Messi fora, Inter Miami x Orlando 0-0: recapitulação, estudo

Inter Miami got a glimpse Wednesday night of what June and July will look like when Lionel Messi leaves to play for Copa America; and one thing remained clear: The team has trouble scoring and winning without him.

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Messi was not on the Inter Miami game roster for the mid-week road game against Orlando City due to a knee injury, ending a streak of six games in which the Argentine captain played 90-plus minutes. His teammates missed him, and had to settle for a 0-0 tie.

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It was just the second time in 14 games this season that Miami was held scoreless. With Messi in the lineup, the team had scored 19 goals over the previous five games, all victories. With Messi, Inter Miami averages more than two goals per game. Without him, fewer than one goal per game.

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“Not having Leo, it is impossible to achieve the capacity he has to play the final 25 meters of the field,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said. “Inter Miami felt that (tonight) and Barcelona felt that 10 years ago. All of the good things they did in the buildup needed him to find solutions down the field in tight spaces. We were missing that (Wednesday).

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“On the other hand, we were organized, we had good ball circulation…and defensively, we were a solid team, and that is what I take away because we had allowed goals in all but two games and in this game, against a tough rival in a tough place to play we were able to keep it at zero.”

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Although it is not a serious injury, and Messi participated in light training on Monday and Tuesday, he rested and did not travel for the state rivalry game.

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Inter Miami has three games in a week, the next one is coming up at home Saturday against D.C. United, and Copa America starts next month, so it made sense that Messi, approaching his 37^th birthday, would try to avoid fatigue and further injury.

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“Leo had some discomfort, but he trained every day, we did tests and they all came out very good,” Martino said. “Having three games in a week, with him still in some pain, we felt it was prudent for him to sit out this game. The plan is for him to play Saturday, but we will take it day by day. He trained again (Wednesday) and felt good, but we will not take any risk. We will see how he feels on Thursday and Friday.”

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Messi has four Inter Miami games remaining before he joins Argentina for this summer’s Copa America. Argentina is the defending World Cup and Copa America champion, and playing in the Copa is a priority for Messi, as it could be his last.

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He was replaced by recently-signed Paraguayan midfielder Matias Rojas in the starting lineup. Rojas had been impressive in his first few games with the team, scoring a pair of goals in a 6-2 rout of the New York Red Bulls and a spectacular free kick goal against Montreal. But on this night, he was held in check.

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Other Miami starters were: Drake Callender, Tomas Aviles, Nico Freire, Franco Negri, Sergio Busquets, Julian Gressel, Benjamin Cremaschi, Marcelo Weigandt, Luis Suarez and Robert Taylor. Jordi Alba returned after missing three games with a hamstring injury, and came in as a sub for Negri in the 64th minute. Leo Afonso and David Ruiz came in late for Taylor and Cremaschi.

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Callender made two huge first-half saves to keep Miami in the game. He parried a Martin Ojeda shot in the 32^nd minute, which Negri then cleared from a dangerous area. Orlando had another excellent chance to score two minutes later, but Callender made a diving save on Luis Muriel’s shot.

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Callender, who might be called up by the U.S. national team for Copa America, had stressed in the lead up to Wednesday’s game that Miami’s defense needed to do better after managing just two clean sheets all season. They got the shutout they had been hoping for, which Martino said was his most satisfying takeaway from the game.

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“I am pleased with our shutout, some great plays by Drake, and three good chances that we generated,” Martino said. “Considering all that, a tie is ok.”

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Martino dismisses Keylor Navas rumors

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There have been summer transfer rumors circulating about a few big-name keepers linked to Inter Miami, including Costa Rican national team goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain. Martino dismissed those reports.

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“Keylor Navas is an elite goalkeeper with a stellar career, and I want to clarify, because various names have been coming up in the past week, but at this time we are not thinking about that, as there are still two months until the next transfer window opens,” Martino said. “Also, we are not thinking of replacing our keeper; we have a great keeper and a great captain. Unless (Callender) were to get an offer to go overseas that would be better for his future, he would have to evaluate that, but that is not the case so far. We are not looking for a new keeper.”

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Luis Suarez, who leads MLS with 11 goals in 12 games, scored twice in a 5-0 home win over Orlando in early March, but he had a quiet night Wednesday and was subbed out by Leo Campana in the 64th minute.

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Miami remains atop the MLS Supporters Shield race with 28 points on eight wins, two losses and four ties. The men in pink had won five games in a row heading into Wednesday’s match.

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Orlando City is 10^th place in the Eastern Conference with three wins, five losses and four ties. Orlando has only one win in its first seven home games this season.

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Upcoming schedule for Messi, Inter Miami, Copa America

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If Messi feels up to it, the plan is for him to play Saturday at home against D.C. United. After that the team plays on the road at Vancouver on May 25 and at home against Atlanta on May 29. There is another home game June 1 against St. Louis, and then the FIFA window opens June 3 when national team players invited to the Copa America will begin reporting to camp. Copa America kicks off June 20 with Argentina vs. Canada in Atlanta and the final is July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

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Esta história foi publicada originalmente 15 de maio de 2024, 19h43.