INTER MIAMI
asset for us.”
Inter Miami remains atop the Eastern Conference with three wins, a tie and a loss
(10 points), despite playing two league games in a row without Messi.
D.C. struck first Saturday when Jared Stroud got between Miami defenders Noah Allen and Nico Freire and ripped a rocket of a shot to the top left corner in the 14th minute.
Campana scored the equalizer for Miami 10 minutes later on a left-footed shot from the center of the box that began with a penetrating run and pass from Fede Redondo.
Messi was not the only star missing from the Inter Miami starting lineup Saturday. Suarez and Jordi Alba came in late off the bench and Sergiy Kryvtsov entered in the 31st minute when Freire left the field injured.
Instead of Messi and Suarez leading the attack, it was Robert Taylor, Campana and Gressel, with Diego Gomez, Sergio Busquets and Rodondo in midfield. The back line was Allen at left back, in place of Alba, Freire, Tomas Aviles and David Ruiz. Drake Callender started in goal.
Messi’s availability going forward will be determined on a day-by-day basis, Martino said. The aim is to have him back for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions
Cup quarterfinals April 3 at home against Mexican team Monterrey.
Observations from Saturday’s game…
TEAM CAN WIN WITHOUT MESSI
Miami was winless in the previous seven games Messi did not play, dating to last September, but on Saturday his teammates proved they can be formidable on their own.
That will be critical during a year that includes 34 MLS
games, Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and Copa America. Martino has said he will rotate the roster regularly and has done an admirable job of that so far. Teammates need to feel they can compete without Messi at their side.
“It’s important for younger guys who are going to start playing more minutes, because that’s how it’s going to be throughout the summer,” Gressel said. “We’re going to have to find ways to get results if we want to be a top team in this league. [Saturday] was a good example for us to be able to do that. It gives us some confidence and belief that we can do it even when he’s not there with us.”
Campana added: “We all know how important Leo is for this team and what he represents, but there will be times we can’t count on him, so us young players must take charge like we did against D.C.”
SUAREZ AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED
The critics who suggested 37-year-old Suarez was washed up and too hobbled by sore knees when he arrived in January have probably changed their tune by
now. The Uruguayan has shown that when he is around the goal, he makes special things happen. On his second goal, he saw the D.C. keeper had a good angle on him, so he lofted his shot high into the lop left corner, just beyond the keeper’s reach.
“He came from the Brazilian league, one of the toughest competitions in the world, where he scored 17 goals and 10 assists, and that went on until November,” Martino said. “There was no question what he would bring the team, the confidence he brings the team. And obviously, people outside have opinions, but those people do not see what wee see day to day.”
CLUB A FAN FAVORITE ACROSS THE LEAGUE
Gressel smiled when asked if he has ever played on a team that has so many fans at away games.
“It’s definitely different,” he said. “It’s nice as an away team to not have the whole stadium against you. I noticed it when [D.C. player Pedro] Santos got the red card [in the 90th minute]. I think half the stadium was cheering. I was like, `OK,
that’s interesting.’’’
Fans spent big money to buy tickets to Saturday’s game, hoping to see Messi play, but showed up in his gear anyway even though they knew he was injured. And they cheered when Miami scored.
“Of course, I wanted to see Messi, but this is still Messi’s team and I am looking forward to seeing Busquets, Alba, Suarez and the new player, Federico Redondo,” said Melvin Dulcias, who drove 21⁄2 hours from Laurel, Delaware, for the game. “I started following Inter Miami when Messi arrived, and now I am a big fan, so it is exciting to be here and see them in person.”
Wilmer Martinez of Washington, D.C., also showed up in a Messi shirt, as did his 10-year-old son Dylan. They found out on the way to the stadium that Messi was injured. “We were sad, but this is Messi’s team and at least we will see his team and his teammates, so we are happy to be here.”