Fans at Chase Stadium were left disappointed as Lionel Messi remained on the bench throughout Inter Miami’s hard-fought 1-0 victory. The Argentine captain was rested by coach Javier Mascherano, a decision that surprised many in attendance.
The match took an early dramatic turn when Miami’s regular goalkeeper, Óscar Ustari, received a red card midway through the first half, reducing the team to 10 men. Despite the setback, Inter Miami held firm and managed to shift the momentum in their favor.
Early in the second half, Tadeo Allende found the back of the net, scoring what turned out to be the decisive goal. The Miami defense stood strong, successfully defending the slender lead until the final whistle.
With this victory, Inter Miami now moves up to second place in the Eastern Conference after three matches. The team’s resilience in the absence of Messi and under numerical disadvantage highlights their growing strength and adaptability this season.
