Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated return to the pitch couldn’t steer Inter Miami clear of a 1-0 loss against F.C. Cincinnati, ending their playoff ambitions Saturday evening in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Alvaro Barreal, the Argentine forward for Cincinnati, became the standout player of the match, netting a pivotal goal in the 78th minute. Although Messi made his presence known after joining the game in the 55th minute — following a hiatus due to a leg injury since September 20 — Inter Miami’s efforts bore no fruit. The team’s struggles this season are evident, placing them near the Eastern Conference’s tail-end. Contrastingly, F.C. Cincinnati, amassing 68 points from their season, secured the Supporters’ Shield, acknowledging their top-notch performance throughout the league.
Inter Miami’s Woes Continue
Despite dominating the field with a possession percentage of 61.6, Inter Miami failed to translate this into scoring opportunities. In the first half, they narrowly missed goals, with attempts from Tomas Aviles, Josef Martinez, and Benjamin Cremaschi. Messi’s entry injected some energy into Miami’s play, but his free-kick didn’t find the mark just minutes after his entrance. Barreal’s goal for Cincinnati — his fifth this season — took advantage of a rebound from Miami’s goalie, Drake Callender. Despite Messi’s valiant last-minute efforts, Miami couldn’t level the score.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Inter Miami?
Inter Miami’s trajectory has been far from smooth after their Leagues Cup triumph in August. Their season witnessed a downturn, marked by their loss in the U.S. Open Cup final and subsequent elimination from playoff contention. As Messi is set to represent Argentina in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Miami has a challenging path ahead. Their upcoming matches against Charlotte might provide some solace, but the overall outlook remains hazy for the team.
Meanwhile, in other league updates, Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United found themselves out of the playoff race, despite clinching a 2-0 victory over New York City F.C. in their season finale.
