Miami FC chasing a playoff berth for the first time since 2022, crossed Alligator Alley and claimed a stunning 2-1 road victory over Eastern Conference leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium.
It seems an eternity and increasingly irrelevant that Miami had endured a tumultuous late summer that included the contentious roster-freeze transfer of top goalscorer Jürgen Locadia to Tampa Bay. The Rowdies despite the loss still have a firm grip on silverware with the Players Shield still likely having been won as the campaign wears down, but it was not supposed to be this dramatic toward the end of the regular season based on what we saw early and the depth of this squad.
And we have firm warning signs about the Rowdies strength heading into the postseason, as evidenced by several matches in the last six weeks.