Without Thomas Müller, the Vancouver Whitecaps could not manage more than a 1-1 draw against Marco Reus’ Los Angeles Galaxy. Lionel Messi had a very bitter evening with Inter Miami.
The eagerly anticipated reunion between Marco Reus and Thomas Müller was called off at the last minute. Although Los Angeles Galaxy and the Vancouver Whitecaps faced off as planned early Sunday morning (CET), Müller was unexpectedly unable to play. According to his club, he was absent due to illness, meaning only “friend-foe” Reus—as the Whitecaps had written in German beforehand—was able to take the field.
And the former Dortmund player didn’t play a major role either. At halftime, Reus, who was wearing the captain’s armband, did not return to the field; immediately afterward, his team took the lead through forward Joseph Paintsil (46th minute). The Whitecaps, supported by Müller in the stands, successfully fought off a second loss in their tenth game of the season and salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks to center back Mathias Laborda (81′).
As a result, the Whitecaps remain in second place in the Western Conference behind the San Jose Earthquakes, who, without Timo Werner, also had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC to kick off the 11th MLS matchday. Having played one more game, they have three more points than Müller & Co., while Reus and the Galaxy occupy the tenth of 15 spots.
Messi scores to make it 3-0 – then Ojeda becomes Inter’s nightmare
The most memorable match of the round took place in Miami. Inter managed the dubious feat of losing 3-4 after leading 3-0 against a struggling Orlando City. After an early 1-0 goal by Ian Fray (4th minute), Lionel Messi set up Telasco Segovia perfectly for the 2-0 (25th minute), before scoring the 3-0 himself with a curling shot (33rd minute). But that wasn’t enough to secure their first win in their new stadium on their fourth attempt.
Messi’s Argentine compatriot Martin Ojeda equalized with a hat trick (39th/68th/78th, penalty) – and in stoppage time, he also set up substitute Tyrese Spicer against Inter’s porous defense, who coolly beat goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to secure the away win (90’+3). It was only the third time in MLS history that a team lost after holding a 3-0 lead.
Inter, which dropped to third place in the Eastern Conference behind the New England Revolution (late 1-0 win over Charlotte FC), now faces two away matches before its next home game against the Portland Timbers at Nu Stadium.
