Thursday morning is something Herons fans won’t want to remember early as their team fell to their first loss after 3 straight wins since exiting the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Softfootball followed and watched how record making Messi and his team were caged by FC Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium as they fell to a 3-0 loss.
Inter Miami had gone 3 consecutive games without a loss since returning from the Club World Cup and were on a streak of 5 MLS wins with Messi also becoming the first MLS player to score consecutive braces in 5 games.
In fact, the loss came at the right time as it exposed Inter’s sleepwalk mode, one that showed just how helpful someone like De Paul can be when he does inevitably arrive.
On the road in Cincinnati, Messi and Miami couldn’t find any of their trademark magic in a 3-0 defeat. The Argentine was held scoreless for the first time in seven games, having scored 11 goals in that span. He got close a few times, but never close enough. There were a few decent looks, a blocked shot, and a curled effort from range but it was Cincinnati that made the most of their chances, not Messi and Miami.
The opening goal came relatively early, as the right side of Miami’s defense collapsed under pressure from Luca Orellano. The Argentine was able to play through Gerardo Valenzuela, who made no mistake with his far-post finish to give the hosts an early advantage.
Cincy’s advantage was doubled early in the second half in another instance of Miami’s defensive frailty. The Herons’ defense was buzzed through by Cincy star Evander, who pushed off Sergio Busquets before slotting home to make it 2-0. Evander then made it three in the 70th minute, firing home from close range after backup goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, who came on after Oscar Ustari left with an apparent injury, parried a shot right into his path. On this night, it was that easy for him, and it was that hard for Miami to do anything right.
On a day when Miami seemingly got better, they suffered one of their worst defeats of the season. They’ll have to move on quickly, too, with another game this weekend against the New York Red Bulls, and they’ll surely be eager to get to it after such a rough night in Ohio.
Inter Miami’s problem also compounded as they lost shot stopper and first choice goalkeeper, Oscar Ustari who was forced out after just 25 minutes after making two saves, and Miami will now be sweating over the veteran goalkeeper’s fitness.
Softfootball had been reporting how Messi had been delightful to watch in the past three games as he kept scoring braces. Although head coach, Javier Mascherano had been complaining that Messi and Suarez needed rest after a congested schedule.
Lionel Messi made MLS history by scoring two goals in five straight matches – an unprecedented feat in the league. Messi displayed and dazzled as Inter Miami defeated Nashville SC 2-1 while they kept climbing the MLS league table.
Messi who has scored a brace each in his last 4 games extended his streak to five consecutive MLS matches, setting a new league record. The win over Nashville makes it 3 wins out of 3 for Inter Miami since they were knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup by PSG in a 4-0 thrashing.
