- Inter Miami‘s team had to settle for a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids.
- Messi was included among the replacements for the home match despite having missed almost a month of action.
- LAFC defeated the LA Galaxy in the Los Angeles derby by a score of just 2-1.
On Saturday in Major League Soccer play, Inter Miami’s team had to settle for a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids despite a cameo from Lionel Messi off the bench.
Messi was included among the replacements for the home match despite having missed almost a month of action because of a hamstring ailment. Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba—three of Messi’s old Barcelona teammates—were left off the field by Inter coach Gerard Martino due to the impending return leg on Wednesday.
MLS
The young starting eleven seemed at ease but did not pose much of a danger. But, they gave up shortly before the half when Rapids’ attacker Rafael Navarro skillfully converted a penalty following defender Ryan Sailor’s challenge on Colorado‘s Kevin Cabral in the box.
Messi’s second-half entrance had an instant impact on the match as he connected with Franco Negri’s low cross to fire home.
Messi was still posing a threat, shaking the woodwork from a close angle and putting former Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen to the test. However, Miami was unable to score a third goal and ultimately conceded the equalizer in the 88th minute as Cole Bassett capitalized on a counterattack that Calvin Harris had instructed.
Despite being sad to lose by two points, Messi’s comeback gave Miami some comfort and gave Martino more motivation before the pivotal trip to Monterrey. He thinks that having Leo back will make him feel more confident for the second leg in Monterrey, especially considering the injury.
Due to a contentious penalty given to Denis Bouanga, LAFC defeated the LA Galaxy in the Los Angeles derby by a score of just 2-1. After his second attempt was blocked, Argentine Julian Aude capitalized on the rebound and struck the net to give the Galaxy a one-point lead in the 29th minute.
