Inter Miami Secures Victory with 10 Players While Lionel Messi Observes from the Sidelines

Lionel Messi remained on the bench as a resilient 10-man Inter Miami clinched a 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer on Sunday.

The Argentine superstar was not called upon by coach Javier Mascherano during a match in which Miami spent a significant portion on their heels following goalkeeper Oscar Ustari’s sending off in the 38th minute.

This marked the third consecutive match in which Messi has not participated for Miami. He did not travel to Houston for last week’s 4-1 MLS victory and watched from the sidelines as the team secured a 2-0 triumph over Jamaica’s Cavalier in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Thursday.

Mascherano has stated that he is carefully managing the workload of the 37-year-old World Cup champion. While Messi’s absence has disappointed fans, Miami has not faltered on the pitch.

Charlotte, led by Englishman Dean Smith, former manager of Aston Villa, dominated proceedings throughout the match but struggled to turn their possession advantage into genuine goal-scoring opportunities.

The visitors showcased their threats early on, with Wilfried Zaha, the former Crystal Palace winger, demonstrating his skills on the left side, and Israeli winger Liel Abada’s speed being apparent on the opposite flank.

Miami found it difficult to create chances, with Ashley Westwood controlling play in midfield for the North Carolina side. Trouble ensued when Ustari was issued a straight red card after rushing off his line and taking down Zaha.

Although the teams went into halftime without scoring, it took Miami mere seconds after the interval to find the net with a beautifully crafted goal.

Tadeo Allende back-heeled the ball to Luis Suarez, who deftly chipped it back to Allende. The Argentine then chested it down and expertly slotted it into the bottom corner, marking his fourth goal of the season across all competitions since joining Miami on loan from Spanish club Celta Vigo.

Miami opted to focus on defending their lead, adopting a deep and compact formation that frustrated Charlotte, who struggled to penetrate their defence.

The best chance for the visitors arrived in the 65th minute when Zaha delivered a dangerous cross from the left, but Patrick Agyemang’s glancing header sailed wide of the post.

The crowd expressed their desire for a Messi appearance, but Mascherano chose to make defensive substitutions as the South Florida team maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

No Risks

“To be honest, we had considered bringing Leo on at some point, but with us down to ten men and given his time out, we felt it was wiser to keep him (on the bench) and avoid any risks,” Mascherano explained, without clarifying what potential ‘risks’ were associated with Messi.

While there has not been a definitive indication of injury for Messi, it is understood that the medical staff is wary of a possible muscle ‘overload’ due to the intense start of the season, prompting the coach’s cautious approach.

However, in Messi’s absence, fellow Argentine Allende is quickly becoming a fan favourite, with Mascherano commending him for his goal.

“The brilliance of Tadeo and Luis played a pivotal role; it’s the kind of ingenuity footballers often possess, enabling them to decide a match with a single play,” remarked the former Barcelona and Liverpool midfielder.

Mascherano praised his team’s ability to handle a demanding start to the season with both domestic and CONCACAF responsibilities.

“We demonstrated significant team spirit, and we need to maintain that to keep moving forward together and working hard,” he added.

“It’s a challenge, playing every three to four days. We’re weary, the squad isn’t very deep, and we have a few injuries, but we’re continuing to push on. In football, we can either make excuses or achieve results.”