No Messi. No problem. Inter Miami beats KC 3-2 at home to gain ground in playoff push
Lionel Messi was in Argentina Saturday night, 4,400 miles away from DRV PNK Stadium, but his presence was felt as Inter Miami defeated visiting Sporting Kansas City 3-2, extended its unbeaten streak to 12 games, and gained ground in its late-season playoff push.
With eight games remaining, Miami is six points short of the playoff line.
Despite his absence for national team duty, Messi’s No. 10 jersey was by far the most popular shirt in the crowd of 19,355. Messi’s influence was also evident on the field as the confidence he instilled in his teammates since his arrival in July was on display much of the night.
Inter Miami, which gave up an early goal to KC’s Dainel Salloi on a rare miscue by goalkeeper Drake Callender, rallied to take a 2-1 lead into halftime with a pair of goals by the team’s other Leo – forward Leo Campana.
His equalizing goal came in the 25th minute on a left-footed penalty kick after he was taken down in the box by Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia.
Campana’s second goal was one of Miami’s most spectacular of the season and came just before halftime. Right back DeAndre Yedlin made a run into the box, eluded Salloi, and then sent a perfect high cross from just inside the touchline to Campana, who leaped and headed it down into the bottom right corner.
Campana and Yedlin were then swarmed by his jubilant teammates.
The two goals were especially meaningful for Campana, who has been battling Josef Martinez for the starting center forward spot all season. Coach Tata Martino has favored Martinez, who missed Saturday’s game while with the Venezuelan national team, giving Campana a chance to make his mark.
Campana said although Messi’s absence was felt “the confidence he has given all of us gave us the belief that we could win,” and added that he was thrilled with his two goals and the three points for the team.
“Leo played a very good game, independent of the two goals he scored,” said Martino. “He was very involved in the play all night, he partnered well with Facundo [Farias], was getting in scoring positions regularly and it was nice to see because he is a young man who has worked very hard.”
Argentine newcomer Farias made it 3-1 at the hour mark after a veteran heads-up move by midfielder Sergio Busquets, who grabbed the ball after a KC hand ball for a quick re-start, catching the KC players off guard, and launched a long ball to Farias who then made a run and beat the goalkeeper on a one-on-one play.
A Kansas City Star reporter asked the Miami Herald beat writer, as the official pool reporter, for clarification on the play from referee Ismael Elfath as to why he felt it was a hand ball and why he allowed the quick restart when KC players were still trying to discuss the call with him when Busquets placed the ball down for the re-start.
Elfath’s reply: “In the opinion of the referee, the hand was away from the body in an unnatural position as a barrier. The KC player initiated and approached the referee for a talk. The referee did not engage in a conversation and did not point to the whistle for a ceremonial restart.”
Kansas City’s leading scorer Alan Pulido gave the visitors life with a 78th minute goal, but Miami hung on.
Messi was one of eight Miami players missing for national team duty, but eight starters from last week’s 3-1 win over defending MLS champion LAFC were in the lineup: Farias, Dixon Arroyo, Busquets, Jordi Alba, Kamal Miller, Tomas Aviles, Yedlin, and Callender.
Forwards Campana and Robbie Robinson, who had played just four games this season and started twice, got the starting nod from coach Tata Martino on Saturday. Argentine midfielder Nico Stefanelli, who had not played at all since Martino took the job, also got his first start.
“I was very happy not only for the result, but for Stefanelli, who had not played in a long time and made a great effort, for Robbie Robinson, who also had not played much,” Martino said. “We weren’t sure how long they would be able to hang on and they both played very well. This is a win that goes beyond the three points and the playoffs or no playoffs. It strengthens us as a group and we see what have a good roster that can pull out wins.”
Asked how important it was to win without Messi, Martino said: “When he is on the field, we are all better and we are capable of winning any type of game. Having said that, for a group of players who work so hard and are teammates of the best player in the world, when he doesn’t play it is reassuring for them to know they can win.”
In addition to Messi, the players who were missing were Robert Taylor, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Benjamin Cremaschi, Diego Gomez, David Ruiz, Edison Azcona, and Martinez.
It was a critical game for both teams as Miami and Kansas City are trying to claw into playoff position. Kansas City began the season winless through its first 10 matches, but, like Miami, has turned things around. A win over Miami would have pushed KC to the playoff line.
Inter Miami entered the game unbeaten in 11 games since its summer overhaul, but in 14th place in the MLS East, eight points shy of the playoff line.
The top seven teams in each conference earn automatic berths. The eighth and nine-place teams enter a wild card play-in for the final spot.
Over the past three seasons, teams needed an average of 43 points to finish in ninth place. If that holds true this year, Miami must average two points over the remaining eight games to have a shot at the post-season.
Miami has gone 3-0-1 in the past two weeks in its return to MLS play after winning the Leagues Cup title over Nashville SC and winning the U.S. Open Cup semifinal over Cincinnati to reach the Sept. 27 final. “We have earned 10 of a possible 12 points in our past four games, but we are still far from a playoff spot, so we have to keep battling,” Martino said.
This story was originally published September 9, 2023 at 10:10 PM.