Inter Miami delivered a dominant efficiency towards Sporting Kansas Metropolis, securing a 3-1 victory on the evening and a 4-1 mixture win to guide their place within the Spherical of 16 of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The match, held at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, noticed Lionel Messi produce a second of brilliance with a shocking volleyed objective.
Nonetheless, regardless of the Herons’ triumph, supporters had been fearful by Messi’s second-half substitute. Upon being substituted, the Argentine selected to go on to the locker rooms; he had begun his third recreation in lower than per week. With health considerations at all times lingering across the veteran, hypothesis rapidly arose relating to his situation.
Inter Miami’s head coach, Javier Mascherano, fielded a full-strength lineup that includes Messi and his ex-Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. The match began with the Herons dictating the tempo, and it took simply 19 minutes for Messi to make his mark. After a pinpoint chest management from a Luis Suarez cross, the Argentine celebrity executed a good looking left-footed volley from the sting of the field, sending the stadium into raptures.
The objective was greater than only a beautiful strike—it was a milestone. It marked the a centesimal time Messi and Suarez had mixed for a objective of their careers, with Suarez aiding Messi for the fifty fifth time. Miami tightened their grip on the match with two quickfire objectives in first-half stoppage time. Tadeo Allende struck within the 45’+1 minute after an excellent Alba help, earlier than Suarez himself discovered the web simply two minutes later, making it 3-0 earlier than half-time.
Sporting Kansas Metropolis managed to pull a objective again within the 63rd minute, as Memo Rodríguez unleashed a robust long-range effort previous the Miami goalkeeper. Nevertheless, Miami comfortably noticed out the sport, making certain their development to the subsequent spherical, the place they are going to face Jamaica’s Cavalier SC.
Mascherano addresses considerations over Messi’s health
Regardless of the spectacular victory, a lot of the post-match dialogue centered round Messi’s uncommon resolution to go straight to the locker room after his substitution. Given the congested fixture schedule and the veteran’s age, followers feared the worst. Nevertheless, Mascherano was fast to downplay any damage considerations, explaining that squad administration was the important thing cause behind the substitution.
“What pursuits us is that they are often obtainable for all matches, then if we don’t want them in sure video games, it’s a lot better,” he defined. He emphasised that Messi, Suarez, Busquets, and Alba had all been substituted with their long-term health in thoughts.
“The vital factor is that they perceive the state of affairs, which is for their very own good. If they’re feeling good, we’re going to be stronger. In the long run, it is very important have them for the utmost variety of video games.”
The 40-year-old boss additional highlighted the challenges posed by Inter Miami’s packed schedule, noting the impression of fatigue and journey on the squad. “We performed three video games in six days, we additionally needed to journey to Kansas within the freezing chilly, and we performed with one much less participant towards NYC, which causes extra put on and tear,” he mentioned. “I wish to have all of the gamers obtainable always, but when I’ve the chance to relaxation them, I’ll achieve this.”
The post Did Lionel Messi depart pitch with damage in Inter Miami’s Champions Cup win? Javier Mascherano clears up substitution considerations first appeared on Foot & Soccer.
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Author : footsoccer
Publish date : 2025-02-27 00:01:18
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