By James Nalton
Miami, Messi, and Suarez are back
Inter Miami recovered from their Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal loss to Vancouver Whitecaps and a first defeat of the MLS season against FC Dallas by defeating New York Red Bulls 4-1 last weekend.
Messi got on the scoresheet following a well-worked series of one-twos with Telasco Segovia, while Luis Suárez scored one and assisted another.
It was a more familiar look for Inter Miami after their recent struggles, and head coach Javier Mascherano will have been pleased to see Messi get back in the goals following a run of four games without a goal or assist.
Suárez’s assist in that game against the Red Bulls put him back at the top of the MLS assists charts alongside Charlotte FC’s Pep Biel on six.
The Impact of Fafà Picault
The other goal in that 4-1 win came from a more unlikely source.
After being in and out of the side at the start of the season, Fafà Picault started Inter Miami’s last two MLS games and scored in both.
The Haiti international joined from Vancouver Whitecaps ahead of the new season, and looks like he could be a more than useful piece for Mascherano’s side.
His other goal this season came off the bench in Atlanta in May to give Inter Miami a late win, but he could now be set for a more regular starting role on the wing.
Only Suárez and Messi have produced more for Inter Miami this season in terms of expected goals and assists, but on a per-90 basis, he is sandwiched between the two as the team’s second-most-productive player after Messi.
With Robert Taylor being traded to Austin FC at the end of last month, Inter Miami will hope Picault’s role reflects the one Taylor performed so effectively earlier on in Messi’s time with the team. So far, so good.
Minnesota United’s Impressive Start
Given the size of MLS nowadays (30 teams), teams in the Eastern and Western conferences don’t face each other every year. As this has worked out, it means this is just the second meeting between Minnesota United and Inter Miami, and the first at United’s home in Saint Paul.
Minnesota, coached by former Manchester United assistant coach Eric Ramsay, have started the season well, sitting second in the Western Conference.
Their only defeats this season came against Los Angeles FC on the opening day and against Concacaf Champions Cup finalists and Western Conference leaders, Vancouver Whitecaps, last month.
Fired on by the dual strike threat of Kelvin Yeboah and Tani Oluwaseyi, United are a threat despite having the lowest average possession in the league.
They use counter-attacks and set-pieces to their advantage, while at the other end, goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair has the most clean sheets in the league.
United fans will be looking forward to this one, as it’s the first time they have played Miami in the era of Messi and Suárez.
Prediction
Despite Minnesota’s good defensive record, Inter Miami’s attack will be full of confidence and will be looking to continue where they left off against the Red Bulls with a win on the road.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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