Returning Messi scores twice as Inter Miami beats Union 3-1

The Philadelphia Union returned to the pitch Saturday night after a weekend off from game action. Jim Curtin‘s squad had no easy task awaiting them, having to travel to face Supporters Shield front-runner Inter Miami CF and the returning Lionel Messi. Messi had been injured since playing internationally for Argentina, against Colombia, on July 14th, yet Miami has held serve, winning 8 of 9, to manage a seven-point lead on LAFC in the West and an eight-point lead on Cincinnati in the East. They also maintain a game in hand over Los Angeles.

Philadelphia came into the game off a 2-nil road win in New York two Saturdays ago. In that contest, Mikael Uhre struck inside five minutes and Tai Baribo continued his goal-scoring form with another, this one inside the fifteen-minute mark. The victory left them currently sitting in 11th position of the table, just three points back of 8th-place Toronto FC, with D.C. United then Atlanta United FC wedged in between. Philadelphia and Atlanta maintain a game in hand on D.C. and Toronto.

The visitors came out in their familiar 4-4-2, Nathan Harriel returning to the right side of the backline after missing the last game and 18-year-old Andrew Rick drawing the goalkeeping assignment in place of Andre Blake. The Union’s goal-scoring attack has been led by their top two of Tai Baribo and Mikael Uhre and, just like last fixture, Uhre got the boys in blue off to a rousing road start.

48 seconds after they played the opening kickoff, Tata Martino’s eleven found themselves with a throw-in on their right defensive touchline. The initial throw was touched on but Kai Wagner was able to step up and get a foot to it inside the attacking half. The ball popped up, almost making it to the edge of the Herons eighteen before Tomas Aviles tried to head it clear. His header fell right to Uhre centrally 25 yards out. Uhre chested the ball down then faked a right-foot shot, allowing Hector Martinez to fly by as he switched the ball onto his left foot. From the half-circle at the top of the box, Uhre calmly placed his left-footed shot inside the far corner, Drake Callender getting his right hand on the ball but not enough to keep it out.

It was a great start for Philadelphia but they still had to defend against Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and the rest of South Beach stars for 89+ minutes. That task would prove to be too daunting as Messi announced his return in the 26th minute.

Jordi Alba had picked up the ball at midfield and was given way too much space to march down the left-center of the pitch toward the Union defense. His pass was rolled ahead to Suarez who laid off his first touch to Messi on his right. Messi took a touch with his left foot, sucking in Wagner, before pulling the ball back to his right foot behind the passing defender. He picked out the far corner and rolled the ball deftly past the outstretched right hand of Andrew Rick, his strike pure.

The beautiful passing of Miami was on full display four minutes later as Messi snatched the lead for good for the Herons. Miami was patiently waiting to create an opportunity when Federico Redondo played to Messi’s feet inside the defensive diamond on the right side of the pitch. Four quick passes later the ball had been worked over to Alba at the top left corner of the eighteen. Suarez made a run to the near side but couldn’t reach Alba’s rolling ball into the box. Fortunately for the home squad, Suarez’ run pulled the attention of Jakub Glesnes just enough to create space for Messi. The Argentine striker was able to meet the ball central on the pitch (just in front of Jack Elliott coming over) and from twelve yards out, pulled his left-footed shot along the ground. The shot came through Elliott’s legs but Rick wants this one back, his left hand getting to the shot but not being strong enough to keep it out.

Luis Suarez nearly iced the game in the 45th minute, his right foot shot beating Rick to his right but the goal was disallowed after VAR showed Messi receiving the build-up pass coming back from an offside position. The Uruguayan striker would have to wait until the end of the second 45 before finally getting his goal.

The Union’s best chance to level came in the 85th when Sergio Busquets was way too casual with the ball in front of his goal and was dispossessed by Daniel Gazdag. Callender was coming out as Gazdag tried to play off to second-half sub-Samuel Adeniran in front of goal. Unfortunately, due to either a Busquets touch or Gazdag not connecting fully, the pass took forever and made it to Adeniran a second after Callender had scrambled back. Diving across his net, the keeper was able to tighten the angle and smother the ball with his chest.

In stoppage time minute 90+8, Suarez finally found his goal with compliments to Mr. Messi. Messi found himself at the top right corner of the eighteen staring down Jack Elliott. As Messi feigned attacking, all eyes went to him. The feigning caused Danley Jean Jacques to sink down in his box to try and provide support inside for Elliott. By Jacques vacating that space, Luis Suarez was able to perch himself at the top of the box and wait for Messi to tee him up. He hit his strike with the in-step of his right foot, curling it towards the far post and out of reach of a diving Rick’s right hand.

The Union need to get to work quickly (and grab three points) if they want to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The next opportunity comes Wednesday night when they travel up I95 again, a date with NYCFC looming this time. Gametime is 7:30.

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