MIAMI (DA) — Eloy Room made late saves and Jürgen Locadia scored the decisive goal as Miami FC beat Brooklyn FC 3-2 in the USL Championship on Saturday at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
Locadia put Miami ahead 3-1 in the 71st minute, finishing with his left foot from the left side of the six-yard box after Matías Romero set him up on a fast break. The goal proved vital four minutes later, when Stefan Stojanovic scored for Brooklyn to cut Miami’s lead to one.
Room helped protect that lead in the final stages. The Miami goalkeeper saved CJ Olney Jr.’s right-footed shot from outside the box in the first minute of stoppage time, keeping Miami in front before the final whistle.
The result gave Miami its third win of the season and moved the club to 12 points through eight matches. Miami sits fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with a 3-2-3 record and a minus-2 goal difference.
Miami opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Bachir Ndiaye finished from very close range after a Mason Tunbridge cross from a set-piece situation. Brooklyn answered two minutes later through Markus Anderson, who scored from outside the box after a fast break.
Miami regained the lead in the 51st minute on an own goal by Thomas Vancaeyezeele before Locadia added the eventual winner 20 minutes later.
Room was tested early in the second half, saving Abdoulaye Kanté’s shot in the 46th minute before conceding a corner. He later handled the stoppage-time chance from Olney Jr. as Miami closed out the match.
Locadia was active throughout the attack before leaving in stoppage time. He had a shot saved in the 29th minute, set up a Gerald Díaz effort that hit the left post in first-half stoppage time and missed narrowly in the 57th before scoring in the 71st.
Brooklyn, which had more possession at 53.4%, fell to 2-5-1 and remained 11th in the Eastern Conference with seven points. Miami had eight corners to Brooklyn’s five and held on despite Brooklyn’s late pressure.