Islamabad, Mar 10, 2025: Inter Miami secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), despite playing with 10 men for over 50 minutes.
The FIFA World Cup 2022 winner Lionel Messi remained on the bench throughout the match, as coach Javier Mascherano opted not to field the Argentine star.
Miami’s challenge intensified in the 38th minute when goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was sent off for bringing down Wilfried Zaha outside the box.
Despite Charlotte FC’s dominance in possession, the visitors struggled to create clear scoring opportunities.
After a goalless first half, Miami struck immediately after the break. Tadeo Allende executed a clever backheel to Luis Suarez, who returned the ball with a chip.
Allende controlled it on his chest before firing into the bottom corner, securing his fourth goal of the season.
With a numerical disadvantage, Miami shifted to a defensive strategy, frustrating Charlotte FC despite their 13 corner kicks.
The closest the visitors came to scoring was in the 65th minute when Patrick Agyemang’s header from Zaha’s cross narrowly missed the post.
Mascherano later explained that while Messi was considered for playing time, the team decided against risking him following his recent absence.
Though no injury has been officially confirmed, concerns over muscle fatigue have led to a cautious approach regarding his minutes.
Miami’s latest victory extends their unbeaten start to the season, reinforcing their resilience even without their star player on the pitch.
