Inter Miami suffered their first competitive defeat of the new season on Thursday: Messi’s disappointing starting lineup comeback was a 1-0 defeat in Los Angeles in the Champions Cup quarter-final first leg.
If Cengiz Ünder and world champion Lloris had to deal with Messi, Suarez, Busquets and Jordi Alba, a few years ago it could well have been in the Champions League. On Thursday (CEST), however, the well-known European professionals faced off in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final first leg – surprisingly with the better end for Los Angeles FC.
In a first half of a modest standard, Messi, making his comeback in the starting lineup, had the best chances with two free kicks, but missed them in minutes 17 and 37. After the break, the home side struck the decisive blow: Delgado found Ordaz in front of the penalty area, who left Busquets standing and scored with his right foot into the bottom right corner (57′).
Messi and his strike partner Suarez, who both played the full game, had no answer to this – Lloris in the LAFC goal kept his clean sheet. Messi was disappointing compared to last Sunday, when the eight-time World Player of the Year scored just two minutes after coming on.
“We didn’t have the best of nights tonight, but it’s the first leg and we have the next game next week. I believe that we can do the right things to get through the quarterfinals and into the semi-finals,” said Miami head coach Javier Mascherano. “I think that we can turn the tide of the game with our fans in our stadium and turn things around. I have no doubt about that.”
Ahead of the second leg in Miami next Thursday (2pm ET), Messi & Co., who top the MLS Eastern Conference after five games, face Toronto in the league at home on Monday.
