By Nick Lee, Bleacher Brothers Staff Writer & Inter Miami Correspondent
Messi returned from injury to secure the win in the second half, as Inter Miami climbed into first place, displacing Eastern contender Philadelphia Union. Inter boast the best record in MLS after five (5) games, despite playing one less match than Western Conference leader Vancouver Whitecaps.
Inter started the match in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Federico Redondo starting in holding midfield alongside stand-in captain Sergio Busquets. Fafa Picault got his first start after scoring the winning goal late in Miami’s last game. Benjamin Cremaschi started in central attacking midfield in place of Lionel Messi, who began the game on the bench. Robert “Bobby” Taylor returned to the lineup on the right wing.
Coach Javier Mascherano reverted to two holding midfielders ahead of facing the league-leading attack of Philadelphia Union, whose top striker, the Israeli Tai Baribo, had six (6) goals already this season. Philadelphia started the game with a high press, but Inter played calmly out of pressure. The first chance of the match came to Fafa Picault, again demonstrating his ariel ability with a leaping header that clattered off the post in the sixth minute (6’).
Chances were limited through the first twenty minutes, with the most notable action occurring in terms of fouls, with Benjamin Cemaschi picking up a yellow card in the twenty-second minute (22’). Mascherano altered Inter’s formation, allowing right midfielder Taylor and attacking midfielder Cremaschi to rotate, producing almost immediate results.
Miami opened the scoring with a counter attack distributed to the wing via Sergio Busquets. Jordi Alba broke down the left wing, crossing all the way to the far post to Cremaschi. Cremaschi centered back to winger “Bobby” Taylor, who had occupied the central space and stood wide open for a tap-in goal in the twenty-fourth minute (24’) from inside the six-yard box.
The second half started with Lionel Messi warming up to rapturous applause. He entered the match in the fifty-fifth minute (55’), replacing goal-scorer Bobby Taylor, and his presence produced immediate results. Cremaschi moved to the right and Messi took a position up top alongside Suarez as Inter switched to a 4-4-2 formation.
Two minutes later, Luis Suarez received a pass in the center of the pitch from Picault on the break. Suarez laid the ball off to his right, where Messi drifted into the box unmarked. Messi dribbled to his weaker right foot and hammered the ball into the bottom left corner, leaving the keeper no chance and increasing Inter’s lead to 2-0 in the fifty-seventh minute (57’).
Returning from an injured adductor muscle in his hip, Messi looked healthy and continued to show tenacity. Invigorated by the goal, Messi proceeded to participate in the team pressing, winning the ball back with a strong shoulder tackle in the center circle.
Philadelphia got on the board late, hitting Miami on the break and crossing into the box for left winger Daniel Gazdag, who controlled and volleyed home to reduced the deficit in the seventy-ninth minute (79’).
Ian Fray maintained the advantage for his team by blocking a shot inside box as The Union unleashed a flurry of attacks late in the game. Miami keeper Oscar Ustari was injured on the play and replaced by second stringer Drake Callender.
Miami had a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 in the ninety-fifth minute (95’) with Messi burning a defender with a spin move and centering to his wide-open striking counterpart, but Suarez skied the shot. Suarez and Messi would proceed to miss three more chances before the game was finally whistled complete in the one hundredth minute (100’).
Inter finished the game with 19 shots, six on target and 53% possession. After the match, Coach Mascherano stated he was pleased with Messi’s participation as planned. Mascherano claims Messi is fully healthy and, “barring anything weird happening,” he would travel to Los Angeles and play midweek.
Inter Miami’s next game is in the CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarterfinals. The game has been rescheduled for Wednesday 4/2 at 11:30PM EDT, as Inter travel to Los Angeles to face LAFC.
MLS play continues next weekend, with Miami hosting Toronto FC on Sunday 4/6 at 7:00PM.
As a dedicated Inter Miami correspondent, Nick Lee also covers the MLS, the Premier League and Serie A for Bleacher Brothers. He is the host of their new live show and podcast, Welcome to Miami: The Inter Show, which airs every Tuesday at 6PM on YouTube, X, Facebook and Twitch.