How good is Inter Miami? Lionel Messi’s club erased a 2-0 deficit in the space of two minutes just before halftime, with one goal coming while he was resting on the sidelines.
Messi was held without a score and an assist in his first career match in Canada, missing two free kick opportunities and two late charges into the net in the second half. His streak of eight consecutive games with multiple goal contributions ended, and he lost the MLS scoring lead to his teammate.
More importantly, Messi avoided a significant injury to his famous left foot nearly five weeks before the Copa America – and went the distance in Inter Miami’s 3-2 road win over CF Montreal on Saturday night.
Matias Rojas scored 44 runsth minutes, and Luis Suárez scored to tie the match in first-half extra time, and Benjamin Cremaschi’s goal in the 58thth The minutes helped Inter Miami win its fifth consecutive game for the first time in its four-year franchise history.
“Not being able to finish the first half mentally was heartbreaking,” Montreal coach Laurent Courtois said.
“Yeah, it was a good game. I understand that people are cheering for Messi. “For me as a head coach, it’s hard to hear other players cheering from our stadium when we’re losing.”
Inter Miami vs CF Montreal Highlights
Will Messi play vs Orlando City? Messi not a fan of MLS injury rules
Messi’s availability for Wednesday’s road game against Orlando City and next Saturday’s home game against DC United could be affected. Inter Miami will play three matches in eight days and keeping Messi healthy remains a high priority as he joins Argentina for the Copa America.
Just before halftime, Messi spent several minutes lying on the pitch after being tackled by Montreal’s George Campbell. Messi extended his left foot to control the pass that came his way, but Campbell’s pace took him straight to the 2022 World Cup champion.
Messi went to the sideline after being assessed by trainers. He appeared to be troubled by the two-minute wait to re-enter the game at the next stoppage point, per a new MLS rule implemented this season.
“With this kind of rule,” Messi said as the cameras captured his outrage, “we are going in the wrong direction.”
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino was not asked about Messi’s status after the match, but said the rule change should be reevaluated after Campbell received a yellow card and Messi was called to the sidelines .
“With this rule change, there are situations that need to be reviewed,” Martino said. “For me, the violation was clear. It was a yellow card, and in the end, it was us who lost Leo for two minutes.
A week after making MLS history with five assists and six total goal contributions in a 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls, despite a quiet night from Messi, it wasn’t a bad night at all for Inter Miami.
Luis Suarez leads MLS with 11 goals, Messi remains on 10
Suárez tied the MLS lead with his 11th goal of the season and passed Messi, who entered the match with 10 goals. It was Suarez’s fourth goal in two matches, following a hat-trick last Saturday. He finished the night tied with Real Salt Lake’s Chicho Arango and DC United’s Christian Benteke at the top of the MLS goalscoring list.
With Messi on the sideline a minute earlier, Rojas kicked off the comeback with his own goal, just as he scored twice last week to spark Inter Miami’s comeback from 1-0 down against the Red Bulls. Rojas has scored three goals in three matches since joining Inter Miami.
Messi’s free kick went over the net without enough turn to reach the back of the net. Messi missed a chance in 91scheduled tribe As he charged towards the net, his shot was blocked. He was also offside while trying to score with a right kick in 84th minutes.
Messi’s eight-game streak with multiple goal contributions is second in MLS history, behind only LA Galaxy standout Coby Jones, who had multiple goal contributions in his first nine games in 1998.
Bryce Duke (22′) and Jules-Anthony Villesaint (32′) scored for Montreal, which took an early 2–0 lead, but Dominic Iankov (69′), Joaquin Sosa (74′) and Joel Waterman (95′) Late tries. ‘) Despite a quiet night from Messi, could not find the net.
Benjamin Cremaschi goals: Inter Miami 3, CF Montreal 2
Benjamin Cremaschi didn’t get the first touch he wanted. But he saw his last touch find the back of the net.
Cremaschi’s goal in the 58thth The minute gave Inter Miami a 3–2 lead over Montreal, and signaled three unanswered goals for Messi’s team.
Messi passed to Rojas, who found Cremaschi open in the middle of the field. And a 2-0 deficit has turned into a 3-2 lead for Inter Miami.
Luis Suarez goals: CF Montreal 2, Inter Miami 2
Luis Suarez strikes again after scoring 11th Goal of the season, just before halftime. Just a few minutes ago, Inter Miami was trailing 2-0 in the first half.
A minute after Rojas scored, Suárez equalized Inter Miami with a corner kick.
One more thing: Messi is fine. He has the ball at least twice, and shows no ill effects from the earlier tackle.
Matias Rojas scores a free kick goal: CF Montreal 2, Inter Miami 1
Inter Miami were on the board in the first half, while Messi stood on the sidelines.
Newcomer Matias Rojas scored a free kick in the 44th Minutes to reduce Inter Miami’s deficit. Rojas is in tears as he scores his third goal in two matches. It was only his third match with the club, and his free kick had a similar twist to Messi’s dynamic kick.
Messi escaped injury in the first half: CF Montreal 2, Inter Miami 0
After the injury, Messi got up on his own and went towards the sidelines.
messi lost in 40th Minutes, and he was in considerable pain. He sprained his left knee after colliding with Montreal centerback George Campbell.
Messi moved his left foot forward to control a pass, but was beaten by Campbell, whose momentum sent him past Messi.
Messi lay on the field for several minutes before walking off the field. He remained on the sidelines but re-entered in the final minutes of the first half.
Jules-Anthony Wilsaint Goals: CF Montreal 2, Inter Miami 0
Montreal’s Jules-Anthony Villesaint delivered a right boot past the outstretched reach of Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender in the 32nd.Ra minutes.
And Inter Miami is trailing 2-0 in the first half in Canada.
Wilsaint, who assisted on Duke’s goal early in the match, is a 21-year-old forward who grew up in Montreal. Now, they will always remember the memory of Messi scoring against Inter Miami.
Bryce Duke goals: CF Montreal 1, Inter Miami 0
Well, Inter Miami lost early once again for the sixth consecutive MLS game.
Bryce Duke beat Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender with his left boot to give Montreal a 1-0 lead at the 22.Ra minutes.
Messi misses a free kick: Inter Miami 0, CF Montreal 0
Messi’s free kick was on the turn, but too high over the net in the 18th minutes.
Messi hit a defender with a crosser like he was Allen Iverson, and tripped over the defender’s foot, receiving a favorable call for a free kick by the referee.
Fans in Montreal will have to wait for Messi to get another chance to shine.
Montreal missed two early chances: Inter Miami 0, CF Montreal 0
A Montreal free kick went over the net, while a corner kick was cleared by Inter Miami’s Marcelo Weigandt in the first 10 minutes.
Therefore, Inter Miami has avoided going 1-0 down like in three of the last four matches.
Inter Miami vs CF Montreal Match Ongoing: Inter Miami 0, CF Montreal 0
The crowd went wild after Messi’s first touch in the very first minute. Messi also had an early turn-footed pass that found Julian Gressel, whose shot on goal was blocked in the third minute.
How to watch CF Montreal vs Inter Miami live stream
Will Inter Miami fall behind 1-0 early? Keep an eye on this:
There are a few things to keep an eye on before Inter Miami and Montreal kick off: Messi’s team has gone 1-0 down in the beginning of its last four games. Three of these matches were lost in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Nevertheless, Inter Miami has won every game.
Will Messi play in Montreal?
Yes, Messi is in Inter Miami’s starting lineup for tonight’s Montreal match.
Messi arrives for Inter Miami Montreal game
Messi’s fans were present in full force upon his stadium arrival for tonight’s game.
Montreal fans welcome Messi outside the team hotel
Messi and Inter Miami were greeted by fans as they arrived in Montreal late Friday night.
Saturday’s game is the first of three Inter Miami matches in Canada this season, with the second coming later this month. Messi and Inter Miami will play in Vancouver on May 25 and a match in Toronto on October 5 to end the season.
Inter Miami looks for revenge vs. Montreal
Inter Miami also has a chance to extend their lead in the MLS Eastern Conference and get revenge on the team that defeated them earlier this season for the second consecutive week. Montreal defeated Inter Miami 3–2 on March 10, a match Messi did not play due to a calf injury.
Messi celebrates after becoming the first player to record five assists and six goal contributions in a match during Inter Miami’s emphatic 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday, to avenge a 4-0 deficit The best coming out of the MLS game. Loss early this season.
Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule
The Montreal match starts Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday away to Inter Miami. The next five games are Messi’s last with Inter Miami before joining Argentina for the Copa America this summer.
May 15: Inter Miami, Orlando City, 7:30 pm ET
