Lionel Messi came back on the pitch and, as always, left his signature. Having sat out three games for load management, the number 10 entered in the second half and wrapped up the 2-0 victory over Cavalier FC, guaranteeing Inter Miami a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. With an aggregate score of 4-0, Javier Mascherano's side is now gearing up for the big battle against LAFC, the one of the MLS Western Conference powerhouses.
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Messi and his surgical precision
May Messi be absent from the game, but once he finds his way into it, things are different. He entered the game in the 53rd minute to substitute Luis Suárez and needed only 39 minutes to add to his goal tally in the tournament. During stoppage time, he received a wonderful pass from Santiago Morales and, with a first-time strike, put the seal on the victory with sheer class.
It was the Argentine's third tournament goal, showing that even not playing every minute, he is still the star of the show. He had already netted against Sporting Kansas City in the previous round. Now, with LAFC approaching, Messi has another giant platform to write new chapters to his growing soccer legacy in America.
The weight of experience
Other than Messi, Suárez and Busquets were also key, demonstrating that Inter Miami can rely on its veteran stars in times of need. Suárez netted the opening goal in the 37th minute through a penalty, taking his Champions Cup goal tally to three. Suárez and Busquets were substituted by Messi and Yannick Bright by the 53rd minute, giving the team a fresh boost of energy.
Mascherano had to make an early substitution when David Ruiz suffered an injury in the 17th minute, with Benjamin Cremaschi taking his place. The team continued on in spite of losing their player to get through the game and maintain the advantage without something scary occurring. Óscar Ustari was also left to make a crucial save, in the 74th minute, to keep Inter Miami from scoring and maintain their clean sheet.
LAFC challenge
Now, Inter Miami is faced by a much stronger opponent. Los Angeles FC, who sent Columbus Crew packing with a 4-2 aggregate win, is a whole different class of opposition. The California side is one of the top sides in MLS.
The first game will be played in Los Angeles from April 1 to 3, and the return game will be played at Chase Stadium in Miami from April 8 to 10. In order to proceed, Inter Miami has to be in top form—i.e., Messi has to be fit to play.
Messi, the X-factor
Mascherano's greatest worry is how he can control the playing time of Messi in the forthcoming games. The trainer has been cautious, never piling up games for his star player in succession. But against LAFC, it won't be an easy decision to keep Messi on the bench for long.
With poorer opposition, such a load management strategy might work. But in pressure-cooker circumstances, having Messi on the pitch from kickoff can become imperative.