3 talking points as Messi absence obvious in Inter Miami US Open Cup final loss
It seems it's no Lionel Messi, no Inter Miami party after Houston Dynamo won the US Open Cup final 2-0.
Both Messi and Jordi Alba missed out through injury while fellow summer signing Sergio Busquets did play. But Houston started strongly and took the lead through Griffin Dorsey after 24 minutes.
It didn't take long for the visitors at the DRV PNK Stadium to double their lead when DeAndre Yedlin hacked down an opponent in the box to hand Houston a penalty. Amine Bassi scored from the spot to put Miami in further trouble.
David Beckham watched his team grow stronger in the second half and Josef Martinez did half the deficit in the 92nd minute. But it was too little too late for Miami as Houston held on to win the US Open Cup.
Messi and Alba absence palpable
Messi's fitness was a hot topic of conversation heading into the fixture after he sustained a reoccurring leg injury while on international duty for Argentina. Despite missing the game against Orlando City, Messi's fitness remained undisclosed ahead of the final fuelling speculation he could make the fixture.
Mbappe misses two penalties and open goal in one minute before going off injured
But around 40 minutes prior to kick-off, Inter Miami released their squad on social media to show no Messi or Alba. It felt a little bit like Miami had lost before they had even kicked off.
His absence, and Alba's too in fairness, were notable. Miami lacked clinical finishing and the spark that Messi has provided so often for Miami since arriving only came in the form of his smile in the stands.
Lionel Messi was resigned to the stands for Inter Miami's US Open Cup final defeat (Getty Images)A devastating first half
It was obvious Houston were dominating Miami in the first half but it wasn't until a stat at the interval showed by just how much. The visitors took a whopping 18 shots in the opening first 45 compared to Miami's one. One shot all first half.
That equals the second largest shot difference in the first half of a match between two MLS teams in all 2023. In the end Houston had 19 shots to Miami's 12, again showing how much-improved the hosts were after half-time. Too much damage was done, though. And it was also a testament to Houston's defence which held strong.
Drake Callender was regularly called into action and at one point produced a fine double save. Although he spilled the ball in his first save which allowed the second chance.
A gutted DeAndre Yedlin can't hide his reaction (Getty Images for USSF)Martinez can't fill the void
Admittedly, no one can. But Martinez could have had himself a hat-trick on Wednesday night.
The 30-year-old striker lacked the ruthlessness he showed at Atlanta United and spurned two very good chances in the second half. In the 58th minute he slipped on his own chance when bearing down goal. And only two minutes before he should have converted a header.
He did get his goal in the end, in the 92nd minute, and a chaotic final few seconds ensued. But like Martinez, Miami players could not convert a string of last-gasp opportunities and failed to show composure and any clinical nature.
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