Good, Bad & Ugly: Berterame injury overshadows Casemiro debut, Inter Miami win | OneFootball

In the 69th minute of a scoreless tie between Inter Miami and CF Montréal at Stade Saputo, Herons' striker Germán Berterame -- known for his tireless effort -- attacked a cross on a corner kick from the right side of Miami's goal. He leaped into the air with Montréal defenders Daniel Pereira and Efrain Morales to challenge for a header and came down heavily on his head and back after the aerial collision.

It is not clear what injury or injuries Berterame suffered, but he appeared to be unresponsive and possibly seizing on the field. Players from both teams began frantically gesturing for medical help, and Stade Saputo fell eerily silent. Ten minutes later he was moved by stretcher into an ambulance and transported to the hospital. No other information is available at this writing.

Athlon Sports posted this report about the incident.

It's cliched to say that such incidents remind us of our mortality, and how sports pale in comparison, so I won't. But for that 10 minutes, I was numb and I was scared and I prayed steadily for Berterame's health and safety. For minutes after play resumed, I couldn't concentrate. Make of that what you will.

GOOD -- Suárez. The rejuvenated striker chipped a penalty kick lightly into the net in the 81st minute after Montréal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza dived to his right. The panenka was the only score in a 1-0 Inter Miami victory, its sixth straight, and Suárez' sixth goal in the last three matches. The penalty had been called during Miami corner on which Berterame was injured; instead of celebrating, Suárez ran to the sideline and held up Berterame's No. 19 jersey.

GOOD 2. Casemiro. After weeks of speculation and wrangling, and an ongoing MLS investigation for tampering, Casemiro made his first appearance for Inter Miami. Despite not having trained with the team, the 34-year-old Brazilian midfield legend played 104 minutes with his trademark gritty defense, pinpoint accurate progressive passing and ability to control the game's pace. According to FotMob, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United standout had 76 touches and completed 89 percent of his passes (57/64). He earned a 7.2 player rating of a possible 10.

GOOD 3. Rocco Blocco. Rocco Ríos Novo earned his second straight start and had the match's best FotMob player rating, 8.7. He recorded just two saves, but had 15 recoveries, a clearance, and two high claims, and he completed 73 percent of his passes (24/33). The clean sheet was just Inter Miami's fourth in 17 league matches this year.

BAD -- Confusion. The Herons again played shorthanded, and the players' unfamiliarity with one another's habits and styles showed with players confusing defensive assignments, running into the same spaces or failing to make a run a teammate expected on offense. The lapses didn't cost the Herons points, though, and experience is the best teacher. Interim coach Guillermo Hoyos is building his team's confidence and cohesion while starters Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul recover after playing for Argentina in the World Cup and Gonzalo Luján recovers from injury.

UGLY -- Berterame's injury. It was an accident; neither Pereira nor Morales showed any ill intent. Athletes understand and accept that their profession involves greater than normal risks, but that doesn't make injuries any less painful or frightening. If you are a believer, please pray for Berterame; if you are not, please think of him and hope for his recovery.

Inter Miami improved to 11 wins, 2 losses and 4 draws. The Herons' 37 points is just two behind Supporters' Shield leaders Nashville SC (12-2-3, 39 pts.), which lost 0-1 Saturday to Orlando City. Montréal fell to 4-10-3 for15 points.Next up for Las Garzas is a home match against Columbus Crew (5-8-4, 19 pts.) on Saturday, Aug. 1.