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Inter Miami couldn’t win the US Open Cup without their talisman Lionel Messi who is currently battling fitness issues.
Earlier this morning, Inter Miami suffered an unprecedented 2-1 defeat at the hands of Houston Dynamo to miss the opportunity of winning their second title of the season months after winning the Leagues Cup, their first major title in the club’s young history, with the help of Messi.
Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t be second time lucky as Lionel Messi sat in the stands and watched his team lose to Houston Dynamo.
Recall that the 36-year-old Argentine forward missed Miami’s goalless draw at Orlando City on Monday due to an “old injury” he sustained last week against Toronto FC.
The injury forced him to miss the US Open Cup final three days after alongside his former teammate at FC Barcelona, Jordi Alba, who was also not available for Inter Miami due to fitness issues.
Without Messi, goals from Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi gave Houston a 2-0 lead in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, earlier this morning.
In extra time, Miami’s Josef Martinez scored a consolation goal.
Dynamo won the US Open Cup for the second time in five years thanks to three stops by Houston goalie Andrew Tarbell.
Messi has scored 11 goals and given five assists since joining the MLS squad in July after his contract with Paris St. Germain expired.
Update on Lionel Messi’s injury
Lionel Messi watches from the stands as Inter Miami loses the US Open Cup.
After the US Open Cup, Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino said, “It was not prudent for him to play. We couldn’t even consider playing him for a few minutes because we would be taking risks.”
Martino who has coached Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona and Argentina national team added that the main priority for Miami is to see Messi return to full fitness.
The coach added that Messi will “definitely play before the league is over.”
The regular MLS season ends on October 21. The playoffs run from October 25 to December 9.
The post Inter Miami Unable To Win US Open Without Injured Lionel Messi appeared first on Naija News.
