2023-10-08 08:34:00
Despite the return from injury of its star Lionel Messi, Inter Miami was eliminated from the race for the MLS play-offs following a 1-0 defeat on Saturday at home once morest FC Cincinnati. The Argentine number 10 entered in the 55th minute at 0-0 without managing to prevent the solid leader of the Eastern Conference from winning thanks to a goal from Alvaro Barreal (78th).
If successful, Miami might continue to dream of qualifying for the American League play-offs. But the Florida club, penultimate in the East, now finds itself too far (33 pts) from the play-off places two days before the end of the championship.
In the East, DC United appears for the moment in 9th place (40 pts), the last qualifier for the play-offs. The capital club, whose season is over, will not however retain its rank: its pursuers still have one or two matches to play and one of them will inevitably steal the last ticket for the play-offs.
The absence of Messi, for four matches, will have cost Inter Miami dearly, who have not won since September 20 once morest Toronto (4-0), the worst team in MLS. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner returned injured from the international break with Argentina in September and played only 37 minutes once morest Toronto before having to come off. Small consolation, despite everything: the Argentinian is named among the 30 contenders for the title of best MLS player this season with… five matches under his belt.
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