In a remarkable display, Miami secured a victory against Charlotte FC, solidifying their position as a serious contender in the Eastern Conference of Major League Soccer (MLS), despite Lionel Messi being on the bench. This critical win allowed Inter to climb into second place, bringing their points total to seven.
Tadeo Allende, who is on loan from Celta de Vigo, played a pivotal role once again by scoring his fourth consecutive goal across all competitions, including the Concacaf Champions Cup. His performance, alongside that of Venezuelan newcomer Telasco Segovia, was instrumental in securing Inter’s last three victories, all achieved without the star player, Lionel Messi, who was sidelined due to ongoing muscular issues.
Head coach Javier Mascherano indicated that they had planned to introduce Messi during the match, but ultimately decided against it due to the circumstances, particularly after goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was sent off in the 38th minute, leaving the team with one fewer player.
“We considered giving Leo minutes, but under the conditions of the game, it was prudent to preserve him,” Mascherano explained to reporters.
There is hope that Messi could make a return in the upcoming Concacaf Champions Cup round of 16 clash against Cavalier. With Inter holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg, Mascherano might choose to rest him for the trip to Jamaica.
Messi’s schedule also includes important international fixtures against Uruguay on March 21 and Brazil four days later for the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Against Charlotte, Inter faced a challenging match, having to play with one man down for the second time this season.
“I reminded my players at halftime that we could still pose problems to the opponent even with ten men,” Mascherano recounted. “Winning depends on many factors, and while we had only one real chance in the second half that resulted in a goal, that’s part of football too.”
Inter dominated possession during the opening half, making several attempts from long range before Charlotte began to find their rhythm on the counterattack. The turning point came with Ustari’s dismissal after he tackled the speedy Wilfried Zaha outside the box.
Once again, Luis Suárez played a crucial role in Inter’s success, assisting Allende’s opening goal just seconds into the second half. After a long ball from Argentine defender Gonzalo Luján, Suárez calmly set up Allende, who expertly controlled the ball with his chest and finished with a precise shot into the corner.
Suárez, who was Inter’s top scorer last season, has continued to demonstrate his value this campaign with three goals and four assists across all competitions. Following Allende’s goal, Inter fortified their defense against a Charlotte side that, despite having limited opportunities, nearly equalized when Idan Toklomati struck the post.
Ultimately, Inter maintained their lead and celebrated a hard-fought victory, positioning themselves just two points behind the leaders in the Eastern standings.
