Inter Miami’s busy early-season schedule continues as they host Wilfried Zaha and Charlotte FC at the Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday.
By James Nalton
Will Messi be back?
Lionel Messi missed Inter Miami’s trip to Houston Dynamo last week, but the team still recorded a convincing 4-1 without him.
The official explanation for his absence is fatigue, but he then also missed the home game against Jamaican side Cavalier in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Thursday, which raised further questions.
Head coach Javier Mascherano says the team need to learn to play without him, which suggests more absences in the future and also puts his presence for the home game against Charlotte in doubt.
Despite sitting out the two previous matches, Messi has been training with the team as usual and fans are hoping he’ll return to action this weekend.
A good start for Suárez
If there were questions prior to the season as to whether a 38-year-old Luis Suárez could still make a difference for Inter Miami, they have been answered within the first five games.
Suárez opened his MLS account with the final goal in last week’s 4-1 win at Houston, edging his way around three Dynamo defenders before firing in a typically unsavable shot.
His three assists were just as encouraging as his goal.
In Messi’s absence he linked up with the younger players around him, setting up two for 21-year-old Venezuelan Telasco Segovia and another for 26-year-old Mexican Tadeo Allende.
This interplay and one-touch passing showed what he can still bring to this team, as do the three goals and five assists in five games already this season.
Continental campaign continues
Inter Miami come into this game on the back of another midweek Champions Cup clash.
The 2-0 win at home to Cavalier, featuring goals from Allende and Suárez, was not as comfortable as the scoreline makes it look, though, and they made hard work of what was an expected victory.
They’ll travel to Jamaica next week with the two-goal lead, giving Mascherano some decisions to make on how much to rotate his squad and who to rest.
With Miami having just two full days break since their last game, Charlotte FC might fancy their chances.
The Zaha effect
Wilfried Zaha made his debut in Charlotte’s home opener last week having missed the first game of the season after being in London for the birth of his daughter.
He flew back to North Carolina a few days before scoring in the 2-0 win against rivals Atlanta United and being crowned Man of the Match.
If things click for Charlotte, they could challenge at the top of the Eastern Conference this season, and a good performance against Inter Miami would certainly make a statement.
It’s a statement Dean Smith’s side are capable of making. After all, they have the best goalkeeper in the league, Kristijan Kahlina, and now an attacking star and potential difference-maker in Zaha.
Prediction
Charlotte should be much stronger than a disappointing Houston side were last week. It could make for a similar match to Inter Miami’s season opener against New York City, and possibly a similar scoreline of 2-2.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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