Inter Miami CF extended their drive up the MLS Eastern Conference standings in quest of a postseason berth with a tight 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew on Saturday evening at DRV PNK Stadium. Miami won for the fourth time in five games, extending their unbeaten streak to five games and winning their fifth straight at home. In the East standings, they are presently two points behind seventh-placed D.C. United. Columbus has slipped to 10th position after losing back-to-back games, extending their losing run away from Lower.com. The field now has five games.

Just after the 15-minute mark, Miami seized the lead when Gonzalo Higuain pounced on a bad Columbus turnover and chipped it home for a 1-0 lead. Both teams had chances to score in the first half, but the game stayed deadlocked at halftime, according to referee Alan Kelly.

In the second half, Columbus came into the game, looking for an equalizer to give them their first non-losing away results in a long time. With fewer than 10 minutes remaining, they had a great chance to get back on equal terms but were denied by a lunging Nick Marsman, who kept the clean sheet. In stoppage time, Marsman was called upon again, and he passed yet another test by blocking a laser blast from Luis Diaz. leaving the Crew unable to score, and leaving Miami with its third clean sheet in as many games.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Hannah DiLorenzo]