CINCINNATI: Lionel Messi’s MLS-record streak of scoring multiple goals in five straight matches ended on Wednesday night in Inter Miami’s 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati.
Cincinnati got a first-half goal from Gerardo Valenzuela and two second-half strikes from Evander to remain one point behind the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference standings. Philadelphia beat CF Montreal 2-1 on Wednesday night.
The loss ended a five-match winning streak for Inter Miami (11-4-5) which is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.
“Very pleased with the performance,” Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. “Our guys were up for it.”
Messi is the first player in MLS history to have a multi-goal streak of more than four matches. He is second in the league with 16 goals.
Messi has only played in three matches against Cincinnati since coming to MLS, but the team has made things difficult for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Cincinnati had four shots on target in the first 16 minutes to none for Inter Miami, and took a 1-0 lead when Valenzuela angled a shot from the left side of the box for his fifth goal of the season.
Messi’s first shot came in the final minute of first-half stoppage time and landed comfortably in the arms of keeper Roman Celentano.
Evander’s 14th goal of the season, and 50th in MLS, put Cincinnati ahead 2-0 less than five minutes into the second half.
Cincinnati (14-3-6) also had a two-goal lead on Saturday against Columbus but lost 4-2 to the Crew.
Cincinnati held on this time by neutralizing Inter Miami’s attack, led by Messi.
“From the beginning they pressured us,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said, via a translator. “It does worry me that they were better beginning to end. We have to rest and look forward to Saturday.”
Evander sealed the victory when he made it 3-0 with a goal off a rebound when Luca Orellano’s shot caromed off the keeper.
Messi had a chance in the 78th minute, but his close-range shot was saved by a diving Celentano.
The 38-year-old Messi has played 90-plus minutes in eight straight games, including four Club World Cup matches. At one point in the second half, he had covered the least amount of distance of any player.
Cincinnati played without second-leading scorer Kevin Denkey due to a leg injury.
“Obviously a tough game,” Miami midfielder Yannick Bright said. “The feeling was that it was not our day. We were on the road. It’s tough, against a good opponent. They deserved the result that they got.”
Up next
Cincinnati visits Real Salt Lake and Inter Miami is at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday night.
Messi’s multi-goal streak ends in Inter Miami’s 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati
https://arab.news/vsuby
Messi’s multi-goal streak ends in Inter Miami’s 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati
- Cincinnati got a first-half goal from Gerardo Valenzuela and two second-half strikes from Evander to remain one point behind the Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference standings
- Messi is the first player in MLS history to have a multi-goal streak of more than four matches
Comoros chances at Cup of Nations hit by FIFA decision
- Comoros take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game on Dec. 21
- Comoros have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin
DUBAI: Comoros have had their chances of making an impact in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations severely impacted by FIFA’s surprise decision to delay the release of their players, said coach Stefano Cusin.
Comoros, who are the smallest nation competing, take on highly fancied hosts Morocco in the tournament’s opening game in Rabat on December 21.
However, their expansive preparation plans have had to be canceled after FIFA changed the date that clubs have to release players to the national teams competing at the finals.
Last week, world football’s governing body announced that clubs need only release players on Dec. 15, seven days shy of the regulated 14-day period prior to a continental championship kickoff.
It has thrown plans for pre-tournament camps and friendlies into disarray for many of the 24 competing nations.
Comoros, competing at the finals for a second time and hoping to replicate the giant-killing havoc they caused in the 2021 edition in Cameroon, have been among the worst affected, according to Cusin.
“We planned a training camp in Tunisia with a friendly game against Botswana this coming weekend,” he told Reuters.
“Everything was ready, but now we have had to change everything. It affects us more than other teams because we’re going to play in the opening game.”
Comoros draw all their players from clubs across Europe and the Middle East.
“Releasing players on December 15 means we’ll only get in four or five training sessions before our first game,” Cusin added.
“We are angry about that; it was not correct to tell us just one week before. If we’d known from the beginning, then we could have made a different plan.”
The dates for the upcoming Cup of Nations from December 21-January 18 were set to avoid any conflict with the Champions League and other European club competitions.
