshire (69/3). Won an MLS league championship with Inter Miami CF.

Rodrigo De Paul, 31

Argentina (80/2)

Notable Clubs: Racing Club (65/6), Valencia (34/1), Udinese (177/33), Atletico Madrid (134/11), Inter Miami CF (4/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €20M

Notes: Developed by Racing Club. Won a FIFA World Cup, 2x Copa America, and a CONMEBOL UEFA Cup of Champions with Argentina. 2x named to Copa America Team of the Tournament. Named to La Liga Team of the Season 2024-25.

FORWARD

Tedeo Allende, 26

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Instituto (24/0), Godoy Cruz (75/13), Celta Vigo (19/7), Inter Miami CF (23/7)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Juventud Unida de Mina Clavero and Instituto.

Lionel Messi, 38

Argentina (194/114)

Notable Clubs: Barcelona (520/474), Paris Saint-Germain (58/22), Inter Miami CF (45/40)

Estimated Transfer Value: €18M

Notes: Developed by Grandoli, Newell’s Old Boys, and Barcelona. To see the incredibly long list of his club, international, and individual honours, click here.

Familiar Faces

Miami defender, Ryan Sailor, played his university football at Washington (49/10).

Squads

Miami from:

Rios Novo, Ustari, Yarbrough, Lujan, Falcon, Fray, Sailor, Hall, Jordi Alba, Allen, Weigandt, Boatwright, Busquets, Bright, De Paul, Segovia, Morales, Messi, Silvetti, Allende.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker-Whiting, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Kim, Kossa-Rienzi, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Brunell, Leyva, Cristian, Joao Paulo, Rusnak, Vargas, de la Vega, De Rosario, Ferreira, Minoungou, Morris, Musovski, Rothrock.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Miami -

OUT: Obando (hamstring), Picault (quadriceps), Rodriguez (hamstring), Ruiz (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Segovia (ankle).

Sounders FC -

OUT: Kent (hamstring), Arriola (knee), Hawkins (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Joao Paulo (knee), de la Vega (knee).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Miami: Aviles will serve a one-match ban and Suarez will be suspended this match, and the next before completing his three-match ban. Segovia and Weigandt are out next match if booked.

Sounders FC: No players suspended. Baker-Whiting and Ragen are out next match if booked.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Forward Danny Musovski was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 33. Musovski hit a goal, and assisted Ferreira on a second goal on Saturday night. Well done, Danny!!!