Lionel Messi’s Hopes of MLS Playoff Spot Dashed
October 8, 2023
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Lionel Messi’s debut season in Major League Soccer took an unexpected turn as his Inter Miami team saw their playoff dreams come to an end following a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
The defeat also marked the departure of DC United’s English manager, former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, as the team missed out on securing a spot in the post-season.
Messi, who had been sidelined due to injury, made his return as a substitute in the 55th minute, but Cincinnati, who secured the top seed in the playoffs, clinched victory with a goal from Argentine Alvaro Barreal. Despite having two free-kick opportunities within his range, Messi’s efforts failed to find the target.
Miami head coach Gerardo Martino commented on Messi’s performance, saying, “I could see that he was lacking match fitness. The injury is fine, but he hasn’t had much game time recently. It’s understandable that he might be lacking in rhythm, which is why he played only 32 or 33 minutes.”
With unfavorable results in other matches, Messi’s side found themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, trailing the last playoff spot by seven points with only two games left in the season.
Messi had played just 37 minutes for his club since September 3, having returned with an injury from international duty with Argentina last month.
Without Messi, Miami struggled, paying the price for their successful run to the Leagues Cup title in August, where Messi’s brilliance shone, marking his first trophy with the club since joining in July.
Saturday’s loss followed a 4-1 defeat to Chicago on Wednesday, making it the second consecutive loss for Miami, who have won only once in their last six MLS games. That sole victory came with Messi on the pitch, during the 4-0 win over bottom-ranked Toronto.
After winning the Leagues Cup in August, Miami’s aspirations of adding more silverware this season were dashed. They lost the US Open Cup final to Houston and gradually fell out of contention in the league.
Martino reflected on the season, saying, “Honestly, I expected the season to be the opposite of what happened. My expectations were to build the team, perform well in the Leagues Cup, compete in the US Open Cup, and qualify for the playoffs. But it turned out differently, as often happens in football.”
Despite the setbacks, Martino highlighted their Leagues Cup victory, saying, “From that perspective, we’re happy.”
Miami’s remaining two games are against Charlotte, with the last match scheduled for October 21. It remains to be seen if Messi, who has been called up for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, will feature.
Rooney’s Departure
Following DC United’s 2-0 win against New York City FC, Wayne Rooney’s exit from the club was announced. Rooney expressed his departure as timely, saying, “It’s the right time. I’ve done everything I can to get this club into the playoffs. It’s not a single thing that’s happened. It’s about timing.”
Western Conference Developments
In the Western Conference, the five-time MLS champions Los Angeles Galaxy failed to make the playoffs after a 5-2 defeat to Minnesota United. Finnish striker Teemu Pukki scored four second-half goals for Minnesota.
Austin, who were defeated by Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference final last year, faced another disappointment with a 4-2 loss at home to the champions, ending their hopes of a post-season run. Gabon international Denis Bouanga scored twice for LAFC, solidifying his position as the league’s leading scorer with 19 goals.
US Open Cup winners Houston improved their chances of securing a top-four finish and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a convincing 5-1 victory over Colorado, led by Nelson Quinones, who netted a brace.
