Inter Miami star Lionel Messi was at home in South Florida, but fans in the capital saw another soccer star shine on the pitch Saturday afternoon.
Luis Suarez, the 37-year-old Uruguayan striker who joined his friend Messi in Major League Soccer, came off the bench and scored two goals in 23 minutes to help Inter Miami 3-0 against DC United at Audi Field. Contributed to 1 victory.
Suarez came on as a substitute in the 62nd minute.n.d. He found the back of the net in the first minute and then 10 minutes.He secured two points with a goal in '85.th It was a decisive minute for Inter Miami's victory.
“He played about 30 minutes in the game and decided the game,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of Suarez, who has been on a tear in MLS with six goals and five assists in seven competitive games. Ta.
Update on Messi's injury from Inter Miami coach after game against DC United
Messi did not play due to a right hamstring injury, missing the second game of the 2024 MLS season. With two matches against Argentina scheduled for later this month, Martino's priority is to stay healthy for Inter Miami's Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match against Monterrey in LIGA MX in early April. That's what he said.
“We will continually evaluate what he is doing. The goal is for him to arrive in time to play in the quarter-finals of the Concaf Champions Cup,” Martino said. “We don't want to take any risks.”
Luis Suarez continues to be eliminated from MLS
Martino said Suarez scored 17 goals for second-placed Gremio last season and won the Golden Ball as the Brazilian league's best player, and his goalscoring had been expected since he joined Inter Miami. Ta.
“He's been performing really well for the past two months, so there was no reason not to be confident about how he'll perform here,” Martino said of Suarez. “The important thing here is to bring confidence to the team and the players.”
For the first goal, Suarez fed Federico Redondo's pass to Leo Campana, who sent a cross to Suarez who found the back of the goal.
Second goal: Suarez received a pass from Diego Gomez, waited patiently for the shot, and chipped it right over the DC United goalkeeper.
D.C. United's Jared Stroud scored 14 points.th 1 minute, Campana equalized in the 24th minute.th With the score tied at 1-1 at halftime, Suarez was substituted.
shop: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami gear from the MLS Store
Messi's hamstring injury may affect upcoming match against Argentina
Messi is expected to join Argentina's national team for two friendlies as a prelude to this summer's Copa America. And his injury could limit his participation in both games.
Argentina will play El Salvador in Philadelphia on March 22nd and Costa Rica in Los Angeles on March 26th during the FIFA International Window (MLS also has games scheduled during this period).
Messi could miss Inter Miami's two games. The first will be the Argentina national team's match against Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls on March 23rd. Inter Miami vs. New York City FC on March 30th is due to rest.
Messi returns to DMV area in June
Inter Miami vs. DC United ticket buyers may be upset about his absence, but Messi is scheduled to return to the DMV with Argentina in June.
Messi is scheduled to join Argentina for the match against Guatemala on June 14 at Commander's Field in Landover, Maryland, a prelude to this summer's Copa America.
Luis Suarez scores 2 goals: Inter Miami 3, DC United 1
“El Pistolero” has struck again at Inter Miami.
Luis Suarez scored his second goal of the match in the 85th minute, the second goal for the Uruguayan striker.
Suarez received a pass from Diego Gomez, waited patiently for his shot, and chipped it right over the DC United goalkeeper.
Luis Suarez goals: Inter Miami 2, DC United 1
“El Pistolero” made his presence felt in the capital: Luis Suárez scored in 72n.d. That minute gave Inter Miami a 2-1 lead over DC United.
Suarez fed Federico Redondo's pass to Leo Campana, who sent a cross back to Suarez and the Uruguayan striker fired into the back of the goal with his left foot.
Suarez continued his tearful run in Major League Soccer, scoring his fifth goal in seven competitive games. He also recorded five assists.
The goal came on the heels of a controversial sequence at the other end, in which Inter Miami's Tomas Avilés may have blocked a DC United goal attempt with his hands.
Luis Suarez comes in 62nd placen.d. Inter Miami vs DC United 1 minute
Inter Miami's Luis Suarez played in 62 games, scoring 4 goals and providing 5 assists in 6 games.n.d. Minutes.
With about 30 minutes remaining, this is a good opportunity for the veteran to make an impact after resting in the first half.
Leo Campana goals: DC United 1, Inter Miami 1
Inter Miami's aggressive persistence paid off after 10 minutes when they were on the back foot.
Defender Federico Redondo continued to play despite lying on his back, and in the 24th minute Leo Campana's left-handed shot found the back of Inter Miami's goal.th Minutes.
Jared Stroud goals: DC United 1, Inter Miami 0
D.C. United's Jared Stroud scored with his right foot to give his team a 1-0 lead in 14 games.th Minutes.
Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender had no answer after making a save from DC United's Christian Benteke a minute earlier.
Inter Miami are at a disadvantage without Messi, with Suarez and Alba on the bench.
Inter Miami's Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba will not be in the starting lineup against DC United
Suarez and Alba will start Saturday's match off the bench while Messi is absent. Meanwhile, DC United's Christian Benteke is set to return from a groin injury.
The starting lineups for both teams are as follows:
Inter Miami vs DC United predictions
Inter Miami 2, DC United 2: No Messi, that's for sure. However, fellow Barcelona players Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, as well as American goalkeeper Drake Callender, are likely to play for Inter Miami. Look at Christian Benteke of DC United. He had a hat trick in the season opener and could play in his return from a groin injury. If Inter Miami plays well enough without Messi, both teams will draw. − Safid Deen, Lionel MetzI'm a USA TODAY reporter.
Why won't Lionel Messi play against DC United?
Inter Miami released a statement on Friday afternoon regarding Messi's hamstring injury.
“Messi was forced off the field in the 50th minute of Wednesday's Concacaf Champions Cup match against Nashville SC after feeling discomfort in his right leg during the match. Subsequent medical tests revealed that the captain had sustained a minor injury to his right hamstring. He is expected to miss the away match against DC United on March 16th.”
“Messi's availability after these matches will be determined based on daily medical assessments and his recovery over the next few days.”
Messi was seen massaging his hamstring during the first of two Champions Cup games against Nashville SC. Messi was also kicked in the March 7 game, which twisted his left ankle.
MLS MatchDay 5: All matches free on Apple TV
With the soccer GOAT missing another game for Inter Miami, fans will have to settle for following another interesting movement happening around MLS this weekend. Highlighting the action, he currently has five teams tied for the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings, and all five of his teams are playing on Saturday. As an added bonus for soccer/football fans, all of his MLS games this weekend are available to watch for free on Apple TV.
Mega-influencer Messi: Brands love his 500 million followers and down-to-earth persona
Lionel Messi is a mega-influencer by social media standards, but despite having 500 million followers on Instagram, he's far from a typical “influencer.”
Messi's rise to 500 million coincides with his thrilling World Cup victory in December 2022 and momentum following last summer's move to MLS and successful media partnership with Apple TV, but it also , is closely related to who he is as a person.
Messi wears new kit for Argentina Copa America 2024: check out new thread
Lionel Messi fans rejoiced on Thursday after a photo of the Argentine star wearing Argentina's new Copa America 2024 jersey kit was shared online. Check out Messi's Copa America schedule.
Who is Oscar's dog? Meet the border collie “Messi” (not the soccer star)
Messi, who played Snoop in Anatomy of the Fall, which was nominated five times and won for Best Original Screenplay, had a rocky run at the Oscars. Messi's owner, Laura Martin Contini, is a professional dog trainer, and she said her two children, named Messi, follow the soccer legend.
