SARASOTA (DA) — Curaçao internationals Jürgen Locadia and Eloy Room played key roles as Miami FC completed its USL Cup group-stage schedule with a 5-0 victory over Sarasota Paradise on Saturday at Premier Sports Campus.
Locadia scored in the second half after helping create Miami’s opening goal. Room protected the advantage at the other end and finished with a clean sheet.
Miami took control in the 16th minute when Locadia drew a foul from Reid Valentine inside the penalty area. Mason Tunbridge converted the penalty to open the scoring.
Gerald Díaz doubled the lead in the 28th minute with a right-footed shot from outside the box following a corner. Arney Rocha then finished Alessandro Milesi’s cross in the 37th to send Miami into halftime ahead 3-0.
Locadia made it 4-0 in the 59th minute, collecting a pass from Rocha and scoring with his left foot from the center of the penalty area. It was his only shot on target, while he also created two chances.
Daltyn Knutson completed the scoring three minutes later, finding the top-left corner after another Miami corner.
Room denied Garrett McLaughlin in the 23rd minute and Brendan Krueger in the 64th to preserve the shutout. Miami held 61.3% of possession and allowed Sarasota only two shots on target.
The victory gave Miami three wins from four Group 7 matches. The club finished second with nine points, three behind group winner Tampa Bay Rowdies, and recorded 11 goals with a plus-6 goal difference.
The seven group winners and one wild-card team advance to the quarterfinals. The wild card goes to the second-place club with the most points, with goals scored serving as the first tiebreaker.