Lionel Messi suffered the heaviest defeat of his MLS career as Inter Miami crashed to a 4-1 loss against Minnesota United on Saturday.
The Argentine scored in the second half, but Miami’s defence was once again exposed as they fell to a fourth defeat in their last five games in all competitions — a run that has seen them concede 14 goals.
With Luis Suarez injured, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano opted to play without a recognised target striker, with Messi floating in front of a five-man midfield.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane fired Minnesota ahead in the 32nd minute after Miami’s defence was exposed by a clever pass from Joaquín Pereyra to Carlos Harvey, who picked out the South African international striker in the box. Messi provided the first real reminder of his presence six minutes later when he worked some space in a crowded area, but his low right-foot shot was harmless.
Minnesota doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when a long throw from Michael Boxall was headed on by Nicolas Romero, and Anthony Markanich nodded home at the back post.
Messi struck three minutes after the interval when he was found in the box by Jordi Alba and delivered his signature first touch and clinical finish to reduce the deficit.
But Minnesota responded swiftly — Tani Oluwaseyi headed a corner goalwards, and Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt accidentally turned the ball into his own net.
Then Oluwaseyi held off Noah Allen before slipping the ball inside to Robin Lod, and the Finnish midfielder calmly placed a side-footed finish into the corner from the edge of the box.
Former Barcelona and Argentina midfielder Mascherano, who said his plans had been disrupted by stand-in forward Fafa Picault suffering a migraine before the game, was disappointed with how his team failed to deal with threats they had anticipated.
“It’s a tough loss for us. We knew Minnesota could hurt us in this way — in transitions, on set pieces — and they hurt us in exactly the way we had prepared for the game. That’s what worries me the most,” he said.
“If the players drop their levels, clearly the responsibility falls on me. All on me. If the coach does not convince them or transmit what he is looking for, all the responsibility falls on the coach.”
Red Bulls hammer Galaxy
The New York Red Bulls gained emphatic revenge over the Los Angeles Galaxy — who beat them in last season’s MLS Cup final — by thrashing the champions 7-0.
The Galaxy looked nothing like reigning champions and remain bottom of the Western Conference without a win and with just three points from 12 games.
Greg Vanney’s side, already missing star midfielder Riqui Puig through long-term injury, were also without wingers Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil. But their biggest issues were at the back.
German forward Eric Choupo-Moting struck twice, while Swedish midfielder Emil Forsberg added a brace of his own, including a curling free-kick, as the Red Bulls tore through the Galaxy defence.
Local-born teenager Frankie Westfield seemed to have secured a big win for the Philadelphia Union over the Columbus Crew with a 64th-minute thunderbolt — his first MLS goal — but Sean Zawadski equalised in stoppage time to ensure a 2-2 draw and preserve Columbus’ unbeaten away record.
The Crew now sit second in the Eastern Conference, with the Union in third and Miami in fourth.
Cincinnati remain top of the East after a 2-1 win over Austin. San Diego continued their impressive debut season with a 2-1 victory at St. Louis, with goals from Milan Iloski and Danish winger Anders Dreyer.
Nashville’s strong campaign rolled on with a 2-1 win over Charlotte, thanks to a volley from Hany Mukhtar and a powerful 54th-minute strike from Canadian winger Jacob Shaffelburg.
