In a thrilling encounter at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami showcased their resilience by overcoming a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-2 victory against CF Montreal on Saturday night. The match marked Messi’s first appearance in Canada, and although he was held scoreless and without an assist, his team’s performance proved their quality and depth.
Montreal took an early lead and seemed to be in control, but Inter Miami staged a remarkable comeback just before halftime. Matias Rojas ignited the turnaround with a goal in the 44th minute, and Luis Suárez equalized in first-half stoppage time, interestingly while Messi was resting on the sideline.
The second half saw Messi miss two free kick opportunities and make two late charges towards the net, but it was Benjamin Cremaschi who emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive goal in the 58th minute to secure Inter Miami’s fifth consecutive win – a first in the club’s four-year history.
Despite the loss, the Canadian crowd couldn’t help but cheer for the legendary Argentinian, much to the disappointment of Montreal coach Laurent Courtois. “Yeah, it was a good game. I understand the people cheering for Messi. For me as a head coach when I’m losing, hearing my stadium cheering the other guy when we’re losing, it’s tough,” Courtois remarked.
Perhaps the most significant takeaway from the match was Messi avoiding a potentially serious injury to his left leg, which could have jeopardized his participation in the upcoming Copa America, set to begin in about five weeks.
The victory also saw Messi’s remarkable streak of eight consecutive games with multiple goal contributions come to an end, and he relinquished the MLS scoring lead to his teammate. However, the Argentine icon’s presence on the pitch and his team’s ability to mount a comeback without his direct involvement underscores Inter Miami’s growing strength and cohesion.
As Inter Miami continues to surge up the standings, their latest triumph against CF Montreal serves as a testament to the club’s determination and the transformative impact of Lionel Messi’s arrival in Major League Soccer.
