Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami beaten by Montreal in MLS Football News

Inter Miami suffered its first loss of the MLS season on Sunday, losing 3-2 at home to Montreal after the Herons opted to rest Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Fernando Alvarez, Matias Coccaro and Sunusi Ibrahim scored for Montreal, which is second in the Eastern Conference standings but trails Miami on goal difference Hot fire team. Miami head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino opted to rest several of his first-choice starting lineup, with Messi completely absent and Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets on the bench.

But the wisdom of the decision soon came under scrutiny, with Montreal dominating the early exchanges before Alvarez headed in a 13th-minute corner kick to give the visitors the lead.

After that, Miami slowly got into the game. In the 17th minute, Jordi Alba shot the ball into the net, but it was disallowed for offside.

The home side nearly equalized just before half-time when Julian Gressel’s brilliant through ball released Robert Taylor.

Finland international Taylor deftly flicked his shot past advancing Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, only to watch the ball bounce off the crossbar.

Taylor should have equalized moments later but his header from Tomas Aviles’ cross went straight to Sirois, who easily caught up.

Miami continued to create openings in the second half. In the 59th minute, after Taylor assisted Leonardo Campana, he was ruled offside and the ball went into the net.

But Miami finally equalized in the 71st minute when Campana headed home at the back post after Lawson Sunderland’s pinpoint cross.

However, Miami’s hopes of maintaining an unbeaten start to the season were dashed shortly after when Montreal scored twice in three minutes.

Coccaro made it 2-1 with a header from Mathias Jonnier’s cross, before Nigerian forward Sunusi Ibrahim deflected a shot wide after Montreal counterattacked to make it 2-1. 3-1.

Alba’s superb shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area in the 80th minute gave Inter Miami hope of a comeback, but despite Miami’s late attack, the visitors held on to take all three points.

In other MLS action on Sunday, Cincinnati held Washington United to a 0-0 draw at home, while in Nashville, the LA Galaxy came back from 2-0 down to tie the score and win 2-2 on the road. flat.

Teal Bunbury’s penalty and Dru Yearwood’s 58th-minute goal gave Nashville a 2-0 lead, but the Galaxy went ahead through Riqui Puig. Puig and Dejan Joveljic scored to tie the game.

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