Union Takeaways: Julián Carranza delivered at both ends of the field vs. Inter Miami

Here are our takeaways from the Union’s 4-1 win over Inter Miami on Saturday, in front of 19,535 fans at Subaru Park.

Julián Carranza. He had the Union’s second goal of the night, and forced Miami’s David Ruiz into conceding an own goal that finished the scoring. But the most famous Argentina native on the field contributed to more than just the attack.

In his latest game against his old team, Carranza also had six defensive recoveries and one interception, won seven of the 15 duels he contested, and completed 22 of 27 passes.

“Who needs Messi? We’ve got Carranza!” the fans in the River End stands sang at the end of the game, a great bit of humor to cap off the Union’s first victory since June 3.

» READ MORE: Rising star Julián Carranza continues to be the Union’s gain and Inter Miami’s loss

3: The number of shots on goal by the Union. They all went in the net. Miami outshot the Union 9-8, but the Union won the expected-goals metric by 1.06 to 0.89. When you score four goals on a 1.06 xG sum, that’s a strong outing.

69: Miami’s percentage of possession. That’s a lot, but the Herons rarely looked like they’d do much with it. Union goalkeeper Joe Bendik was beaten by a redirection early in the second half and got bailed out by teammates on a scramble late in the game, but otherwise only had to make one save.

“I don’t think we played our best soccer — not even close. … I’m complaining [about] a 4-1 win. I think that’s the standard and the feelings that I have for this group. There’s too much quality in that locker room to have some of the mistakes that we had in the game.”

— Union manager Jim Curtin’s assessment of his team’s performance.

“Never? I think that’s the best answer. I can’t remember. So, I think never.”

— Leon Flach after being asked if he had ever scored a goal from outside the 18-yard box before Saturday.

“I think today was the best example that I just try to do my stuff here, and then the rest is also coming. I mean, if you do good somewhere, then [there is] some speculation, blah, blah, blah. But in the end, I’m here; I have a great team, great coaches, great staff. And I just enjoy to be here, and I think I’ve showed that over the last couple of weeks.”

— Flach on getting into the spotlight in the wake of reports from Germany that Bundesliga team Werder Bremen is interested in buying him.

» READ MORE: Leon Flach and Julián Carranza lead the Union to a 4-1 rout of Inter Miami

D.C. United 3, FC Cincinnati 0. It comes with the caveat that Cincinnati lacked key striker Brandon Vazquez and centerback Matt Miazga, who were with the U.S. men’s national team at the Concacaf Gold Cup.

But even when you have the league’s most points (43) and wins (13) by a considerable distance, a 3-0 loss is still a 3-0 loss. Though the total shots were even at 17-17, D.C. put seven on target to Cincinnati’s two, and scored all three of its goals in the first half.

Then again, perhaps Vazquez would have gotten a few more of those shots on frame.

» READ MORE: Brandon Vazquez’s late goal saves the USMNT in a 1-1 tie with Jamaica in the Gold Cup

The Union head to Atlanta for a rare afternoon kickoff, Sunday at 4:25 p.m. It’s an early game because it’s a national broadcast on Fox29 and Fox Deportes, the Union’s second of three games on traditional TV in the regular season. The Apple streaming broadcast will be available free of charge.