Tag: inter miami

Inter Miami coach Martino insists Messi isn’t done for the season

Inter Miami has five MLS games left as it looks to push into playoff position

After Lionel Messi missed the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday, Inter Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino insisted that the Argentina superstar would play again this season.

Messi watched on in street clothes as Miami fell 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo, with the visitors scoring two first-half goals and holding on late after the home side grabbed a goal in second-half stoppage time.

The Open Cup final was the third game out of four that Messi has missed, while he was removed before halftime of the only game he played — last week’s win over Toronto FC.

The nature of Messi’s issue isn’t fully clear. Martino has continued to say that the 36-year-old isn’t actually injured, but instead is dealing with “muscular fatigue” and “old scar tissue.”

But when Messi couldn’t even make the bench for a final, it was clear that he is dealing with an issue slightly more serious then mere fatigue.

After the game, however, Martino said that his star player’s season wasn’t over.

“It was not prudent for him to play, not even to consider him for a few minutes because we would have run risks,” Martino said in a press conference.

“And yes, he will surely play before the end of the season.

“We will go match by match defining the situation to see at what point the medical department tells us that he is fit to play without taking risks.”

Inter Miami is still alive for a playoff spot, but is 14th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. With five games to play, Miami is five points back of NYCFC in the ninth and final playoff position in the East.

Though Miami has two games in hand over NYCFC, it still has to leapfrog five teams to move into playoff position.

The Herons’ next game, coincidentally, is against NYCFC on Saturday.

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James Harden had himself a night at the Open Cup final

The NBA star is known to never miss a party, and Wednesday night certainly qualified

James Harden is known to never miss a big party, and Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final between the Houston Dynamo and Inter Miami certainly qualified.

The NBA star is a co-owner of both the Dynamo and the Houston Dash, and he was at DRV PNK Stadium to watch his MLS side take home its first trophy in five years by defeating a Messi-less Inter 2-1.

Harden was sporting an orange Dynamo jersey with a number one and “UNO” nameplate, a mantra he’s adopted meaning “Under No One.”

The (for now) Sixers guard clearly had an excellent time, celebrating wildly as his side scored two first-half goals and hung on late after Miami pulled a goal back in second-half stoppage time.

Harden was seemingly everywhere, whether it was chatting on the sidelines with his fellow owner David Beckham, or on stage after the game alongside American soccer luminaries.

Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s look back at some highlights of Harden’s Big Night Out.

Houston Dynamo stun Inter Miami, sans Messi, in U.S. Open Cup final

Houston bossed a Miami side missing Messi and Alba en route to a trophy

No Lionel Messi? No problem…but only if you’re the Houston Dynamo.

The unfancied club from Texas, who had won just four road matches in all competitions in 2023, claimed a 2-1 victory in the U.S. Open Cup final, knocking off Inter Miami on first half goals from Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi.

The most substantial pregame question likely brought more interest to this U.S. Open Cup final than any recent edition: would Messi return for Miami?

Sadly for Miami fans and neutrals, the answer was no. Messi was left out of Gerardo “Tata” Martino’s gameday squad, apparently due to an ongoing battle with a knock relating to what the club has said was a problem with old scar tissue.

Without Messi or Jordi Alba (also out with an injury), Miami looked tepid in the opening exchanges, and paid for it when Houston took a 24th minute lead. Shortly after Drake Callender made a tremendous double save to keep the scores level, Griffin Dorsey overlapped from right back to powerfully finish off yet another superb attacking move from the Dynamo.

Before Miami could get back to its collective feet, the deficit got worse. Nelson Quiñónes, in the midst of an electric first half, was sliced down by DeAndre Yedlin, leaving referee Jon Freemon no choice but to award a penalty.

Bassi stepped up, firing his 33rd minute spot kick down the middle to stun DRV PNK Stadium.

The Dynamo’s control of proceedings was such that Benja Cremaschi’s 42nd minute shot, sliced well over the bar, was Miami’s first shot attempt of any sort.

Miami needed to make a big change, and Martino came through with a double substitution, moving from a 4-3-3 formation to a diamond 4-4-2. One of those newcomers, Josef Martínez, nearly made the Argentine manager look like a genius, only for his glancing 55th minute header to skip just wide.

The Herons were finally in the game on some level, with Andrew Tarbell finally forced to work with a smart save to deny Cremaschi’s curler on the hour mark.

Houston hung on under pressure though, briefly thinking Quiñónes had broken through with a killer third. The goal was initially given, but Freemon (after a VAR check) reversed the call after replays showed the young Colombian a step offside.

Miami predictably threw the kitchen sink at the Dynamo, but only finally snatched a breakthrough goal in stoppage time. Facundo Farías was given a split-second to size up a pass, and found Martínez to give the Herons a sliver of hope.

Miami made an almighty push in the final seconds, with Callender coming forward and attacking a late corner kick for the home side, but Houston ultimately made a superb first hour count to break a five-year trophy drought.

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U.S. Open Cup final: Messi out for Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo

Messi is not in uniform for Miami in the Open Cup final

Lionel Messi is not available for Inter Miami in Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo.

The Argentine star had been a significant doubt after pulling out of last Wednesday’s rout of Toronto FC. He then did not dress for the Herons’ 1-1 draw with Orlando City this past Sunday.

With a trophy on the line at DRV PNK Stadium, manager Gerardo “Tata” Martino had said on Tuesday that Miami would keep the door open for Messi until “the last minute.” However, the iconic attacker’s fight to get over an old scar tissue problem has come up short.

With Messi set to watch from the stands, Martino made four changes to his starting 11 from the draw with Orlando. Sergio Busquets, Facundo Farías, Diego Gómez, and Kamal Miller stepped into the Miami 11. The Herons, win or lose on Wednesday, will face another critical game on Saturday when New York City FC — who hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference at the moment — visit south Florida.

Jordi Alba, meanwhile, will miss out as expected after Martino cast serious doubt on the ex-Barcelona left back’s ability to recover from what the club has called “muscular fatigue.” His spot in the 11 once again went to youngster Noah Allen.

Houston, meanwhile, made seven changes to the side that fell 2-1 at Sporting Kansas City over the weekend, snapping an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

U.S. Open Cup final starting lineups

Inter Miami (4-3-3): Drake Callender; DeAndre Yedlin, Sergii Kryvtsov, Kamal Miller, Noah Allen; Benja Cremaschi, Sergio Busquets, Diego Gómez; Facundo Farías, Leo Campana, Robert Taylor

Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1): Andrew Tarbell; Griffin Dorsey, Erik Sviatchenko, Micael, Franco Escobar; Artur, Héctor Herrera; Adalberto Carrasquilla, Amine Bassi, Nelson Quiñónes; Corey Baird

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This MLS playoff race is an absolute mess

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess

The race for the MLS playoffs is promising that Decision Day will be as bonkers as it ever has been.

The final day of the regular season is less than a month away, with 28 of the league’s 29 teams set for two breathless rounds of simultaneous kickoffs, one for each conference (sorry D.C. United, you’re just going to have to follow along at home).

There’s an old MLS truism that a team just needs to stay in touch until late August or so, and that if said team can start to heat up around Labor Day, you’re looking at a major threat coming from what on paper is a low playoff seed. Plenty of teams with multiple MLS Cups in their trophy case have at least one season where they followed this plan to a tee.

However, in 2023 it’s not so much about getting hot at the right time as simply ending up next to an empty seat during a poorly-played game of musical chairs. Seven teams have clinched their playoff berths already, and two more are simply abysmal.

That leaves 20 teams vying for 11 postseason spots in what is an extraordinarily forgiving set-up. The problem is that almost none of this group seems able to get a solid hold on their invite to the big dance.

Put on your boots, because we’re about to wade into a mess:

Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo: How to watch U.S. Open Cup final

The status of Lionel Messi is the biggest question mark heading into Wednesday’s game

Inter Miami is set for its next opportunity at silverware since the arrival of the team’s vaunted Barcelona trio, headlined by Lionel Messi.

Miami hosts the Houston Dynamo in the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday. The Herons are looking to complete a double after taking home the Leagues Cup shortly after Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba arrived at the club.

But in a blow for Miami, Messi is a game-time decision while Alba is likely out. Both left Miami’s 4-0 win over Toronto FC before halftime in an MLS game last week.

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Even so, Miami has the might to hang without their stars. The Florida Derby against Orlando City SC saw Inter squeak out a 1-1 draw over the weekend. Miami has also won six of its last seven games at home.

And that’s not to say there isn’t the possibility of Messi coming off the bench. That could be a realistic option against Houston.

The Dynamo, headlined by Mexico international Héctor Herrera in the midfield, did fall over the weekend to Sporting Kansas City, but that ended a streak of seven unbeaten. That’s a good run of form for a club looking for its first trophy since 2018 (U.S. Open Cup).

Here is everything you need to know to catch all the final action:

Inter Miami vs. Houston Dynamo (U.S. Open Cup)

  • When: Wednesday, Sept. 27
  • Where: DRV PNK Stadium (Miami)
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: CBS Sports Network, Telemundo, Universo, Paramount+, Peacock.

Open Cup Starting Lineups

Inter Miami possible lineup:
Callender; Yedlin, Kryvtsov, Aviles, Allen; Cremaschi, Arroyo, Busquets; Farias, Campana, Taylor

Houston Dynamo possible lineup:
Clark; Escobar, Bartlow, Hadebe, Smith; Caicedo, Herrera; Iturre, Carasquilla, Kowalczyk; Ibrahim

U.S. Open Cup Final Odds and betting lines

MLS odds courtesy of Draft Kings Sportsbook. Odds were last updated Tuesday 5:44 PM ET.

Inter Miami (-120) vs. Houston Dynamo (+260)

Draw: (+290)

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Messi U.S. Open Cup status ‘not really our issue,’ says Houston Dynamo coach Olsen

The Dynamo think Miami will be tough regardless of whether Messi can play

In a development that will shock precisely no one, the focus on Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final has centered on Lionel Messi’s status and what Inter Miami has planned.

If you ask anyone at Miami’s opponent, the Houston Dynamo, they’ll tell you that’s just fine.

“That’s okay,” Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen told reporters on Tuesday, not long after his side stepped off a flight to Florida. “We’re used to that. We kind of live in that space, with the Houston Dynamo, at least for the short time that I’ve been here. We don’t make a lot of headlines.”

Olsen’s opinion was bolstered by the nature of the press conference itself, which opened immediately with a question about Messi.

“Well, there seems to be a lot of talk going on about that,” deadpanned Olsen. “Of course, we know the impact he has on the field. But we also understand this is a very good team with and without him, so we certainly prepared up until this point with him in.

“If the reports are true, we have a little bit of time to also prepare for them without him. So, not really our issue, it’s theirs. We’ll continue just prepping the way we have been.”

Messi’s status is seemingly a complete toss-up. What Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino referred to as an issue with old scar tissue was enough to push Messi out of last Wednesday’s rout of Toronto FC, and keep him on the sidelines for Saturday’s draw against Orlando City.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Martino said that Messi had trained in part, and that a decision wouldn’t be made until “the last minute.”

Olsen — who lifted the Open Cup with a D.C. United side in 2013 that was possibly the biggest underdog the tournament has seen in this century — was quick to point out that he still sees the Messi-free lineup the Herons sent out against Orlando as a massive threat.

“This team without the big three is still a very good MLS team,” said Olsen, referring to Messi, Jordi Alba (who is a major doubt), and Sergio Busquets. “We go through the exercise and [say] ‘Okay, he’s out,’ it’s like, ‘well, he’s in.’ ‘He’s out?’ ‘Wow, this guy’s in.'”

Olsen went on to name-check several Miami players, including attacking midfielder Facundo Farías, winger Robert Taylor, and strikers Leo Campana and Josef Martínez.

“So, their ability to create this team in a short amount of time, with this amount of depth? It’s pretty remarkable,” concluded Olsen. “Whoever is going to be out there, it’s going to be a very tough test for us.”

Olsen: ‘We’re the underdog’

Houston, despite having just one loss in the club’s last eight competitive matches, has decided to embrace the fact that the spotlight is almost entirely on the more glamorous home side.

“I’m not sure, this year, if we’re really sitting around and being honest with each other, [that] we thought we’d be in a final,” conceded Olsen. “But you know, things have clicked a little quicker in some areas than we thought.”

“There’s been some good stories and a little hype on us lately, but we haven’t done anything,” added Olsen. “We’ve gotten some points, but we’re not in the playoffs yet, and we haven’t won anything.”

“We’re the underdog. I don’t think a lot of people are picking us. And that’s I think, again, a space where we’ve lived, and rallied behind in some ways this year. Hopefully we can lean on that tomorrow, play free, play brave, and compete for a championship.”

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Martino: Messi game-time decision for Open Cup final, Alba likely out

Messi and Alba have both been dealing with muscle fatigue in recent weeks

Inter Miami head coach Tata Martino has said Lionel Messi will be a game-time decision for Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo.

Martino added that left back Jordi Alba would likely not be able to play.

Messi and Alba have both been dealing with muscle fatigue in recent weeks. Alba didn’t train on Tuesday, while Messi was a partial participant.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Martino said on Messi: “We’ll wait until the last minute to see what decision we make.”

On Alba, the coach added: “Jordi, it’s going to be difficult.”

After winning the Leagues Cup in August, Inter Miami is chasing a trophy double when it hosts the Dynamo on Wednesday at DRV PNK Stadium.

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After a flying start to life with Inter Miami, fitness issues have slowed Messi in recent weeks.

The superstar missed out on Argentina’s second match of a two-game window earlier this month against Bolivia. Upon his return to the United States, Messi would then sit out Miami’s 5-2 defeat at Atlanta United.

Messi returned for last week’s win over Toronto FC, but he and Alba both left the game in the first half. Martino said Messi was dealing with “old scar tissue” while Alba had “muscular fatigue.”

The pair, along with Sergio Busquets, sat out Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Orlando City as they looked to get as fit as possible for Wednesday’s final.

Busquets looks likely to play, as he spoke with the media alongside Martino. The midfielder said his longtime Barcelona teammate would do all he could to be ready for the final.

“I think Leo has the desire to help the team and to win another championship. But like we said earlier, he’s going to know how much he can contribute,” Busquets said. “Every day that passes is a point in favor of how much he can contribute. But like we saw the other day, even after resting during Argentina’s game and our game at Atlanta, and seeming perfectly fine, [he wasn’t fit for the Toronto game].”

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Messi-less Inter Miami keeps playoff dreams alive — for now

A draw at Orlando City is a great result in a vacuum, but it may not be enough

Time is running out for Inter Miami’s hopes of an unlikely MLS playoff berth, but the Herons put forth a valiant effort in a 1-1 draw at Orlando City on Sunday.

Without star trio Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, an away match against second-place Orlando was a daunting proposition for Inter Miami.

Thanks to an awful start to the season, Miami has had virtually no margin for error since the arrival of the former Barcelona stars. Earning a point at Orlando is a solid result in a vacuum, but wins will be desperately needed from here on out for a side still 14th in the 15-team Eastern Conference.

David Ruiz gave Inter Miami the lead just after halftime against Orlando, which earned a share of the points through a 66th-minute equalizer from Duncan McGuire.

With five games to play, Miami is five points back of NYCFC in the ninth and final playoff position in the East. Though Miami has two games in hand over NYCFC, it still has to leapfrog five teams to move into playoff position.

Speaking to reporters after the game, head coach Tata Martino said he was happy with the result under the circumstances — even though he admitted it may not have been enough.

“We played with three kids from the academy and one of them scored,” Martino said. “We were able to get a draw; I think at some point we could’ve lost the game, but in another moment it was there for us. Taking all of this into consideration, we’ll see if this point matters for what we’re ultimately trying to accomplish. But if you think about it solely for what the game was, truly I’m leaving very satisfied, because a great effort was made today.”

The big question now surrounds the health of Messi, Busquets and Alba — all nursing various levels of minor injuries and fatigue — ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final against Houston.

Martino wouldn’t give much away on Messi’s status, but was clear that he wouldn’t take an unnecessary risk in a game that could see Miami complete a double after winning the Leagues Cup last month.

“It’s very difficult to give him a percentage because we have to take it day by day,” Martino said. “We’ll continue to evaluate him and, as I always say, I will listen to him first and see how he’s feeling. Then we’ll also need to evaluate future risks. It’s not an easy decision, but we’re going to take the right amount of time to try to not make a mistake.”

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Messi dealing with ‘old scar tissue,’ is day-to-day for Inter Miami

Messi and Jordi Alba are out on Sunday, but could be back for the U.S. Open Cup final

Lionel Messi has an uncertain timeline to return for Inter Miami, but the MLS side seems to think he’ll be back soon.

Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino told reporters on Friday that the Argentine star aggravated an old issue during the first half of Wednesday’s win over Toronto FC. Messi and Jordi Alba both left the game in the first half.

“Leo is dealing with an old scar tissue,” said Martino. “Jordi has muscular fatigue. We will evaluate them day-by-day… Neither Alba nor [Messi] are [available to play] for Sunday.”

Messi was given a game to rest after international duty for Argentina, sitting out Miami’s 5-2 loss at Atlanta United. In his return Wednesday night, Messi walked off under his own power in the 37th minute, shortly after attempting a through ball against Toronto. That change came barely two minutes after Alba was also substituted, who like Messi walked off without assistance.

The Herons would go on to thrash TFC 4-0, keeping the club’s playoff hopes alive despite seeing two crucial players both come off before halftime.

“It’s bothersome. I don’t know if it hurts. I can’t really explain as it’s more a medical topic,” added Martino. “It’s probable it bothers him to the point, including mentally, that he isn’t able to play freely.”

Getting Messi and Alba back is a pressing matter for Miami. For one thing, the Herons have just six games to make up a five-point deficit to qualify for the MLS playoffs. While ripping TFC to shreds without those two on the field was a positive sign for Miami, the fact is that Toronto is having a terrible season.

Miami’s remaining schedule includes the U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo coming up on Wednesday, as well as daunting games against FC Cincinnati and Orlando City, two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The other four matches all include direct competition for that last playoff spot, including two clashes with Charlotte FC in the season’s final week.

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