With Lionel Messi on deck, Inter Miami battles St. Louis City
Sports
Miami has one more match before introducing the global soccer superstar Lionel Messi.
MIAMI (Reuters) - Fans of Inter Miami and Major League Soccer at large will have to wait one more week to see Lionel Messi don flamingo pink on the field for the first time.
Miami has one more match before introducing the global soccer superstar, scheduled for Saturday against host St. Louis City in a matchup between the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the best in the West.
It's been known for weeks that Messi is joining the nascent MLS club after his Paris Saint-Germain deal expired. Miami owner Jorge Mas told reporters that Messi will make his club debut on July 21 in its first Leagues Cup match against Liga MX side Cruz Azul.
Earlier this week, although they didn't mention Messi by name, Inter Miami announced "a major unveiling event" for Sunday evening at their home stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The club is also expected to introduce Spanish stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the team.
But in the meantime, Inter Miami (5-13-3, 18 points) have not won an MLS match since May 13 over New England. The club lost seven straight matches after that win, followed by three draws in a row to begin July. Benjamin Cremaschi and Noah Allen scored last Saturday in a 2-2 road draw with D.C. United.
"This is a very competitive team and one that is doing what they can on the pitch to solve the problems we're having off of it," new Miami coach Tata Martino told reporters Monday. "They battle in each game. Regardless of what this team may look like in a month, the players who are here now are stepping up and competing very well."
Miami could be catching St. Louis (12-8-2, 38 points) at an opportune time. The expansion club will play its third match in eight days and is coming off a 3-0 road loss to Los Angeles FC on Wednesday.
Roman Burki, who has had six shutouts amid a stellar first season in MLS, let in three goals from the 72nd minute onward against a high-powered LAFC offense. But coach Bradley Carnell was not discouraged by the team's overall showing.
"I think the result sucks," Carnell said. "The scoreline sucks, but I think the performance really gave me things to have hope about."
Nicholas Gioacchini leads St. Louis with eight goals, and Eduard Lowen has added five goals and a team-best six assists. Former league MVP Josef Martinez paces Miami with six goals.
