Luis Nani reminded everyone of his genius with a brilliant winner for Orlando City vs Inter Miami in the Florida derby on Friday night.
MLS has been known as a place for players to go and finish their careers with one final swansong, and some of them take it more seriously than others.
On Friday night, two of Europe’s best known recent exports to the United States were on the mark as Miami hosted their fellow Sunshine State rivals Orlando.
Gonzalo Higuain didn’t start the game but came on in the 61st minute and took just six minutes to make an impact on the game, with a long range finish.
GONZALO. HIGUAIN. 🔥
Just minutes after entering the game, he puts @InterMiamiCF on top 💪f pic.twitter.com/ffHJvatIRy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2021
The former Real Madrid striker was no doubt hoping his goal would end the team’s poor run of form, with Phil Neville’s side having won just one in seven ahead of the game.
However they weren’t ahead for too long as Christopher Mueller equalised just six minutes later, before Nani stole the show.
The 34-year-old winger cut in from the left before curling in a shot from the very edge of the box, past John McCarthy and into the corner of the goal.
Another entry in Nani’s 2021 MLS Highlight Reel ⭐️
(via @OrlandoCitySC)pic.twitter.com/G9OekYfwD7
— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 26, 2021
After the match, Nani praised the fans from both teams, saying, “We know how our fans and Miami fans, they see this game as a derby.
“They were very excited during the game, make a lot of noise, and they pushed us.
“They make the game look beautiful for both sides.
“When I scored the goal, all the emotions came to me and in front of our fans, it was beautiful.”
The winger now has six goals and three assists, including one for Orlando’s equaliser on Friday, in just eight games this season.
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| Nani celebrates his winner. Image: PA Images |
Whilst it was a good night for the former Manchester United winger, it wasn’t good news for another man who used to play out wide for the Premier League side.
Miami owner David Beckham won’t be pleased with his side’s form this season, having only won two of their 10 games so far, the last one being in mid-May.
The team are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference but only four points above bottom of the table Chicago Fire, who have a game in hand.
Nani and his teammates are up to second at the moment, and only two points behind conference leaders New England.
Featured Image Credit: Orlando City