News Summary
Inter Miami played to a scoreless draw against FC Cincinnati, missing key players due to suspensions. Head coach Javier Mascherano criticized the league’s officiating, questioning why Miami has yet to receive a penalty this season. Despite outshooting Cincinnati, the team faced challenges, including injuries and contentious referee decisions. The match marked a continued struggle for Miami in their standings, with ongoing discussions about officiating fairness and the implications of suspensions on star players.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Inter Miami faced FC Cincinnati in a scoreless draw at Chase Stadium on July 26. The match was notably impacted by the absence of superstar Lionel Messi and teammate Jordi Alba, both of whom were suspended by Major League Soccer (MLS) for skipping the All-Star Game.
In the aftermath of the match, Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano expressed strong disapproval of the decision to suspend Messi. He raised concerns about the implications of such suspensions based on whether matches are home or away. He pointed out that when it comes to attracting fans and generating revenue, there are often no complaints from the league during home games.
This match marked an ongoing issue for Inter Miami, which is the only team in MLS that has not been awarded a penalty kick this season, despite apparent calls for penalties in the recent game. During the matchup against Cincinnati, Mascherano highlighted two specific instances where he believed Miami should have been awarded a penalty kick. He underscored that although his team frequently finds the back of the net, they have yet to receive any penalties this season, raising questions about the consistency and fairness of officiating.
The draw allowed Inter Miami to secure one point, keeping them in fifth place in the MLS Eastern Conference with a total of 42 points. FC Cincinnati, on the other hand, slid to second place with 49 points, just behind Philadelphia, which has 50 points.
Despite the absence of Messi and Alba, Inter Miami managed to outshoot Cincinnati overall with a total of 13 shots compared to Cincinnati’s 8. However, the visitors were more effective in targeting the goal, with a shot-on-target tally of 4-3. The match introduced goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, who started for Miami, achieving his first clean sheet with the team and marking their first since June 14.
The match also saw Miami contend with various challenges, including injuries and suspensions. Key player Maxi Falcon was among those who missed the match due to yellow card accumulation. As a result, Miami’s offense faced difficulties in scoring, particularly against a Cincinnati team that previously scored three goals against them in their last encounter.
The encounter also featured a contentious moment late in the game, when Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson scored a header that was initially ruled out for a foul against Miami’s defender, Noah Allen. After a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the referee upheld the foul decision, thereby confirming it was not a goal. This decision added to the tension, leading to a yellow card being issued to Mascherano for dissent towards the officials’ decisions during the match.
In summary, the scoreless draw against FC Cincinnati presented missed opportunities for Inter Miami to close the gap in the standings while highlighting ongoing concerns regarding officiating and the impact of suspensions on their star players. As the season progresses, the team will need to navigate these challenges while seeking to improve their competitive standing within the league.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati Report
- USA Today: Mascherano Questions MLS Discipline
- Goal: Inter Miami Player Ratings vs FC Cincinnati
- Cleveland.com: How to Watch Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati
- NJ.com: Watch Lionel Messi Play Live
- Wikipedia: Lionel Messi
- Google Search: Inter Miami vs FC Cincinnati
- Google Scholar: Inter Miami Soccer
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Major League Soccer
- Google News: Inter Miami FC
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