Inaugural Season in Review: Forwards

By Inter Miami CF

December 30^th, 2020

Inter Miami’s inaugural season was filled with memorable moments as the Club brought first division fútbol back to South Florida for the first time in nearly 20 years. The team fought through unprecedented circumstances to become just the seventh MLS franchise to qualify for the playoffs in its first season. The inaugural class of Inter Miami players helped make the Club’s first season memorable, so we will be reviewing their contributions by position group in this series.

Forwards

Inter Miami’s attacking unit featured players of varied experience in the team’s inaugural season. The group featured a total of five players who received playing time throughout the season, including Juan Agudelo, Julián Carranza, Gonzalo Higuaín, Jerome Kiesewetter and Robbie Robinson.

Higuaín signed as Inter Miami’s third Designated Player on Sept. 18, integrating into the team for the final stretch of the season. The experienced Argentine debuted for the team later that month, marking the first of his nine appearances, all starts, for the team.

Following his arrival, the team made a push to secure a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, becoming just the seventh MLS franchise to do so in its first season. Higuaín proved crucial to the team’s buildup, often finding pockets of space to receive a pass and progress the ball into attacking spaces. His contributions were reflected in many of the underlying numbers, including expected goals (xG) and expected assists (xA). The forward finished the campaign with a team-high 0.58 xG + xA per 90 minutes. He also finished the season with one goal and two assists in his nine appearances.

One standout moment of his season came in a road match against the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 7; Higuaín came to the team’s rescue, smashing a free kick goal into the corner of the net for a 81st minute winner and his first MLS goal.

Carranza was the second signing in Club history, announced alongside the first in Matías Pellegrini, joining on July 26, 2019. The young Argentine was just 19 years old when he arrived in South Florida, leaving Club Atlético Banfield where he had risen through the youth ranks to the senior team. Carranza went on to display the talents that landed him with the Club, including a physical nature and a tireless work rate, often tracking back to make tackles in his own half.

The striker’s season started slowly as he suffered an injury in preseason, but at the MLS is Back Tournament Carranza made his Inter Miami debut. Perhaps the finest moment of his season, however, came in the first match at Inter Miami CF Stadium; Carranza started and netted a brace – with two highlight finishes – in a 3-2 victory over Orlando City SC.

In 2020, Carranza made 17 total appearances, including five starts, and registered two goals in 569 minutes.

Agudelo took a different path to the Club, arriving as an experienced MLS veteran. His experience proved important for the team as he went on to make 15 total appearances, including 10 starts, for the expansion team.

The former New York Red Bulls homegrown was an asset to the team thanks in part to his versatility. Agudelo featured as both a striker and a winger at different points in the season, impressing with his goal scoring instincts regardless of where he lined up. He finished the campaign with three goals, the fourth-most on the team.

Robinson, meanwhile, made his professional debut with Inter Miami in 2020. The rookie was drafted by the Club with the first overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft and immediately made an impact for the team.

Robinson started in the Club’s debut match on the road against LAFC, going on to play the full 90 minutes and showing flashes of his significant potential with his darting runs and strong holdup play. The forward continued to impress in the team’s second match, this time on the road against D.C. United, starting again and this time providing the secondary assist on the team’s first-ever goal.

The rookie continued to show glimpses of a burgeoning player throughout the season, making 12 appearances, including four starts, and playing 426 minutes.

Kieswetter signed for the team in November but didn’t feature frequently. He made two appearances in 2020, both as a substitute. He also appeared on loan for the Club’s USL League One affiliate Fort Lauderdale CF.

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