Inter Miami’s foray into Major League Soccer (MLS) took a sharp downturn with a resounding 4-1 defeat against Minnesota United, marking the heaviest loss Lionel Messi has experienced in his nascent MLS career. Despite Messi’s second-half goal, Miami’s defensive vulnerabilities were ruthlessly exploited, leading to their fourth defeat in five games across all competitions, a period during which they conceded a concerning 14 goals. Coach Javier Mascherano’s tactical approach, influenced by Luis Suarez’s injury and a pre-game migraine suffered by stand-in forward Fafa Picault, involved deploying Messi without a traditional target striker, opting for a fluid five-man midfield in front of him. This setup, however, proved ineffective against Minnesota’s strategic play, which capitalized on transitions and set pieces, precisely the areas where Mascherano anticipated vulnerability. The coach took full responsibility for the loss, acknowledging the team’s failure to execute the game plan and questioning his ability to effectively communicate his vision to the players.
Minnesota’s offensive prowess was evident from the outset. Bongokuhle Hlongwane opened the scoring, capitalizing on a shrewd pass combination between Joaquín Pereyra and Carlos Harvey that dissected Miami’s defense. While Messi sporadically hinted at his brilliance, his efforts were largely neutralized. Minnesota extended their lead just before halftime, exploiting a long throw-in sequence, with Nicolas Romero heading the ball onward for Anthony Markanich to nod home. Although Messi found the net early in the second half, showcasing his signature touch and clinical finishing after receiving a pass from Jordi Alba, Miami’s defensive woes persisted. Minnesota swiftly responded with a headed goal from Tani Oluwaseyi, inadvertently deflected into his own net by Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt. Oluwaseyi then turned provider, setting up Robin Lod for a composed finish, sealing a comprehensive victory for Minnesota.
Elsewhere in MLS, the New York Red Bulls delivered a stunning 7-0 thrashing of the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy, avenging their MLS Cup final defeat last season. The Galaxy’s title defense has crumbled, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the Western Conference without a single victory and a mere three points from twelve games. Deprived of key players like Riqui Puig due to injury, and Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil for other reasons, the Galaxy’s defensive frailties were brutally exposed. Eric Choupo-Moting and Emil Forsberg each bagged a brace for the rampant Red Bulls, with Forsberg’s curling free-kick highlighting the gulf in class between the two sides.
The Philadelphia Union’s hopes of a victory against the Columbus Crew were dashed by a late equalizer. Frankie Westfield’s spectacular strike, his first MLS goal, appeared to have secured the win for the Union. However, Sean Zawadski’s stoppage-time goal salvaged a 2-2 draw for the Crew, preserving their impressive unbeaten away record. This result maintained the Crew’s second-place standing in the Eastern Conference, with the Union in third and Inter Miami occupying the fourth spot. FC Cincinnati retained their lead atop the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over Austin FC.
In other matches, expansion team San Diego Loyal SC continued their impressive inaugural season with a 2-1 victory over St. Louis City SC, thanks to goals from Milan Iloski and Anders Dreyer. Nashville SC maintained their strong campaign, overcoming Charlotte FC 2-1, courtesy of a Hany Mukhtar volley and a powerful strike from Jacob Shaffelburg. These results further shape the MLS landscape, highlighting both the surprising struggles of defending champions and the emergence of new contenders.
The MLS season continues to unfold with its share of dramatic twists and turns. While some teams are exceeding expectations, others are grappling with challenges, injuries, and the pressure to perform. Inter Miami’s struggles underscore the competitive nature of the league, even with the arrival of a global superstar like Lionel Messi. The team’s defensive vulnerabilities remain a significant concern, and Mascherano’s ability to address these issues will be crucial to their hopes of turning their season around. Meanwhile, teams like the New York Red Bulls and FC Cincinnati are demonstrating their title credentials, demonstrating the depth of talent and competitive balance within MLS.
