While Lionel Messi returned to Inter Miami’s matchday squad, the Herons didn’t require the talisman’s services as they beat Charlotte FC 1-0 in a Major League Soccer fixture despite being a man down at the Chase Stadium on Saturday.
Messi was named on the bench ahead of kick-off after the Argentine was reportedly rested for Inter Miami’s last two matches across competitions and the No. 10 saw out his team’s narrow victory as an unused substitute.
The Miami-based side was reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute after goalkeeper Oscar Ustari fouled Wilfried Zaha outside the box in a goal-scoring opportunity. The former Premier League forward was trying to skip past the onrushing ‘keeper before he was brought down.
AS IT HAPPENED | Inter Miami vs Charlotte FC Highlights
Just seconds after the half-time break, however, it was Inter Miami which broke the deadlock and took the lead. Tadeo Allende netted in the 46th minute after playing a swift one-two with Luis Suarez, who chipped the ball onto Allende’s chest before the Argentinian passed it past the opposition goalkeeper.
Charlotte’s best chance of the match came in the 79th minute when substitute Idan Gorno’s shot could only strike the far post after he tried to squeeze the ball into the net from an acute angle.
With this win, Inter Miami jumped to second on the Eastern Conference points table of the MLS while Charlotte sits in sixth.
