Inter Miami’s 3-2 win over CF Montreal on Saturday night was a typical Inter Miami performance: it was another comeback win. After conceding the first two goals of the game, Miami battled back to earn the win in Messi’s first game on Canadian soil. This is the fifth consecutive victory for Miami after conceding first, a trend that characterized the first part of the team’s 2024 season. It is also the first time Miami has won five straight MLS games in club history.
New MLS rules get on the nerves of Messi, Martino and Suarez
In April, MLS implemented a series of new in-game rules that began making headlines. Inside the stadium VAR technology announcement News of veteran referee Ismail Al-Fath spread last week. In Montreal, what MLS called the off-field tackle rule and the timely substitution rule angered the league’s No. 1 club.
Go deeper
How MLS Next Pro reduces time wasting
After Messi’s violent intervention from Montreal center back George Campbell late in the first half, the Argentine received treatment on the field by the medical staff in Miami. Campbell did not receive a yellow card for the challenge and Messi eventually walked off the field, but he was visibly angry when the fourth official kept him on the sidelines for two minutes. According to MLS, the new off-field treatment rule requires players to “stay off the field for at least two minutes for further evaluation and treatment.”
But Messi was itching to get back on the field. When Inter Miami were awarded a free kick outside Montreal’s penalty area (an ideal spot for a left-footed player), Messi turned to the side camera, shook his head and appeared to say: “If they make rules like this… doing a bad job.” Matias Rojas stepped in for Messi and calmly shot the ball into the upper right corner of Montreal’s net.
Messi: “With these kind of rules… we are performing poorly.” 🗣️
— All about Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) May 12, 2024
Later, Suarez was substituted in the 90th minute, but he did not leave the field in less than 10 seconds. The timed substitution rule states: “Failure to exit any point on the field within 10 seconds will result in the next player having to wait for 60 seconds, before entering the game at the next stop. During the holding period and before the substitute enters, the team will disqualify the player.” Exceptions to the rule include injury and goalkeeper substitutions.
After the match, Martino told reporters his thoughts on the rule changes.
“Leo was fouled and (Campbell) should have received a yellow card, which would have negated Leo’s two-minute departure,” Martino said. “For me, the team that committed the violation was punished. It is clear that with these new rules there will be situations that need to be analyzed. It was a clear yellow card violation and then we lost Leo for two minutes.”
Martino was forced to prevent Suarez from facing the fourth official, but Martino described this as a misunderstanding between his crew and that referee. Although Martino believed Suarez had one minute to leave the field instead of 10 seconds.
Rojas continues to shine
The Paraguayan international’s stunning free-kick as Messi watched from the touchline will receive a lot of attention.
Just sausage 🤯 Amazing work by Matías Rojas 🇵🇾 💥 pic.twitter.com/Byn6C8Sj2o
— Inter Miami Football Club (@InterMiamiCF) May 12, 2024
However, his assist to Cremachi for Inter Miami’s victory was just as important.
Accuracy from Matías Rojas to Benga who gives us the lead 🎯🤩 pic.twitter.com/ToQoBDGM97
— Inter Miami Football Club (@InterMiamiCF) May 12, 2024
With Montreal’s midfield and back line focused on Messi, Rojas has become Inter Miami’s playmaker. Rojas and Messi attract a lot of attention from the opponent, which in this case allowed Cremachi to make an indefinite run through the middle and the finish line.
Rojas is a versatile midfielder who excels in the final third. He was a necessary addition for Martino, a coach well aware of the strengths of Paraguay’s players. From 2002 to 2006, Martino won four first division titles with two of Paraguay’s biggest clubs, Libertad and Cerro Porteño. He was instrumental in Paraguayan Miguel Almiron’s decision to sign for Atlanta United in 2016. Two years later, Almiron became the most expensive sale in league history.
During his introductory press conference two weeks ago, Rojas told reporters in Fort Lauderdale that he had received interest from Boca Juniors. “It is an exceptional club, but I was planning my career elsewhere,” Rojas explained.
He didn’t mention Martino, but it’s safe to assume that a phone call from Martino still carries a lot of weight in South America, especially in Paraguay.
Martino takes the blame for the slow start
Inter Miami coach Tata Martino spoke earlier about his team’s tendency to start slowly. This has been discussed and repeated during team meetings, but the solution is not concrete, Martino said last week.
“It can’t always be analyzed from the same angle. Sometimes the other team makes a play,” Martino said after the match. “Obviously we prefer to score first and then manage the game from there. “Tonight’s circumstances were different from previous times.”
But Martino blamed himself for falling behind by two goals in Saturday’s early game. Inter Miami started with a 5-3-2 formation, which Martino said was aimed at pushing the team’s lines forward and pressuring Montreal high up the pitch. Instead, Montreal found space on the wings and counterattacked Inter Miami with ease. After Montreal’s second goal, Martino changed Inter Miami’s formation to 4-4-2. This season, Inter Miami has been more effective in defence.
“I shouldn’t change the way the team plays,” Martino said. “We feel comfortable playing in one specific way. I adjusted the team tonight to fit what I felt were Montreal’s strengths. When we went back to the 4-4-2, that was us.”
Fortunately for Martino, Inter Miami is led by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan scored his 11th goal in stoppage time of the first half, leveling the score at 2-2 before the end of the first half. Inter Miami academy product Benjamin Cremaci scored the winner in the 59th minute. However, Messi was left off the scoresheet following last weekend’s record-breaking performance against the New York Red Bulls, snapping his goal streak to seven games in MLS. Foot.
The Argentina captain was unable to replicate his five assists and one goal against Montreal, but the 36-year-old was active in attack throughout the match, despite an injury scare.
Inter Miami maintained its lead in the Eastern Conference standings with 27 points from 13 matches. They scored 35 goals and conceded 20 goals.
“Beer enthusiast. Subtly charming alcohol junkie. Wannabe internet buff. Typical pop culture lover.”
More Stories
Sources – Pitt Starts Alabama Transfer Eli Holstein at QB
Caitlin Clark Makes New WNBA History With Win Over Connecticut Sun in Indiana Fever
Mike Tomlin casts doubt on Justin Fields’ role in Steelers’ season-opener against Falcons