No sixth double in a row. Inter Miami with Lionel Messi suffered a setback at FC Cincinnati. Things went well for two former Bundesliga pros.
“We were clearly inferior from the start today,” Javier Mascherano said after his team’s 0-3 (0-1) defeat in Cincinnati. The Inter Miami coach saw a strong opponent, while his team, led by star player Messi, was lacking in many areas. “It was very difficult for us to win individual battles. They put us under constant pressure, we weren’t fresh and clear, and they deserved to beat us.”
De Paul on his way
While reinforcements are on the way in the form of Rodrigo de Paul from Atletico Madrid – a four-year contract is being discussed (initially a loan, then an option to buy for the MLS club) for the Argentine – Miami had to drop back in the Eastern Conference for the time being after this fourth defeat. With 38 points, Inter are fifth, but due to the Club World Cup, they are still three games behind second-placed Cincinnati (45) and leaders Philadelphia (46).
Messi remained on 16 goals for the season in Ohio, ending his impressive run of five consecutive braces. This brought Brazilian Evander closer to him, who in turn increased his tally to 15 goals with his brace, sealing the game in the second half.
Two braces in New York – defeat for Reus
Before the clash with Messi, former Bundesliga pros Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting and Emil Forsberg were in top form with a total of four goals. Former Bayern pro Choupo-Moting has now scored 13 goals for the New York Red Bulls in his first season in Major League Soccer.
In the 5-3 win over New England Revolution, he scored the equalizer to make it 2-2 in the 70th minute, then scored again to make it 4-2 in the 83rd minute. Forsberg, who played for RB Leipzig in Germany for many years, scored to make it 3-2 in the 72nd minute and then converted a penalty to make it 5-2 in the 88th minute. The Swede also set up Choupo-Moting’s first goal. New York, currently eighth in the Eastern Conference and coached by Sandro Schwarz, will face Miami on Saturday (local time).
Nashville SC is third in the Eastern Conference after beating Columbus Crew 3-0. England’s Sam Surridge maintained his lead in the scoring charts with his 17th goal of the season. Berlin-born Hany Mukhtar also scored and now has eleven goals to his name.
In the West, Los Angeles Galaxy suffered another defeat at home against Austin (1-2) and remain bottom of the table.
