Lionel Messi was not in the starting lineup as Inter Miami faced a 3-2 home loss to Montreal on Monday, their first loss of the Major League Soccer season. With goals from Fernando Alvarez, Matias Coccaro, and Sunusi Ibrahim, Montreal climbed into second place in the Eastern Conference rankings, now just behind Miami on goal difference. Miami’s goals came from Leonardo Campana and Jordi Alba, with the latter being a screamer.
The Miami head coach, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, decided to rest several players in his first-choice starting lineup, leaving Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez on the sidelines and Messi off the roster entirely. However, after Montreal controlled the opening minutes and Alvarez headed the visitors ahead from a corner in the thirteenth, the decision’s wisdom was soon called into question.
In the 71st minute, Campana scored at the back post following a precise cross from Lawson Sunderland to finally bring Miami back to par. However, Montreal scored twice in three minutes shortly after, shattering Miami’s hopes of maintaining their perfect start to the season.
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Left-back Jordi Alba scored a worldie in the 80th minute to spark hope of an Inter Miami fightback but it wasn’t to be as the visiting team took all three points home.