MIAMI (July 26, 2025)
Miami’s final Jägermeister Cup group stage match ended in disappointment as they fell 2-1 to South Georgia Tormenta FC at FIU Soccer Stadium. Despite a strong first half and a wonder goal from Kevin Hoyos, the visitors capitalized on defensive errors to mount a comeback and claim all three points. With the defeat, Miami FC are officially out of the USL Jägermeister Cup, closing group play with a 1-1-2 record.
The stakes were high for both sides coming into Saturday night’s clash. Miami FC were seeking a return to form and hoping to recapture the dominance of their early Cup run, while Tormenta needed a regulation win and favorable results elsewhere to push through. The League One side came into the game hungry, knowing a two-goal win could shift the group standings in their favor. The South Florida hosts, on the other hand, were looking to end a rough patch of results and take advantage of home-field momentum to push forward into the next round.
The opening minutes belonged to Miami, whose intensity and fluid play in transition highlighted their intent to strike early. Captain Sebastian Blanco was instrumental in the opening plays, pushing the tempo and finding the first shot of the match. A dangerous volley from Tormenta in the 5th minute tested Miami’s goal for the first time. The defense, including Miami’s newest signing Danco, remained unbothered. Quick transitions and overlapping runs allowed Miami to dictate the pace, and a swift counterattack nearly broke through thanks to Francisco Bonfiglio’s hustle and Blanco’s distribution.
Felipe Rodríguez was the standout of the match, ending the night with 8 saves and producing a string of heroic actions , including a remarkable one-on-one stop in the 15th minute. In front of him, Akinyode shined as a ball-winning anchor in midfield, helping shield the back line and start several counters.
Miami’s control paid off in the 41st minute, when a corner from Blanco found Kevin Hoyos, whose back-turned header looped past the goalkeeper to put Miami ahead 1-0. It was a deserved lead for a side that had shown organization, grit, and attacking intent.
But the second half told a different story. Eager to double their lead, Miami pushed high up the field, leaving dangerous space behind their defense. Tormenta capitalized quickly in the 54th minute when Mason Tunbridge turned inside the box and fired a low shot past Rodríguez at the far post to level the score. Just six minutes later, a turnover in the midfield proved costly. A misplaced pass by Knutson allowed Tormenta to break, and while Rodríguez made another stellar save, Conor Doyle pounced on the rebound to tap in the leading goal in the 60th minute.
From then on, Tormenta controlled the rhythm. Miami struggled with midfield connectivity and their defensive shape was repeatedly tested. A mix of substitutions, including the debut of Alexander Naranjo and promising minutes from Rick Rivera, brought some energy, but the finishing continued to fail them. A set-piece routine in the 75th minute nearly brought the equalizer, but the ball flew across the face of goal untouched. Felipe Rodríguez continued to shine, making a double save in the 80th minute to keep Miami alive, but the breakthrough never came.
Despite a late push and several chances in the dying minutes, Miami FC couldn’t find the net again. Their final possession-heavy stats, 60% possession, 17 shots, and 10 corners, showed attacking ambition but lacked clarity in the final third. With the loss, Miami’s Cup journey comes to a close. The squad will now look ahead to the league campaign, where they’ll need to regroup and rediscover the sharpness that made them Cup contenders just weeks ago.
The SoFlo side look ahead to their midweek match up against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. Kickoff will commence on Tuesday, July 29th at 7:00 PM at Highmark Stadium. For tickets and general information, please visit miamiFC.com/tickets
Article written by Luis Reye
