Foto: X (ex Twitter) @InterMiamiCF.
Lionel Messi He started this Saturday in Inter Miami’s 1-0 defeat against Charlotte on the last date of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States at the Bank of America Stadium.
The goal for Charlotte’s victory was scored by the Colombian Kerwin Vargas 13 minutes into the first half. Enzo Copetti (former Racing Club) from Chaco also appeared in the winning cast.
Back-to-back matches with a goal for @kerwinvargas_ ???? pic.twitter.com/kXGzKlyuGX
— Charlotte FC (@CharlotteFC) October 21, 2023
The world champion with Argentina in Qatar 2022 left behind the discomfort he had in a scar from an old injury on the back of his right leg and returned to play as a starter with the Florida team, something that had not happened since last 21 September, when he retired injured in the 4-0 victory against Toronto.
The Rosario star had already completed the 90 minutes without problems in Argentina’s 2-0 victory, with two goals from him, against Peru, in the South American Qualifiers last Tuesday.
Since his arrival last August, Messi participated in 14 matches: 6 for MLS, 1 for the US Open Cup and 7 for the Leagues Cup, a tournament in which he was champion. In addition, he added 11 goals and 5 assists for the team led by Gerardo “Tata” Martino, also from Rosario.
The ’10’ showed glimpses of his talent. At times he would group rival players together to leave them scattered on the field or they would stop him with a foul.
In the first half, Inter Miami was surpassed by its rival and Lionel, not having the ball, was not fully involved.
Already in the complement the most active “10” was seen. In the first play of the second half, he escaped alone and was one-on-one in front of goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, he defined by chipping the ball to tie the game for his team, but minutes later his goal was disallowed due to offside.
Foto: Red X (ex Twitter).
Near the middle of the complement, Messi took a free kick from the right directly at the goal, which deflected off a defender, off the goalkeeper and hit the crossbar.
But, despite their efforts, Inter could not reach the tie. Defender Tomás Avilés (former Racing Club) also played and forwards Nicolás Stefanelli (former Defensa y Justicia) and Facundo Farias (former Colón de Santa Fe) did not add minutes.
Despite finishing the MLS regular season and not qualifying for the Play Offs, the franchise from the state of Florida will remain active and will go on an international tour in which it will play two friendly matches in Asia.
The first will be on Sunday, November 5 against Qingdao Hainiu and will be played at the newly opened Qingdao Youth National Stadium, with capacity for 50,000 spectators.
On Wednesday the 8th, in the city of Chengdu, Inter Miami will face Chengdu Rongcheng, at the Phoenix Hill Football Stadium, with a capacity of 60,000 people.
After that, if there are no problems, Messi will return to Argentina to train with the team led by coach Lionel Scaloni to play the fifth and sixth rounds of the Qualifiers. First against Uruguay on Thursday the 16th, with a venue to be confirmed, and then against Brazil on Tuesday the 21st, at the Maracaná stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Once these meetings have ended, “10” will start its vacation about which he expressed that “it is the first time that I am going to have many more vacation days in December, during the holidays with peace of mind and with my people.”
Already in February 2024, the friendly between Newell’s, a club of which Messi declares himself a fan, against Inter Miami was confirmed. It would be held on the 17th, but the details still need to be resolved.
2023-10-22 00:47:00
#Messi #closed #MLS #season #Inter #Miami #loss #Charlotte
