Miami cruise past Montreal on return to domestic action

CF Montreal 1 – 4 Inter Miami

MONTREAL, QC–Inter Miami returned to Major League Soccer with a convincing win on the road against CF Montreal as Lionel Messi stole the show.

The Argentine Captain was at fault for the goal, but he more than made up for it with two of his own goals and an assist.

It was arguably a flattering scoreline for Miami against a Montreal side that had plenty of chances, but couldn’t find the net for a second time, after taking the lead inside two minutes.

As Miami tried to play out from the back, Messi got his pass wrong and played the ball in for Prince Owusu who beat a stranded Oscar Ustari inside two minutes.

It was a sloppy error that was punished in the harshest possible way when the ball fell nicely for the inform striker Owusu who took full advantage.

Miami prodded and probed but lacked their normal fluidity, and they took a while to find their feet and threaten the Montreal goal.

Having spent the last month playing the club World Cup there was no excuse for not having trained enough or played much football, but they did eventually start to thread some passes together and look more menacing.

Jordi Alba was back in the side after recovering from his injury just prior to the Club World Cup and he hit the post after one of his trademark forays forward.

As the pressure built, the Montreal goal started to live a charmed life, and along with the heroics of Jonathon Sirois in goal. Miami’s fearsome front line were being kept at bay, but for how long.

Sergio Busquets was pulling the strings in the midfield, and it was his pass that found Messi in space. who played a neat ball to Tadeo Allende.

The young Argentine still had plenty to do from the edge of the area. Two touches and he unleashed a shot that found the bottom corner and brought parity to the match.

It was well deserved, but Montreal continued to attack and cause the Miami defence some headaches. Just moments after the equaliser, Dante Sealy should have done better with the goal his mercy, but he failed to hit the target or make Ustari work between the sticks.

And that missed chance was magnified minutes later when Messi danced his way through the defence to score and give his side a lead that they wouldn’t give up.

It was one of those mazy runs where the ball seems glued to his feet, but he finished in style and from that moment late in the first half, the result never seemed in doubt.

That said, Montreal did have moments, and Awusu could have added to his first goal with a free header in front of goal. But he couldn’t adjust his body and headed the ball onto his own player, and it bounced fortuitously into the grateful arms of Ustari.

And as is often the case with this team, soon after surviving a scare, Miami go on to punish the opposition by scoring themselves, and what a goal it was.

Telasco Segovia received the ball on the edge of the area before floating a delightful chip over the keeper and off the underside of the crossbar to extend the sides lead.

And Messi soon put the game to bed when he wriggled away from everyone to open up the goal and fire the ball into the net.

It then became an exercise in game management for Miami as they looked to play the game out and minimise any opportunities for Montreal.

There will far more tougher tests ahead for Miami, but coach Javier Mascherano will be pleased with the performance.