Cavalier FC, Jamaican fans abuzz over ‘David vs. Goliath’ game vs. Messi, Inter Miami
Jamaican soccer fans on the island and in South Florida are fired up this week as Cavalier FC, a Jamaican team and champion of the Caribbean Cup, gets set to play Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates in the Round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup.
The first leg of the two-leg series is Thursday at 8 p.m. at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The second leg is March 13 at the National Stadium in Kingston, where a sellout crowd of 35,000 is expected.
The game in Kingston was moved from Cavalier’s 3,000-seat home stadium for the occasion. It is the most high-profile match for the club, by far, since it hosted Brazilian legend Pelé and Santos in a 1971 match watched by 30,000 spectators at the National Stadium.
“We’re really looking forward to doing well,” said Cavalier coach Rudolph Speid. “I think it will inspire a generation of players in Jamaica, just because of what will happen. We’ll play them here. Everybody will be watching on TV; and in the return leg, where we expect a packed stadium, and everybody talking about the game. That inspiration is much more for the country than just our team.”
Speid and his players are well aware they are the heavy underdogs heading into the match against Inter Miami.
Cavalier’s roster includes two 16-year-olds, two 17-year-olds, two 18-year-olds, one 19-year-old, and five 20-year-olds. Although they won the Jamaican Premier League a few years ago and have been contenders each year since, they have never faced the likes of Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, all of them legends who starred at FC Barcelona.
The coach insists his players will be ready for the challenge.
“Young players tend to play with less fear and apprehension, and I think that’s our biggest strength,” Cavalier said. Among the players to watch are Dwayne Atkinson, Jalmaro Calvin and Shaquille Stein, who was the top scorer of the Caribbean Cup with eight goals over eight games.
When a reporter suggested Thursday morning that on paper the matchup looks like a modern-day David and Goliath battle, Speid smiled and replied: “That’s actually my favorite Bible story.”
He then joked that Messi rested and sat out Sunday’s MLS game at Houston “because he wanted to be his best to play us.”
From the moment they saw Inter Miami on their side of the Champions Cup bracket, Speid and his players hoped Miami would advance so they could experience this type of game.
“Oh, we were cheering for them to come through so they could play us,” Speid said. “I even came up here to watch a game personally. Miami is a nice city. We like Miami. Everyone in Jamaica was telling us, ‘Let’s hope it’s Inter Miami.’”
Cavalier defender Jeovanni Laing, 23, agreed: “It’s a dream come true for us as players, Jamaica as a country and for the whole Caribbean. We’ve been dreaming about this since last year, and how it’s here. We were elated when Inter Miami advanced. We were happy and joyful, but we still have to stay business minded…We can’t get starstruck.
“This is an opportunity to show our talents on the bigger stage, because millions will be watching. It’s a good opportunity.”
Busquets said while he doesn’t know much about Cavalier, he knows better than to overlook an opponent.
“We know if they are in this competition, they earned the right to be here,” Busquets said. “They are a young team that will be very motivated to play against us and will want to make things difficult for us.”
Inter Miami coach called Thursday’s home game “huge” and said they will aim to win and go to Jamaica in good position to move on to the quarterfinals.
Cavalier faced MLS competition in this tournament last year, losing to FC Cincinnati by scores of 2-0 and 4-0 in the first round.
The Jamaicans are determined to put on a better show this time. “We have to take something home, especially to force Leo to come home and for Jamaicans to see him,” Laing said.
How to Watch Inter Miami vs. Cavalier FC?
FS2 in English, TUDN in Spanish. Tickets start at $25, available through TicketMaster
Will Messi Play vs. Cavalier on Thursday?
Messi skipped Inter Miami’s most recent MLS game Sunday at Houston to take a break from the crowded schedule, Mascherano said. He is expected to play against Cavalier on Thursday, but Mascherano would not confirm Messi’s status on the eve of the game.
Asked about the probability of Messi playing Thursday, Mascherano said: “The probability is the same as all the players. We’ll see what decision we make. As of [Wednesday] I have not 100 percent confirmed the lineup.”
Pressed about whether Messi is fully healthy or dealing with a minor injury, Mascherano replied: “He’s training. He trained (Tuesday). He trained (Wednesday). But we’ll see. He’s in good health, but we’ll see what’s best for us. That’s the reality.”
Inter Miami Injury Report
Three Miami players absent from training Wednesday were goalkeeper Drake Callender, right back Marcelo Weigandt and winger Robert Taylor.
Callender has not played this year as he recovers from a nagging adductor injury he suffered in January while training with the U.S. national team. Although Inter Miami medical staff cleared him three weeks ago and he has been in full training, he still does not feel 100 percent and scheduled further exams with a specialist, Mascherano said.
“He needs to remove any doubts and needs to feel 100 percent, so he will see a specialist he knows and trusts,” the coach said.
Weigandt (leg muscle strain) should return to training next week. Taylor was ill last week and still recovering. Fafa Picault (leg muscle strain) trained individually on Wednesday and is expected back soon.
Inter Miami appealing Ian Fray red card
Mascherano confirmed that the club appealed the red card given to Ian Fray immediately after the game in Houston and is awaiting a response. Fray was walking past Houston defender Ian Bartlow to get to the locker room, Bartlow grabbed Fray’s shirt, and they exchanged words, which led to a brief altercation.
“He did absolutely nothing. He simply wanted to go the locker room and [Bartlow] didn’t let him.”