Inter Miami faced a tough 3-0 defeat against Charlotte FC. The match showcased the recent struggles of Argentine star Lionel Messi, who notably missed a penalty. Coach Javier Mascherano discussed the team’s performance after the game.
In the post-match press conference, Mascherano talked about Messi’s missed penalty and its effect on the game, emphasizing that one mistake shouldn’t define the overall team effort.
“I don’t think the penalty impacted the result,” Mascherano stated. “We can’t be unfair and single out Messi for that. Leo has been crucial for us. Despite that unfortunate moment, we controlled the match for the first 20 minutes.”
With this defeat, Inter Miami fell to eighth in the Eastern Conference, putting them outside playoff contention. The team now holds 46 points from 26 matches, increasing pressure on upcoming games. Each remaining match is vital for their postseason chances.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami.
Key moments that defined the match
Following Messi’s missed penalty, saved by goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina, Idan Toklomati quickly scored, marking the start of his hat trick.
Toklomati added two more goals at the 47th and 84th minutes, with the latter being a penalty after a foul by Sergio Busquets. Mascherano reflected: “The first goal really hurt us, but for a time we regained control. The second goal affected us too, and after Tomás Avilés was sent off, we couldn’t recover.”
In their last four away matches, Inter Miami has had disappointing results: 4-1 against Orlando City, 3-0 to the Seattle Sounders, and 3-0 against Charlotte FC, along with a 1-1 draw against DC United, the team at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.