Messi is back! Scores equalizer off bench, but Inter Miami settles for 2-2 tie vs. Colorado
Lionel Messi, playing his first game in nearly a month, showed no signs of rust, scoring an equalizing goal for Inter Miami 13 minutes after entering the game against the Colorado Rapids Saturday night. Minutes later, he helped set up a go-ahead goal for Leo Afonso.
But the Messi magic was not enough.
A defensive lapse in the 88th minute led to a goal by Colorado’s Cole Bassett and Messi and his teammates had to settle for a 2-2 tie.
Pink fireworks filled the sky over Chase Stadium as the near-sellout crowd, which included Puerto Rican rapper/singer Daddy Yankee, went wild when Messi scored his goal -- his fourth MLS goal this season and sixth overall. More than 20,000 fans, most in Messi’s pink No. 10 shirts began chanting “Messi! Messi!” when the Argentine star began warming up at the end of the first half.
When he entered the game at the start of the second half, he electrified the stadium and the decibel level rose to a whole new level, as did the level of play. And when he scored, off a perfect cross from fellow Argentine Franco Negri, it was complete bedlam. Late in the game, two overzealous fans ran onto the field and had to be removed by security guards.
Messi not only scored, he made everyone around him better.
Minutes after his goal, he got the ball to David Ruiz, who sent in a cross to Afonso for the go-ahead goal; and just like that Inter Miami took a 2-1 lead over the Rapids in the 60th minute.
“What Leo did is what he always does, how he affects our team, all his teammates, the fans, and the most important thing is he felt comfortable, he felt good, he felt loose, and that’s why it’s a shame to have to give up two points,” said Inter Miami coach Tata Martino.
The coach was dismayed that the team gave up the tying goal so late in the game, which has been a team weakness. Colorado scored its first goal in the closing minutes of the first half, when Miami center back Ryan Sailor brought down Colorado winger Kevin Cabral in the box for a penalty. Striker Rafael Navarro converted the PK.
Miami dropped to third place in the Eastern Conference standings with 12 points in eight games (three wins, two losses, three ties), behind New York Red Bulls with 14 points in seven games and Philadelphia with 12 points in six games.
Costly late-game errors continue
“We continue to commit errors that make us leave points in our wake,” Martino said. “Winning a game 2-1 in the 87th minute, and for them to score on a counterattack is not normal. Not having a good reading of the game, of the moment. Not having people in front of the attacker..it definitely cost us.”
Messi returned to the active roster Saturday after missing four games in a row, but he was on the bench for the start of the home game against Colorado Rapids, along with his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
Martino benched most of his regular starting lineup for the league game, which is sandwiched between the two legs of the Champions Cup quarterfinal series against Mexican club Monterrey. Miami lost the first game 2-1 on Wednesday and the teams meet again Wednesday in Monterrey.
Messi had not played since March 13 due to a hamstring strain. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner missed three league games, two Argentina national team friendlies and the first leg of Monterrey Champions Cup series.
Martino said the plan was to have Messi play limited minutes against Colorado if he felt up to it.
“We know it was a risk for him to play the first game against Monterrey (Wednesday),” Martino said. “We knew, well we planned, because there are variables, that he would play some minutes today. We thought 30-45 minutes. He felt good. This helps us to arrive at the game (against Monterrey) next Wednesday with more confidence regarding his injury.”
Messi had scored three goals in three matches to start the regular season. Suarez has seven goals overall, five assists, and five MLS goals, including Miami’s only goal in a 1-1 tie with New York City FC last week. Suarez on Friday was named MLS Player of the Month for February/March. Suarez remained on the bench against Colorado, taking a needed rest.
Young players asked to step up
Colorado coach Chris Armas said he was planning for all scenarios against a Miami team that has had radically different lineups. On Saturday, the Miami starters were: Drake Callender, Tomas Aviles, Ryan Sailor, Noah Allen, Franco Negri, Julian Gressel, David Ruiz, Lawson Sunderland, Leo Campana, Shanyder Borgelin, and Leo Afonso.
Miami was missing Robert Taylor, who strained a hamstring and is expected to miss 10 days. By the end of the game , Busquets, Alba, and Marcelo Weigandt had come on as subs.
Inter Miami’s starting lineup on Saturday including at least five players who make less than $100,000 per year. Martino said the team’s inexperience has hurt at key moments this season.
“Experience is something you can’t buy,” he said. “That comes from what you learn from all the games you play. That’s why we tried to put together a roster that we were not able to enjoy tonight, to have players with more international experience, understanding what kind of games you are going to play, players who commit fewer errors.
“But we have no choice because we have a lot of injuries. We used a completely different roster to start tonight. We hoped to stay even the first half and then have the second half in our favor, and that’s what happened. But… that bad play at the end is what hurt us.”
Martino downplays Monterrey “telenovela”
Messi returned to the roster amid a controversy involving the Argentine star and Mexican club Monterrey, Miami’s quarterfinal opponent in the Champions Cup.
Monterrey filed a formal complaint with CONCACAF against Inter Miami on Thursday regarding a heated verbal exchange between Messi and Monterrey coach Fernando “Tano” Ortiz in a Chase Stadium hallway after Inter Miami’s loss on Wednesday night.
The complaint also mentions Suarez and Alba, who supported Messi in the dispute, according to Mexican media reports and reports by tournament rights-holders TUDN and Fox Sports journalist Fernando Schwartz.
Monterrey is seeking sanctions against the team and the players involved and would like a resolution before the second and decisive leg of the two-game series April 10 in Monterrey.
Martino would not comment on the off-field clash. Asked if Inter Miami would be seeking revenge, the coach replied: “No, no revenge. This has nothing to do with … I am not interested in all that. If we win, we win. If we lose, we come home and focus on the league. All the rest, the telenovela, that is not our focus.”
Messi may start vs. Monterrey Wednesday
He said hopes Messi will be able to start that game.
“The idea is for Messi to start,” he said. “He played 45 minutes tonight, we know how difficult the next game will be. The most important thing is he came back, he felt good, he scored.”
The argument with the Monterrey coach was apparently fueled by an Ortiz interview in the days leading to Wednesday’s game suggesting that the officiating could be biased in favor of Inter Miami because Messi is on the team and he drives business.
“Everything that surrounds Messi can lead to sporting and non-sporting decisions”, the Monterrey coach said.
Asked if he thought his club would be at a disadvantage, he said: “Obviously, I don’t know if it would harm us, but we all know sports is business and the business is not about us. In terms of things on the field we are going to do what we must do to win. Afterwards, I can’t handle other things.”
As it turned out, Inter Miami had a player ejected with a red card and had six players issued yellow cards while Monterrey had three players get yellow cards.
According to TUDN and the Fox Sports report, Messi, Suarez, Alba and Martino approached referee Walter Lopez after the game to question some calls, particularly the second yellow card and expulsion of Miami midfielder David Ruiz. Both Monterrey goals were scored with Miami down a man.
After protesting to the referee, Messi, Suarez and Alba found themselves in close quarters with Ortiz, and an argument erupted.
