In his penultimate game before inaugurating the FIFA Club World Cup, Inter Miami won, on Wednesday night, 4-2 to CF Montreal in the North American League (MLS) with doubles by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The Argentine star was the great architect of this triumph, the first of Inter since May 3, with two goals and an assistance to his partner Suárez, who ended with a long negative streak for the arch.
The victory in Fort Lauderdale (outskirts of Miami) is an oxygen ball for the squad led by Javier Mascherano, which dragged two bulky defeats and two draws in the last four days.
This victory “means a lot,” Suárez said. “We have to continue grabbing confidence in this kind of matches.”
“The storm stopped and the sun came out,” Mascherano summed up. “This usually happens here in Miami although this storm lasted enough.”
“We needed to cut the negative dynamics,” said the Argentine.
The triumph can have a high price for the Inter since in the first half the injuries of three defenders, the Spanish Jordi Alba and the Argentines Gonzalo Luján and Tomás Aviles suffered.
Mascherano said Alba and Luján suffered muscle problems, whose reach will be defined in the next few days. The 'Toto' Avilés, who was Luján's relay, was sore after a strong stomp, the coach said.
The defensive line is Mascherano's great concern after he has allowed up to 23 goals in the last eight games.
– Reunion with the goal –
In attack, Inter again exhibited its extreme dependence on Messi's magic flashes, which opened the scoreboard in the 27th minute in a combination with another of its eternal partners, Sergio Busquets.
The Spanish midfielder gave him the ball on the balcony of the area and, making the screen in front of the defender, facilitated that Messi gained space to put together a left -footed shot that entered stuck to the post.
In the 68th minute it was the Argentine who took care that his friend Luis Suarez reconciled with the goal. Messi snatched the ball in the area from a rival defender and focused for 'the gunman', who riveted with a powerful auction.
Three minutes later Suarez took advantage of a defensive error to complete a necessary double to restore confidence, very touched after scoring somewhat in the previous 12 games.
“I'm very happy for Luis,” said Mascherano. “A player who has scored so many goals in his career, who spends a few uncurred games even for him must be rare.”
The legendary duo was associated again in the 87th minute on a wall in which Suarez left Messi only in front of the goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, whom he surpassed with a delicious chopped that lifted his seats to the public.
Captain Albiceleste has seen door in four of the last six games and adds a total of eight goals in 12 days.
The American Dante Sealy (Minute 74) and Canadian Victor Loturi (90+2) cut distance for Montreal, last of the East Conference with eight points in 16 days.
Inter, which amounted to the sixth place of the East with 26 points in 15 games, will receive Columbus Crew on Saturday in its last commitment before hosting the World Cup inaugural match on June 14 against Al Ahly Egyptian.
– Galaxy doesn't raise his head –
In other results, Los Angeles Galaxy succumbed 1-0 in a Californian derby against San Jose Earthquakes and continues to aggravate the worst start of the season of a current MLS champion.
The Angelino team does not know the victory in its 16 games, resulted with 12 losses and four draws.
Before a resigned audience, the Galaxy stated this time with a goal in the 74th minute of Burkinés Ousseni Bouda, which progressed to the centrals to finish off a Center for Preston Judd.
The Galaxy, the most laureate franchise in the league, finds no downward solution of its leader, the Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig, seriously injured since the end of the last season.
On his side Vancouver Whitecaps tied 0-0 with the Minnesota United in a game in which the Ecuadorian Pedro Vite and other figures for the final of the Concacaf champions of Sunday against the Mexican Cruz Azul.
Look also: Mascherano: “I want Messi to renew as soon as possible”
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