Messi was largely contained and Inter Miami looked rudderless without their star striker in Suarez
Lionel Messi missed a penalty, and the wheels quickly came off for Inter Miami as they slumped to a second straight 3-0 defeat – this time against a surging Charlotte FC.
Miami actually started well, pushing higher up the pitch than usual and creating early chances. Jordi Alba forced Kristijan Kahlina into a point-blank save in the sixth minute, and the Herons continued to press until earning their first MLS penalty of the season in the 31st. With regular taker Luis Suárez suspended, Messi stepped up. The 38-year-old tried a Panenka, but Kahlina read it all the way. Seconds later, Charlotte punished the miss when Idan Toklomati capped off a blistering counterattack to put the hosts ahead.
Toklomati wasn’t finished. Early in the second half, Wilfried Zaha sliced through Miami’s defense on the flank and set up the Israeli striker for his second. In the 84th minute, Zaha drew a penalty from Sergio Busquets and, in a show of generosity, handed the ball to Toklomati to complete his first MLS hat trick.
The result pushed Charlotte into the record books with a ninth consecutive league win, tying the MLS mark. Miami, meanwhile, have now gone winless in three of their last four.
GOAL rates Inter Miami’s players from Bank of America Stadium…