Lionel Messi’s impressive run in MLS, where he netted two goals in five straight matches, came to an end as Inter Miami fell to FC Cincinnati 3-0 on Wednesday night.
On the opposing team, Cincinnati’s All-Star midfielder Evander set a franchise milestone by scoring in five consecutive games, maintaining his own winning streak.
As Cincinnati celebrated their victory, chants of “MVP” rang out from the TQL Stadium, but they were aimed at Evander, the local star rather than Messi, a World Cup champion.
“We were clearly outplayed today,” stated Miami coach Javier Mascherano after the match. “From the beginning, we struggled with individual battles and perhaps our physical condition is taking a toll, revealing our sacrifices.”
“We did not execute our game plan well from the start. Cincinnati constantly pressured us and we simply lacked freshness and decisiveness,” he added.
Evander’s left-footed shot from inside the box slotted into the bottom corner, extending Cincinnati’s lead early in the second half after Gerardo Valenzuela had already put the home team ahead in the first half.
He netted two goals in the second half, bringing his total to 15 for the MLS regular season.
Miami’s struggle on offense, coupled with Cincinnati’s strong defense, ended Miami’s five-game winning streak and handed them their first regular season defeat since May 18th.
“Of course, I’m concerned about this loss,” Mascherano remarked. “It’s troubling when our opponents outscore us, and they dominated us from start to finish.”
Prior to this match, Messi’s remarkable achievement included scoring two goals in five consecutive games, a league record.
Cincinnati, currently in second place in the Eastern Conference behind the Philadelphia Union, controlled much of the first half’s additional time, relentlessly attacking and attempting shots on goal.
The home team registered seven shots in the first half, four of which found the back of the net, finishing the match with 11 attempts and 6 shots on target.
Defensively, Cincinnati contained Messi and the rest of Miami’s lineup throughout the first half, minimizing their scoring chances.
Messi had two attempts in the first half, but one was deflected by Cincinnati defender Lucas Engel and the other saved by goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Celentano notched two saves, achieving his seventh clean sheet of the season. Miami’s goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, who exited in the first half due to injury, was replaced by Rocco Rios Novo, who made four saves.
“Regarding Oscar’s situation, it’s nothing new,” Mascherano said. “We’ll assess the extent of the injury tomorrow through tests.”
Miami is currently sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, trailing first-place Philadelphia by eight points, with three matches left to play.
Addressing the injuries affecting the team this season, Mascherano acknowledged the grind of the summer schedule, including four matches at the Club World Cup, affecting their overall fitness. “I’m not an expert on injuries, but it’s concerning that we’re experiencing numerous muscle injuries this season,” he expressed. “The intensity of the games has been high, especially recently. However, as injuries have increased and performance has waned, we’ll need to find explanations, improve, and work on avoiding further setbacks.”
Contributions to this report were made by ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano, along with information from Reuters.
Fan Take: This match highlights a pivotal moment in MLS, as it shows both Messi’s vulnerability and Evander’s rising star status, which could elevate the league’s competitiveness. For fans, this not only adds intrigue to the title race but also underscores the unpredictable nature of soccer, which is a key driver of its global appeal.
